You’re a Food Science student looking to stand out. How can you get the most out of your internships?

1 Set clear goals

Before you start your internship, think about what you want to achieve and how it aligns with your career aspirations. Do you want to focus on a specific area of food science, such as sensory evaluation, food microbiology, or product development? Do you want to learn new techniques, tools, or software? Do you want to build your portfolio, resume, or LinkedIn profile? Write down your goals and share them with your supervisor or mentor. They can help you tailor your internship experience to meet your needs and expectations.

4 Reflect and improve

Internships are not only a way to learn new skills, but also a way to improve your existing ones. To do this, you need to reflect on your performance and progress regularly. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, your achievements and areas for improvement, your challenges and solutions. Ask yourself what you learned, what you enjoyed, what you struggled with, and what you can do better. Seek feedback from your supervisor, mentor, or co-workers. Use their comments and suggestions to refine your skills, correct your mistakes, and overcome your difficulties. By reflecting and improving, you show your commitment to excellence, your willingness to grow, and your ability to adapt.

5 Showcase your work

Internships are not only a way to gain experience, but also a way to showcase your potential. To do this, you need to document your work and achievements in a clear and compelling way. Create a portfolio that showcases your projects, products, reports, or presentations. Highlight the objectives, methods, results, and impacts of your work. Use visuals, such as photos, graphs, charts, or videos, to illustrate your work. Include testimonials, feedback, or recognition from your supervisor, mentor, clients, or co-workers. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile with your internship details and accomplishments. Showcase your work to potential employers, recruiters, or connections. By showcasing your work, you demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and value. You also increase your visibility and credibility in the food science field.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?