Five Ways to Make Your Mark on Your Internship

As the semester winds down into final exams and thoughts of the newness that lies ahead, it may be tempting to place your current internship on the backburner. However, finishing just as strongly as you started out at your company is something that reflects greatly on your character and work ethic. Leaving the internship with grace and respect is something that doesn’t go unnoticed, in fact, it can help you build exemplary skills in professionalism that will serve you long after your college career.

In the spirit of celebrating both endings and new beginnings, here are Five Ways to Make Your Mark on Your Internship:

1) Never Take Anything For Granted

After a few months of interning at your company, you’ve probably grown accustomed to the work environment and feel a lot more comfortable than you did at the start. While the company’s office may have become a home away from home to you, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t always more to learn. Instead of plateauing towards the end of the internship, challenge yourself to learn as much as you possibly can from the company and the line of work you’re pursuing. At this point, you are actually at an advantage, because you now have built solid relationships with your bosses and coworkers, so they will be more willing than ever before to chat with you. These people are incredible resources that can offer sound life advice, networking connections, and tips on how to excel in the career of your dreams, but only if you choose to strike up that conversation.

2) Exude Gratitude Like There’s No Tomorrow

No, gratitude isn’t something that should only be practiced during Thanksgiving. Adopting a mindset of thankfulness into your everyday life has incredible physical and mental health benefits - and it can even help you succeed professionally. By taking the time to genuinely thank those who have served as mentors to you at your internship, it shows that you are appreciative and continuously willing to learn from their expertise. Gratitude extends beyond being thankful for the good; it even applies to the less than glamorous parts of life and work. If there were some aspects you weren’t thrilled about during your time at your internship, be grateful that you learned about them now, so that you can avoid them in the future and find the work environment that best suits you.

3) Finish Out Strong

What separates subpar work ethic from outstanding work ethic is how much effort you put in when nobody is watching. As your internship nears the end, you can either use the time to twiddle your thumbs, or produce the most work you possibly can to help you succeed in the future. Your company will take notice if you take it upon yourself to finish with as much enthusiasm as you had when you started the internship. At the end of the day, you get as much out of the internship as you choose to put into it, so if you want to make it a fruitful and memorable experience, it’s all up to you to do so.

4) Be Present

Whether you already have a new internship or job lined up ahead of you, or you’re scrambling to plan your next career move, it’s important to remain in the moment before it passes you by. There is still so much information you can learn at your internship that you may not soak up completely if you’re too concerned with your future endeavors. While sitting at your desk, take note of your surroundings. Reflect on the unique organizational culture of your company, observe how your coworkers interact with one another, and take a mental note of the layout of your office. Each of these things are important takeaways that can give you a sense of direction once you do eventually move on to your next endeavor.

5) Update Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile

Finally, after giving the internship your all for the whole semester, take the time to assess your accomplishments. What did you contribute to the company during your time working there? If need be, ask your boss for quantifiable statistics of how well your work reflected the company at large. These are incredible points to have on your resume and LinkedIn profile, because they help future employers visualize all you are capable of doing in a work environment. If you have writing samples, be sure to update your LinkedIn or personal website to showcase all of your hard work.

Whether you loved or despised your internship, consider the experience a success no matter what. If you were excited by the work you did, fit right into the culture of the company, and enjoyed going to work each day, it’s easy to reflect on the experience in a positive light. However, don’t be too quick to dismiss a poor internship experience, because, at the end of the day, it taught you more about yourself than you knew before. Dealing with different types of people and experiences only provides you with more tools to help you excel in the future, so be proud of what you accomplished and know that it will greatly benefit you as you move ahead.

Photos courtesy of Pixabay and Tenor.