Draw Up a Game Plan for Your Summer Internship

When you join your employer’s team as a summer intern, make sure you do more than just show up. Draw up a game plan for your internship to help you score the most from this experience.

Your Internship Playbook: 6 Key Plays:

First Down: Get to know people throughout the department and keep their contact information. Latha Pillai, one of our Career Services marketing interns, has worked over a year in our office. During her time here, she has made an extra effort to get to know and spend time with Career Services staff members in addition to her supervisor. These efforts have paid off where Latha has been asked to assist with duties past those of her internship, such as being the student representative on a key Career Services task force. When Latha leaves her position, she will have a wealth of Career Services contacts to add to her network.

Mary Ann Cole, former Career Services Marketing Manager (L) and Latha Pillai (R),
distribute signs promoting our Connection Job Fair in February 2013

Second Down: Volunteer to help whenever you can. Bringing a “can do” attitude to the office can make a real difference. And, your willingness to assist in lots of different ways will leave a lasting positive impression with your co-workers. For example, Khang Nguyen, a 2012-13 Career Services event planning intern, volunteered to photograph many events that were held in Career Services this year. We have a plethora of photos from our Tailgate Party, Speed Networking Event, and a co-worker’s recent retirement party, thanks to the photography skills that Khang offered to share with us.

August 2012 Career Services Tailgate Party
taken by Khang Nguyen, Career Services 2012-13 Intern

Third Down: Arrange weekly meetings with your supervisor to touch base and get feedback on how you are doing. Several years ago I advised James (name has been changed), a cooperative education student, who received a negative evaluation from his supervisor. He was so embarrassed and disappointed about his poor performance evaluation, especially since he felt he had worked very hard on his projects. Come to find out, the projects he focused on were not the critical areas on which his supervisor desired for James to concentrate. James’ supervisor was out of the office traveling for much of the semester, which didn’t allow for regular feedback. As you kick off your career in an internship, obtaining regular advice on your work is critical to how quickly you advance down your learning curve. To avoid an experience like the one James had, if your supervisor hasn’t yet established regular meeting times, ask your boss to meet with you on a weekly or at least bi-weekly basis.

Field Goal: Set goals for what you hope to learn. Why did you want this internship? What are you hoping to get out of it? As you look at your resume and think about your future career, what is missing that you plan to gain this summer? Figure out some specific skills, experience or knowledge you are hoping to obtain during your internship. Write down these goals and talk to your supervisor and co-workers about them. Need help putting them in writing? In the Career Services Co-op/Intern program, we use a learning objectives form where we have students create goals for their experiences.

Touchdown: Sign up for training programs. Be sure to take advantage of training or other professional development opportunities that may be available to you. If you can gain certifications in software programs or some other skill area, now is a great time to pursue them. Any training you receive will be valuable additions to your resume. Work on your oral and written communication skills if you have the chance. All employers want you to possess these skills when hiring for a full-time position.
 
PAT (Point after Touchdown): Ask your supervisor to serve as a positive reference. Before you leave your position, be sure to check with your supervisor to see if she/he will be a reference for you as you apply for future positions or to graduate school. Make sure you have a copy of supervisor’s and other co-workers’ business cards before you head back to campus. And, collect copies of any samples of your work if that applies and the information can be shared.

Making these key plays a part of your internship game plan will help you have a winning experience and also lead to you scoring even more positions in the future. What else is in your game plan this summer?