Jackson State University Career Guide

INTERNSHIPS

Internship Survival Tips: • • Learn as much as you can about the organization • • Keep a weekly journal of your experience (e.g., activities and projects) • • Sit down with your supervisor and establish mutually agreed-upon goals so you know what is expected of you • • Be conscious of office politics - learn the power structure and notice how decisions really get made • • Become familiar with all technology used • • Develop positive traits (e.g., punctuality and dependability) • • Do not be afraid to ask questions • • Understand that some general office work is part of the experience • • Introduce new ideas gradually and avoid trying to change too much too soon • • Ask for more responsibility and actively look for things to do - this initiative will prepare you for better positions in the future • • Become familiar with other interns in the office and provide a support group for each other • • NETWORK! Build bridges with the people who are doing what you think you would like to do in the future.

After the Internship is Over Now that the experience is over, what is the next step? You should have learned many things while participating in your internship experience. Maybe you learned what you would like to do when you graduate, or maybe you learned what you would not like to do. Either way, you have benefited from your experience. It is time to put what you learned into perspective. Take a minute to reflect on your experience! 1. What was your goal prior to the internship? Did you accomplish that goal?

2. What did you accomplish over and beyond your established goals? 3. Did this experience help you in your academic/career formation process? 4. Is the career path something you still want to pursue? 5. What new equipment or office technology did you master? 6. What was the most important thing you learned from this experience?

Write a description of the internship and your key responsibilities and accomplishments. Use this to update your resume and prepare yourself for discussing the experience during future interviews.

If you had a positive experience and have built relationships, ask a professional from the organization to write you a letter of recommendation for your portfolio. Do not forget to ask about potential employment opportunities beyond your internship.

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