5 Tips for a Successful Internship

An internship is your first chance to use what you learned in training on real work, with real people depending on it. The way you approach those first weeks shapes what you learn, who remembers you and what you can show afterwards. These five habits will help you get the most from it.

1. Set two or three goals before you start

Before your first day, write down what you want to be able to do by the end. Keep the goals specific: "configure a small office network on my own" is more useful than "learn networking". Share them with your supervisor in your first week. It shows initiative, and it helps them give you the right tasks.

Look at your goals every Friday. If you are not getting closer to one of them, ask for a task that would help.

2. Ask good questions, and write down the answers

Nobody expects an intern to know everything. They do expect you to ask clearly and not to ask the same thing twice. Before you ask, try for a few minutes on your own and note what you tried. Then ask, write the answer down, and keep your notes in one place you can search later.

3. Treat every task as evidence

Small tasks add up. After you finish something, take a minute to record what you did, what tools you used and what the result was. A photo of an installation, a screenshot of working code or a short description of a problem you solved can all become evidence in your Skills Passport.

Ask your supervisor if you may keep these records, and never include information that belongs to the company or its customers.

4. Build relationships, not just a contact list

Networking at work is simply being someone people are glad to work with. That means:

• arriving on time and telling people early if you will be late;
• offering to help when you have finished your own work;
• learning the names and roles of the people around you;
• thanking people who teach you something, and telling them later how you used it.

5. Ask for feedback, then act on it

Halfway through, ask your supervisor two questions: "What am I doing well?" and "What should I do differently?" Listen without defending yourself, thank them, and choose one thing to improve straight away. At the end of the internship, ask whether they would be willing to confirm your skills or act as a reference.

Before you leave

In your last week, update your Skills Passport with the skills you used and the evidence you collected, and ask your school or supervisor to verify them. Write a short note thanking your team. A good ending is often what people remember most.