How to Make the Most of Your Internship Experience

Seek knowledge wherever you can find it. Your manager and other team members know that you're there to learn about the role, the company, and the industry, so feel free to ask them lots of questions. Ask people to explain why they use particular processes, what the purpose of a certain method is, and how things get done. Compare what you've learned in your college courses to what's happening in your workplace, and discuss that with your colleagues. You can also learn by paying attention in meetings, exploring industry publications and podcasts, and attending professional events.

Develop hard and soft skills. Hard skills are usually technical in nature, such as using a software program or piece of equipment. Soft skills often relate to how you think and how you interact with others. Some examples include analytical thinking, problem-solving, active listening, and persuasive speaking. An internship is a perfect time to work on both types of skill sets by asking your supervisor and other co-workers to give you opportunities to practice.

Ask for feedback. Criticism can be hard to hear, especially when you're doing your best, but it's a necessary part of the learning process. Ask your manager and others to critique your performance and offer constructive comments. Understand that your colleagues are providing this feedback because they want you to succeed, so take their comments to heart and apply what you learn about yourself.

Learn from people beyond your team. Organizations that engage in internship programs want to support their interns, so it's perfectly okay to ask other people within the organization for information. If reaching out on your own is a little outside your comfort zone, ask your boss to help you set up informational interviews or job shadowing experiences. Two other ways to learn from others are to attend larger staff meetings and listen to the conversations that occur, and volunteer to work on additional projects with other teams if you have time.

Reflect on your internship experience weekly or perhaps daily. The best way to process what you're learning and keep track of lessons learned is to write them down. Stacey Kaye, a job search skills coach and founder of CampusToCareer.net, recommends keeping a journal. "During your internship, you'll be involved in many interesting projects, learning industry terms and relevant processes. By the time your internship ends, you may not be able to remember everything you learned along the way. Therefore, be sure to take a few minutes to journal about projects, key learnings, people you worked with, and outcomes. This tactic will help you add strong descriptions and accomplishments to your resume and provide meaningful content to talk about during future interviews."

Connect with people throughout your organization. From the people in your department to fellow interns to members of the executive team, anyone you interact with may turn out to be a great contact for networking. Each day, try to take a few moments to get to know someone new. Introduce yourself as an intern, and ask each person who they are and what they do. Most professionals enjoy talking to newcomers to the business so show them you're eager to learn. Once you've established a relationship, invite them to connect with you on LinkedIn so you can keep in touch.

Look for a mentor. It's fairly common for interns to form bonds with their supervisors, who may become mentors after the internship is over. However, you may find a mentor among all of the other people you meet. Look for someone who is a good listener, generous with sharing information, and encouraging.

Make friends. The relationships you start during your internship don't have to be all about networking. It's also great to make friends on the job, especially during breaks and outside of work. You may be able to assist them with projects, and they may be able to answer your questions and help you solve problems.

Demonstrate a professional attitude in all you do. Arrive at work on time, stay focused, and put in a full day. Dress appropriately for your work environment, and don't take personal phone calls. Be friendly, and avoid conflict and gossip. Evan Cruz, founder of Join the Island, adds, "Don't badmouth other people or organizations and have a positive attitude. Debbie Downers are not allowed! I was never a difficult person to deal with during my internship at the City of Coral Gables. As a result, my colleagues were willing to connect with me once my internship was over."

Understand that you'll probably start with easy assignments and work up. When you've just started, your supervisor has no idea of what you can do, so they'll probably ease you into your workload with what appear to be mundane tasks or grunt work. Once you demonstrate your willingness to take on any project and your ability to get things done efficiently and correctly, you'll hopefully be rewarded with a few more challenging assignments and greater responsibilities.

Manage your time wisely. Sometimes you'll have just enough to do on your plate, but not always. If there's a lull in your workday, ask your supervisor if you can have another assignment or help others with their projects. If you have too much to do, ask your boss to help you prioritize what's most important and should be finished first. Use your communication skills to show that you're committed to contributing to the organization's goals.

Speak up and take initiative. Managers will be impressed if you see a problem and volunteer to solve it, or if you notice something that needs to be done and ask to do it. You should also feel free to share your ideas and make friendly suggestions when appropriate.

Document your projects. One of your background objectives for an internship may be to build a portfolio of work examples. As you complete projects — even something as small as a one-page report — ask your supervisor if you're allowed to take a copy home for your portfolio. Some items may be confidential, but many will be available for sharing.

Ask for a reference letter two weeks before the end of your internship. Kaye explains that managers are often very busy, which can make them a bit forgetful, so be sure to get their input while you're still on the job. "It can be challenging for a supervisor to write a glowing reference letter when you have already left the position," she notes. "They may forget your cheery, can-do attitude and your ability to problem-solve during team meetings." In fact, you may even want to write a rough draft listing some of your accomplishments that your boss can revise as needed.