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/ Asked by
Kathryn How should I prepare for my upcoming internship? What should I do in advance that would impress my managers in my first few days?
Answered by John, Hiring Expert at DuPont, on Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Congratulations on your upcoming internship!
Here are my suggestions on how you can make a good first impression:
1. Be on time - understand when you need to be at work in the morning and at specific meetings and make sure you are on time from the start.
2. Understand your manager's expectations of you - spend quality time talking with your manager to clearly understand what he/she expects of you throughout this assignment. Work to meet or exceed these expectations.
3. Ask questions as necessary - make sure you ask questions for understanding. Be careful to balance true "important to know" questions with those that are "nice to know" or those "not necessary to know." Your manager's time is precious, so use good judgment.
4. Request honest feedback on how you are doing - and be prepared to compensate if the feedback is not positive.
5. Respect and appreciate all employees at the company - from vice-president to technician to administrative assistant to research scientist, understand that everyone has an important role at the company. Respect the experience and capability that each of your co-workers bring to the workplace.
6. Actively learn - one of the main purposes for an internship is an experience for you to actively learn what it is like working for this company. Learn as much as you can about what the company does, why they do it, and how they do it.
7. Dress appropriately for the position and the company - different companies and different roles may have vastly different dress codes. Please understand what they are and abide by them.
8. Appreciate the experience
All the best!
Congratulations on your upcoming internship!
Here are my suggestions on how you can make a good first impression:
1. Be on time - understand when you need to be at work in the morning and at specific meetings and make sure you are on time from the start.
2. Understand your manager's expectations of you - spend quality time talking with your manager to clearly understand what he/she expects of you throughout this assignment. Work to meet or exceed these expectations.
3. Ask questions as necessary - make sure you ask questions for understanding. Be careful to balance true "important to know" questions with those that are "nice to know" or those "not necessary to know." Your manager's time is precious, so use good judgment.
4. Request honest feedback on how you are doing - and be prepared to compensate if the feedback is not positive.
5. Respect and appreciate all employees at the company - from vice-president to technician to administrative assistant to research scientist, understand that everyone has an important role at the company. Respect the experience and capability that each of your co-workers bring to the workplace.
6. Actively learn - one of the main purposes for an internship is an experience for you to actively learn what it is like working for this company. Learn as much as you can about what the company does, why they do it, and how they do it.
7. Dress appropriately for the position and the company - different companies and different roles may have vastly different dress codes. Please understand what they are and abide by them.
8. Appreciate the experience
All the best!
Answered by Charlene, Hiring Expert at Gap Inc., on Tuesday, April 28, 2015
That's fantastic that you have landed an internship! here are a few thoughts that may help you prepare.
1. Bring your very best self everyday. Give yourself time to get there early, and show up prepared with all the things you will need. The first day you may need to have two forms of ID, be sure you re-read everything that you have received from the company to ensure you are prepared.
2. Focus. Staying focused when you are getting assignments will prove very beneficial.
3. Ask questions. If someone ask you to help out or work on a project, and you are not 100% sure how to do it, ask questions. The internship is designed for you to learn. Just remember to take notes that might help you next time, if you are ask to do this again.
4. Communication. Is there something you are excited about learning during the internship? If so be sure and tell your supervisor that you have done some research and that there is something you are really looking forward to. Keeping an open line of communication both ways is an excellent way to thrive during an internship.
5. Take Initiative. There may be an opportunity to take on more, and if you are up for the challenge, extend yourself. Showing initiative is always a way to demonstrate your desire to learn more.
Good Luck
That's fantastic that you have landed an internship! here are a few thoughts that may help you prepare.
1. Bring your very best self everyday. Give yourself time to get there early, and show up prepared with all the things you will need. The first day you may need to have two forms of ID, be sure you re-read everything that you have received from the company to ensure you are prepared.
2. Focus. Staying focused when you are getting assignments will prove very beneficial.
3. Ask questions. If someone ask you to help out or work on a project, and you are not 100% sure how to do it, ask questions. The internship is designed for you to learn. Just remember to take notes that might help you next time, if you are ask to do this again.
4. Communication. Is there something you are excited about learning during the internship? If so be sure and tell your supervisor that you have done some research and that there is something you are really looking forward to. Keeping an open line of communication both ways is an excellent way to thrive during an internship.
5. Take Initiative. There may be an opportunity to take on more, and if you are up for the challenge, extend yourself. Showing initiative is always a way to demonstrate your desire to learn more.
Good Luck
Answered by Ashley, Hiring Expert at Cardinal Health, on Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Congratulations on your internship! Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door with a company and open opportunities for full-time employment so it’s important to get a head start on putting your best foot forward. Prior to starting your internship, I would recommend brushing up on relevant skills you will need to perform your job duties. If there is a specific system or software you know you’ll be using, try to find training materials or guides to practice using them. For example, if you’re working as a Finance intern then there’s a good chance you’ll be using a lot of Excel and possibly SAP. Find some free online training courses, if available. If you haven’t already been told the types of job responsibilities you may have, you can reach out to the recruiter or hiring manager to see if there are any skills they would recommend you brush up on. Also, it’s important to dress for the job you want and not the job you have. Be sure to find appropriate clothing based on the dress code for your company and portray yourself in a professional manner. Once you begin your internship, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your manager will understand you don’t have a lot of previous experience and will expect you to ask questions. Also, if you don’t have enough work, don’t be afraid to ask for more work. Lastly, network as much as possible during your internship. In my experience, employee’s are more than willing to meet with interns so don’t be afraid to ask your manager who you can network with to learn more about the business or a certain functional area while you’re there.
Congratulations on your internship! Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door with a company and open opportunities for full-time employment so it’s important to get a head start on putting your best foot forward. Prior to starting your internship, I would recommend brushing up on relevant skills you will need to perform your job duties. If there is a specific system or software you know you’ll be using, try to find training materials or guides to practice using them. For example, if you’re working as a Finance intern then there’s a good chance you’ll be using a lot of Excel and possibly SAP. Find some free online training courses, if available. If you haven’t already been told the types of job responsibilities you may have, you can reach out to the recruiter or hiring manager to see if there are any skills they would recommend you brush up on. Also, it’s important to dress for the job you want and not the job you have. Be sure to find appropriate clothing based on the dress code for your company and portray yourself in a professional manner. Once you begin your internship, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your manager will understand you don’t have a lot of previous experience and will expect you to ask questions. Also, if you don’t have enough work, don’t be afraid to ask for more work. Lastly, network as much as possible during your internship. In my experience, employee’s are more than willing to meet with interns so don’t be afraid to ask your manager who you can network with to learn more about the business or a certain functional area while you’re there.
Answered by Kim, Hiring Expert at Archer Daniels Midland, on Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Preparing for an internship can be both exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. Make sure to treat your internship as an opportunity to make connections not only with people in your same field of study, but also with those pursing different career paths. Always make sure to research the company you’re interning with so you are well versed should anyone ask you why you chose that company. It would also be beneficial to come up with a small list of questions to ask your manager over the course of your internship. What made you choose this profession? How did you get this job? What is your background in? Have you always wanted to do this job? And last but not least What advice do you have for me?
Preparing for an internship can be both exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. Make sure to treat your internship as an opportunity to make connections not only with people in your same field of study, but also with those pursing different career paths. Always make sure to research the company you’re interning with so you are well versed should anyone ask you why you chose that company. It would also be beneficial to come up with a small list of questions to ask your manager over the course of your internship. What made you choose this profession? How did you get this job? What is your background in? Have you always wanted to do this job? And last but not least What advice do you have for me?
