How to be the perfect intern

Academic training is one of the keys to becoming a good professional. But many of the most important skills in the workplace that they teach at universities are learned or perfected with practice. That’s why the internship period is essential for individuals to experience first-hand what the day-to-day of what they want to do is like. It is also a great opportunity to get to know all the skills that make you an excellent professional, such as problem-solving, empathy, effort, etc. 

Your work life is one of the most important pillars in your life since so many hours are spent at work every day. Developing your professional identity in what you like will accompany you throughout much of your life. This is exactly why it is essential to choose wisely, based on your tastes, interests, and aptitudes.  

But how do you decide where to steer your internship? 

Internships serve to test your abilities and competencies in a specific area and see if you want to dedicate yourself specifically to that field. However, the more you reflect on the decision, the more correct it will be and the better direction you will be headed in.  

How to decide on the internship that will be most useful to you? 

Visualize your future by working on what gets your attention every day. It’s important to be highly realistic, both in terms of the actuality of the position and your strengths and weaknesses. To do this, it may be useful for you to contact someone in a similar position who can explain clearly what tasks and responsibilities they perform in that role.  

Remember, completing an internship in a specific area may open doors for you in the future in that same specialty, so take the opportunity to learn everything you can and meet colleagues in that field.  

Tips to excel in your internship:  

• Be punctual and committed 
• Take an interest in everything around you; a good attitude is essential. 
• Always strive to be proactive 
• Take advantage of the calmer work periods to advance or study things that can serve you within your position.  
• It’s very important to socialize: get to know the people you work with and let them get to know you.  

•  Ask for feedback and evaluate your performance. Decide what you can improve on and go for it.
• If you have questions, ask them until you are clear on what exactly is expected of you.  
• If the pressure ever gets too overwhelming for you, organize your tasks and your time well. If you see that you have a lot on your plate and you think you won’t get to everything, let your team know so that we can evaluate the situation together and decide what to do or what to prioritize.  
• “Good” stress helps us improve constantly, but if at any given moment, this becomes too much, remember that you are an intern and trust that you can tell your team what’s on your mind. 

How to finish your internship flawlessly 

What if your internship is coming to an end? While it’s logical to recollect all the effort and dedication you’ve put in over all the previous months at the end of your internship, there are a few specific things that may help you add the finishing touch to your experience, thus making it even more profitable.  

The final weeks of your internship can be an ideal time for you and your team to evaluate what it’s been like working together over the last few months.  

• Therefore, it is very important to ask for feedback from your manager and your colleagues. Of course, you may encounter some constructive criticism, but see these as opportunities for improvement in your next professional steps.  
• Feedback should be two-way. Your colleagues also expect to learn and enrich themselves from your time on the team.

• Take stock of your performance honestly. What have you learned? What’s left for you to improve on or learn? Decide on the next steps in your professional career based on the answers to these questions.  
• Having good relationships and establishing relationships with your colleagues are essential in the workplace. These last few weeks, you should make an effort to thank everyone for their help and remind them that you can keep in touch.  
• Another thing that will help you make a good impression on your team is offering to prepare the groundwork for your replacement. Get all the information that may be useful for them ready and offer your help whenever they may need it. 

Some of these tips can help you excel at this stage and become a valuable asset for your team and the company. Even if you are still in training, you can become a significant source of support for your peers and make great friendships that will last your whole lifetime. In short, internships involve you enjoying this adventure in the workplace and putting your best foot forward to making these a good learning experience in your professional career.