10 Tips To Help You Smash An Internship

Okay, so your foot is in the door, now what? Nikki Francis-Jones, MD at The Wilful Group, advises: “Take the initiative and ask to attend networking events, team meetings and socials within the company. Actively seek out networking opportunities online that you think are relevant to your company and their clients. Ask your buddy or line manager if you think it’s relevant and of interest and, if so, ask if you can accompany a team member to listen and learn from them.”

Ed Johnson, CEO of PushFar, says social media is useful too: “LinkedIn is a must – not only during your time at a company. In the lead-up to it, you can try connecting with a few people in the organisation, introducing yourself and saying you're looking forward to the internship. It'll make the first day less daunting – and 99% of interns won't bother networking until it’s too late.”

Ed also has an insider tip for getting some face time with senior management: “Reverse mentoring is increasingly gaining traction with organisations as a way to link up all levels of seniority. Ask your organisation whether they offer a reverse mentoring programme and whether the senior leadership team would be open to reverse mentoring.”

Don’t let the relationship end when you step out the front door, either. Nikki adds: “Keep in touch with the hiring manager to keep them up to date with what stage you are at to show your enthusiasm.”

Heather Delaney, MD of Gallium Ventures, has other ideas for maintaining a connection: “This can include things like commenting on what a great launch announcement they had, whether you read about them in the news, saw their product in store and it reminded you of a story, or anything else that gives you an excuse to stay in touch.”

But don’t send blanket LinkedIn invites, she advises: “Personalise each connection by referencing how lovely it was to have met and adding a comment about working together – anything that shows you aren’t a random LinkedIn chancer.”

It can be scary to speak up, but don’t be afraid to say something – it actually makes you look more interested in the company and the role. Moe says: “Seeking clarification through questions is an inherent part of the learning process. View questions not as a sign of uncertainty but as a proactive approach to gaining deeper insights and refining skills.

And when it comes to tasks, you’ve got know what you are doing. Nikki says: “Don’t embark on a piece of work if you aren’t sure what you’re being asked to do – you’ll waste time and that might put pressure on the team. Also ask for clear timeframes in which the task needs to be completed.”

Aimee echoes all of this: “As an intern, you’re there to learn. You won’t be expected to know everything already, but an enthusiasm for learning and growing your knowledge will show your employer that you are truly invested in your time with them.”

In these days of hybrid working, it’s important to be present in more ways than one. Nikki explains: “If hybrid work is offered, it’s advisable to be in the office more than the minimum requirement because it’s so much quicker and easier to learn by being with the team in person. If working from home, interns need to make extra effort to be visible and show that they are working.”

And how could you do that? Well, says Nikki, “Share ideas during internal team calls, get involved in brainstorming sessions, and similar collaborative activities, and share news articles of interest to clients on the company’s internal systems.”

Fran points out: “Avoid becoming complacent during your internship. If you find yourself with nothing to do, take some initiative and approach a member of the team you are interested in and ask if you can assist them with anything. There is always more to do – and the more you do, the more you learn!”

She even goes further: “Keeping track of the things you have completed and achieved whilst on your internship is a great idea if you are looking to take on an extended stint. If you, for example, came up with an idea for the company that ended up being taken on, you could request that you remain with the company to see the project out.”  Time to put that journal into action, then.

This is not about asking for a pat on the back. This is about learning how you can improve your skills to become an all-around better employee. Don’t fret about criticism either. Welcome it, in fact. Ed tells us how to ask for it: “I would advise everyone to not just wait until the end to request feedback. By requesting regular feedback throughout your internship, you get the opportunity to adapt and improve. This also demonstrates a willingness and hunger to learn. At the start of your placement try to factor in a ‘wrap-up’ meeting with your manager or boss for the end of the internship.”

Aimee says: “If you’ve consistently given your best efforts during your internship, your manager and team should be happy to give you feedback. Make it as easy for them as possible by providing a framework of a few bullet points/sentences that will help you demonstrate your success in your internship. For example, ask your manager to be specific about what your greatest achievements were during your time, how you helped the team with a major challenge, and exactly why they would recommend you to another employer.” Noted.