2. Have an elevator pitch prepared, because you never know who you’ll meet
Before you start, try to get a sense of what departments interest you the most in your company. Prepare a few words to say about yourself in case you come across someone that could help you get your dream job.
Take note of important names at your company, since you never know who you’ll happen to run into.
During past internships and while doing interviews, I ended up in the same elevator as Anderson Cooper and Shonda Rhimes. Since I had nothing prepared to say, I couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity.
3. Try your best to remember everyone’s name the first day
This was a tip I received from multiple mentors. Learn people’s names and learn how to pronounce them correctly.
People really do the appreciate the effort. At my internships, I received praise for taking the time to learn the names of my peers.
4. Get up to speed fast
An internship isn’t only a learning experience; you’re also there to help your team. Taking too long to learn the system or catch up will make everyone else’s jobs more difficult.
Speak to people who’ve had similar roles before you start and invest in self-teaching programs, like Lynda, to get ahead.
Taking this extra time will make sure your internship goes smoothly — and it can lead to a full-time job if your team knows you’re taking initiative.
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