How to Make Your Internship a Success

By: Cristina Matteis

This month’s topic is a very personal one for me. Those of you who have attended one of our SchoolFinder webinars over the past year will likely know a little bit about my personal experiences with internship programs!

Last June, I graduated from the Advertising and Marketing Communications advanced diploma program at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario. As part of the final 4 weeks of my program, I was required to complete an internship within the advertising industry. As it turned out, my internship experience totally changed my life!

Based on my experiences, I wanted to give you some of my very best advice about how to succeed during your internship or co-op!

1. Know Your Goals: Before you set out on an internship (or co-op) experience, it’s important to craft some concrete goals on what you would like to achieve once you have completed your term. In my case, my goal was to get a job! I really loved the company I was interning with and I truly loved the type of work I was doing – I knew I wanted to become a full-time employee once my four weeks were over! However, some of my classmates had other goals in mind, such as: building their resumes for post-graduate programs, gaining research experience and obtaining new contacts for freelance work. Taking the time to figure out what you want out of your experience before you begin will help guide your choices throughout your experience.

2. Focus On Your Work: Once you start your internship, make sure that you are focusing 100% of your time and mental energy on your work. Because your internship or co-op takes place outside the classroom, it can be easy to forget that it’s part of your education! For my internship, I was required to move 4 hours from home…and it was also my first time on my own. There was a lot to deal with mentally and emotionally and I had to work really hard to keep myself focused on the new work coming my way. Fortunately, I found my internship so exciting and stimulating that I wanted to be working 24/7!

3. Never Stop Networking: This might sound contradictory after my last tip – but hear me out! Make sure you take the time to talk to your leader, your new co-workers, their friends and everyone else you are working with! It’s as easy as asking people what they are doing for lunch or making a point of going to the office cafeteria or after-work events. Making the effort to participate in conversations and getting to know your peers will open many doors.

4. Go Above and Beyond: Don’t just complete the tasks you’re assigned – go the extra mile! Once you have finished your assignments, make a point of asking what you can do next. Ask those around you if you could help them out or spend your extra time researching the company and upcoming or current projects to see if you can be of added value.

Keep in mind that your internship or co-op is your first foray into your future career and ultimately, the reason why you are so passionate about the industry you’re studying. Speaking from experience, this can be one of the greatest experiences you will encounter as a student and it will open your eyes and your mind to what you can expect to achieve in your professional life!