10 Lessons Every Intern Will Learn About Their Career and Life

10 Lessons Every Intern Will Learn About Their Career and Life Internships can be a huge learning curve for recent graduates and theyre a great way to set you up for your future career. If youre still unsure about what path youd like to take or the industry you want to enter requires a bit more hands on experience, an internship can be a brilliant way to develop  new skills and gain a bit of an insight into what its like to work in that sector. Youll learn a lot of things as an intern about your career and life in general, for example 1) Dont expect a gold star for good work If youre performing well in your job and putting your full effort in, your hard work will be recognised in the long run; however you have to learn that you wont receive praise for every little task you complete. It doesnt mean youre not doing well, its just that people are busy with their own work. Self-motivation is key to career success, rather than relying on others pushing you along. 2) Dont be a sour grape A positive attitude will get you a lot further than a negative one. Not only will people warm to you more, which makes work a lot more pleasant; but approaching tasks with a driven and optimistic mindset will boost your confidence and make the job much more enjoyable. 3) Network, network, network! You hear it all the time about the importance of networking, but its true so Im going to tell you again! Its never too early to start building your professional network, so make the most of your internships and build some valuable contacts while youre there, in more senior positions as well as those at your career level. You never know when someone you know may be able to assist you in your job hunt or even become a future business prospect. 4) Keep in touch Once you have completed your internship, put the effort in to maintaining the relationships you built during your time there. Connect with people on LinkedIn and drop them a line from time to time to remind them that youre there. 5) Be punctual Punctuality is incredibly important. I really wont reflect on you well if you turn up later to work on a regular basis or struggle to meet deadlines. If time management is something that you struggle with, now is your time to work on it. 6) Be an eager beaver Theres a difference between being that annoying intern who sucks up to everyone in the office and showing a bit of enthusiasm in your work. Showing that you are passionate about the industry and really appreciate the opportunity you have been given will put you in good stead with the boss and will make a lasting impression that could benefit you in the future when it comes to asking for a reference. 7) Love learning Ask lots of questions and take plenty of notes. An internship is a learning opportunity, so make the most of it by getting involved in projects where you can, learning a bit about how the business runs, practicing using new tools, etc. 8) Dont begrudge the boring work As an intern, its likely that you may be lumbered with the slightly dull tasks that no one really wants to do, for example filing, basic adminand of course the coffee run. Everyone has to start somewhere though, so try to embrace these tasks and gain from them what you can. 9) Assess your plans If you dont enjoy your internship, it could be a good indication that its not the industry for you. This is a good opportunity to gage whether its a path that you really want to follow before taking on a permanent position. 10) Enjoy yourself Internships can be a lot of fun, so relax, get to know the team and enjoy yourself! Image: Shutterstock