August 9, 2023
While applying for internships may be tedious, getting one can seriously help the job search. Students that complete an internship are 15% more likely to be employed after college, and about 70% of employers offer their interns full-time jobs. Internships provide a great opportunity for job seekers to:
Read on for some helpful tips on navigating the internship process.
Getting an internship is made easier with proper planning, research and preparation. Keep these tips in mind when searching for internship opportunities.
When researching different companies and internship opportunities, narrow down options based on the following criteria:
These factors can help internship seekers find opportunities that align with their needs and goals. Some helpful resources for finding internships include:
Someone looking for an internship can also generate their own leads by contacting companies of interest to pitch the idea.
After identifying opportunities based on their needs and interests, an internship seeker should polish their resume for the application process. Some helpful preparation tips include:
If a hiring manager shows interest in an internship application, they may reach out to schedule an interview. Here are tips to prepare for the interview:
Practice answering some common internship interview questions, like:
We’ve covered the best practices for landing an internship, but what about making the most of the opportunity? Explore several tips for growing, learning and staying organized throughout an internship.
Interns should aim to connect with people in their department and understand their roles. Meeting people is a fantastic way to make connections and network with individuals who have similar career goals.
Even interns who don’t stay with a company for the long term can get referrals from people in the organization. The more familiar employees are with an intern’s work and personality, the stronger their recommendations.
When starting the internship, an intern should think about what they hope to achieve. Some internship goals might be:
An intern should meet with their supervisor at the beginning of the internship to discuss these goals. Doing so can leave a lasting impression on the employer, as it demonstrates ambition.
An intern should note everything they learn and accomplish during their internship. They can keep a journal to recall new skills, experiences and achievements over the course of the internship.
These notes can be excellent talking points for future job interviews. Interns can also apply the skills they develop to their future careers.
An internship’s first couple of days or weeks will likely include onboarding and training. An intern should use training time to ask questions and learn how the company works.
As they shift from training to day-to-day responsibilities, they can ask their supervisor about growth and learning opportunities beyond their regular tasks. Approaching each day with curiosity and a growth mindset can help people get the most from an internship.
An intern should try to complete tasks in a timely manner. After completing one assignment, they should ask for another. If they start to feel overwhelmed with projects, they should speak with their supervisor for guidance. Some other time management and organization tips for internships include:
An intern should request feedback or a performance review from their supervisor a few weeks into the internship. This evaluation offers a sense of what the intern does well and ways to improve their performance. Additionally, asking for feedback highlights the desire to learn and grow — a valuable trait for many employers.
When approaching the end of their internship, an intern might consider sending personalized thank-you notes to people they worked with. The intern should express gratitude for the company’s role in achieving their career goals.
If an intern wants to work with the company longer, staying in touch can increase their chances of being contacted about a job opening. For instance, they might send former colleagues regular school and work updates. They can also invite those team members to coffee or lunch to catch up.
After the internship, an intern should reflect on their performance feedback, accomplishments and things they learned. They can meet with a career counselor to discuss the experience, gain career advice and determine the next steps in their journey.
Even if that career path doesn’t turn out to be the right fit, an intern can still update their resume and apply their experiences to another field. Every internship experience is valuable.
At Danaher, we’re passionate about helping people through every step of the job search process, from finding internships to long-term careers. We strive to help everyone grow their industry knowledge and expertise.
Having developed groundbreaking solutions in life sciences, diagnostics and many other fields, we offer various job and internship opportunities to help others thrive in these careers.
Our medical and scientific innovations aim to change lives and make the world a better place. We invite you to be a part of our initiative. To develop new skills and take the next steps in your career, find internship openings at Danaher today!