#intern 101

  Internships are golden for one real reason: They make you talk to people. When you are an intern you have to talk to everyone and everyone gets to tell you what to do. You will talk to everyone from the janitor to the CEO and your goal is for everyone to remember who you are. And no, I don’t mean they remember that the sales team has an intern, I mean they actually remember your name, preferably first and last, but first is sometimes as good as it's gonna get.

   Interning is a lot of dirty work and boring tasks and even maybe a lot of nothing. So far my internships have been a mix of 3 parts boring to every 1 part chaotic hard work. It's also important to note that while interning you are going to be the last person to hear facts and the first person to hear rumors.*Pro tip: keep your mouth shut about both unless you are specifically told to spread the word and if you’re unclear ASK SOMEONE.

   When you start becoming a pro intern, like me, you’ll learn cool tips like this. You’ll also learn how to take a compliment. From experience I’ve learned that when someone gives you a compliment, you take it. Dear lord, just take it! Take it and run! Especially if they are complimenting you on being an overachiever! If your boss comes over and mentions something about you staying late, don’t say you are waiting for your ride or that you actually finished everything hours ago. You may think that saying things like that makes you seem cool and laid back, but in reality you seem like a loser dummy. Let your boss think that you’re a hard worker and that you’re committed to the job. I mean come on this is going to A) be the person who hires you or B) be the person who recommends you to the person that hires you.

   Always remember that internships are stepping stones and your ultimate goal is an actual job. Having fifty plus positions and crowning yourself the Queen of Internshipdom might get you well connected, but it will also leave you broke.