- 11 Mar, 2025
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Making the Most of Internships & Industrial Placements
Internships and industrial placements are invaluable opportunities for students, graduates or even anyone to gain real-world corporate experience. It is also an opportunity to build a professional network and explore potential career paths.
Truly maximising an internship experience requires proactive engagement and a focused approach. Whether paid or unpaid, the skills, connections and insights you gain can have a significant impact on your future success.
A lot of educational institutions ranging from universities to polytechnics offer internships programmes after a period of study with them. These internships are the best way to implement all the skills you’ve learnt over time.
Internship opportunities should not be taken for granted. The corporate world can be distracting and noisy with different opinions and it could affect you, especially if you are unsure of which career path to pursue. There are certain strategies we can recommend to keep you in line regardless of whether you are sure or not, as no knowledge is wasted irrespective of the path you finally choose.
As the saying goes “whatever is worth doing is worth doing well”!
Set Clear Goals
Defining your objectives before starting helps to identify what you want to achieve. If you are looking to gain specific skills, explore a particular industry and build connections, list them out and follow through.
Discuss your expectations with your supervisor and career mentors. In the early stages of resumption ensure to have a conversation with your supervisor or coordinator as the case may be to understand their expectations and align them with your own goals.
Embrace a Proactive Attitude
Show initiative, ask questions where and when you don’t understand. Asking questions help to deepen your understanding of your company, industry and your specific role. Seek out opportunities to contribute and take on new challenges. Volunteer for tasks even if they seem small this basically demonstrates your eagerness to learn and contribute.
Build Your Professional Network
An internship is an opportunity and the time to connect with colleagues. It is the time to introduce yourself to people in different departments of your organisation and learn about their roles. Ensure to participate in company events and social gatherings to expand your network. Along the line, seek out mentors whilst identifying individuals whose career you admire and ask for their guidance. You can also connect with your colleagues and most importantly mentors via platforms like LinkedIn to maintain professional relationships
Focus on Learning and Development
Observe how professionals in your field operate, how they talk, interact and behave generally. Pay attention and observe. Internships are a period where you have the free card to regularly ask your supervisor for feedback on your performance and use it to improve. Keep a record of the accomplishments and skills you have acquired. This will be valuable for your CV and future job interviews and if the company offers training sessions, take advantage of them.
Maintain Professionalism
Dress appropriately. Ensure to always be punctual. Arrive on time for work and meetings. Communication is very important, so do so clearly and professionally with your colleagues and supervisors. Practice good etiquette – be respectful, courteous and mindful of workplace norms.
Time Management & Organisation
It can get overwhelming at times, which is why you have to prioritise tasks. Keep a task or to-do-list and prioritise items that are both important and urgent. Manage your time effectively by prioritising tasks based on importance and deadlines whilst simultaneously delivering high-quality work. Keep your workspace and digital files organised.
Reflect and Revaluate
It is easy to get carried away by work and stressed out. But do take the time to regularly assess your progress based on your set goals. Take time to reflect on your experiences and evaluate. Identify areas where you can improve your skills and performance. Take time to think about how your internship experience so far aligns with your career aspirations.
By following these few strategies, you can significantly enhance your internship experience and gain valuable skills and connections that will benefit your current self and future career.