Even though internships are a way for graduate to learn more about a sector and gain experience of working life, they are also ideal for organisations to ensure individuals have the right skill set and are in tune with the company’s culture.
As a result, graduates can use them as a stepping stone to move on into full-time employment but how exactly can they impress? Walking straight into a busy office and excelling straight away can be a big challenge, especially if you are not given much responsibility at the start.
However, with the right attitude and level of hard work, employers can quickly be impressed and pass on more important tasks. The important thing to keep in mind is that in order to secure a position, interns need to prove their worth to the business.
Build strong connections
This may largely depend on the length of your internship, but even if you are with a company for a week it is important to make connections with teams and individuals in the office. Building up trust with colleagues and regularly contributing can ensure you become ingrained within the organisation and start playing an important role.
It may seem simple, but the more trust you build up with those in the office, the more chance you have of getting your teeth stuck into projects that you can excel in. Getting on well with people is an extremely important factor for employers, especially those who are looking to develop a positive working environment.
Seek improvement opportunities
Keeping on top of what is expected of you is always a good way to impress and shows a desire to improve which can be extremely attractive to employers. Check in regularly to see if you are meeting their expectations and to discover whether there are any areas where you can improve.
Problems can often be avoided once expectations have been established and everyone is on the same page. It also means you can be better placed to ask questions about any work and your long term future opportunities within the business.
If you’re a graduate looking to kick-start your career, have a chat with Discovery Graduates and see how they can help get you started…
