Chelsea Gentile, MCM Candidate, Class of 2015
Los Angeles is an epicenter for the media and entertainment industries. As graduate students attending a media and entertainment driven program within this epicenter, many of us make interning a priority. Use these four key tips to make your internship experience worthwhile for your company, your resume, and your overall learning experience.
1) You’re interviewing them too
So many of us step into internship interviews hoping that the company wants to take us on. However, you also have to decide if you want to take them on. Don’t forget is that an internship is a learning opportunity and you need to maximize that learning experience. Listen carefully to your interviewer and get a sense of the duties you’ll be asked to perform. If getting Starbucks and ordering filing cabinets are among the only tasks the internship seems to require, it’s a sign to move on to a different opportunity.
2) Research, research, research
Researching your internship company shouldn’t stop after you land the position, it should continue throughout your time at the company. Keep yourself up-to-date on office news as well as industry news. It makes for great conversations with your coworkers, but you also never know where a great idea can come from.
3) Ask questions
The shyness factor is an inevitable part of starting a new internship, but you need to shake it fast. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something, but, more importantly, don’t hesitate to ask questions about your industry and company’s inner workings. This is part of maximizing your learning experience, but it also shows your superiors that you’re invested.
4) Do more than what you’re told
It’s important to keep your head down and work hard at the tasks you’re assigned, but you’ll stand out if you go above and beyond those tasks. One of the bravest things an intern can do is make suggestions. If you think you can improve the way a task is done, don’t be afraid to politely present it to your supervisor. The worst thing he or she can say is no, but, more often than not, you’ll make an impression!