Ten practical tips to get the most out of an internship
20 March 2014
Read by 2601 persons
Every summer, companies are full of interns. It is not always easy for students to stand out and score points with their supervisors. Ten tips for a successful internship.
Prepare early
A successful internship is above all a well-prepared internship. A student must start by "identifying and defining their internship project in collaboration with the training organization," advises Claudine de Vaux-Bidon, executive assistant and internship manager at ESME Sudria. Only then comes the time to search for a company. Even before contacting it, it is best to find out what it does and "identify the right contacts". Participating in "mock interviews, CV preparation and cover letter preparation" also increases the chances of landing an internship.
Know your rights
A good internship involves a good understanding of intern legislation, to know your rights and responsibilities. Once in the company, the missions entrusted to the intern must be set in advance, recalls Virginie Lacroix, director of the corporate relations department of the Idrac group. And this according to the employer's expectations but also those of the student.
Make yourself known in the company
Getting to know the company where you are interning - and "not just in your department" - is essential, emphasizes Laurent Hermel*, executive advisor and specialist in development strategy: "Don't hesitate to introduce yourself to employees and get back to them," he advises. Having lunch with your internship supervisor, other employees or even interns allows you to gather information about the company that is not discussed in the context of work. However, be careful not to stay only among interns, at the risk of cutting yourself off from the employees.
Add value
An intern is recruited for their qualifications, it's up to them to exploit them. A good command of foreign languages or computer skills, for example, can be an asset for the company, recalls Emmanuel Eloy, general secretary of the Federation of General Student Associations (FAGE). How to score points during an internship? By bringing information to the company. Internet monitoring, reading a book to deepen a current file, etc., "don't hesitate to go further than what your internship supervisor asks you," summarizes Laurent Hermel.
Regularly take stock
Discuss difficulties encountered, ask questions, review ongoing projects and work done: this is what reviews are for. They can take place every morning for 5 to 10 minutes, or rather at the end of the week. An intern should not hesitate to ask their supervisor what is wrong with their work or to ask for advice to improve.
Talk to your colleagues
It is essential to communicate with your supervisor so that they can pass on their knowledge. "A quality internship is one in which you apply your knowledge, you learn, and during which you are well integrated into a team of professionals," recalls Claudine de Vaux-Bidon, from the CGE.
Stay humble
During an internship, "avoid thinking that you know everything and that you are going to revolutionize the company. Know how to stay humble," recalls Laurent Hermel. There is no point, for example, in "looking down on people", because everyone has something to teach the student. "Feeling good with everyone" is fundamental, he concludes.
Show "know-how"
Arriving on time, respecting the rules specific to each department and adapting to dress codes promotes the integration of the intern and helps them acquire "know-how". Too casual attitudes - putting your feet on the desk, using too familiar expressions - are obviously to be avoided. An intern must also not forget to thank the people who helped them throughout their internship.
Build a network
The contacts made during an internship are sometimes decisive, including obtaining an internship or even a first job. Hence the interest in maintaining them, once the internship is over. "Think in terms of future relationships. You have to get used to creating them," insists Laurent Hermel. How? First by making sure to remind the employer of you. The intern must therefore listen carefully and not hesitate to send them a message on a subject they may have discussed together in the past, for example. Their network should extend to the entire company and not just their department.
Highlight your work
A successful internship involves highlighting the knowledge acquired. "The intern must identify the skills they have acquired during the internship, estimates Claudine de Vaux-Bidon, both in terms of know-how and know-what, in particular through evaluations."
* Co-author of Succeeding in your company internship: a springboard for employment, Afnor, 2009
Lexpress.fr
Posted online on March 20, 2014.
Prepare early
A successful internship is above all a well-prepared internship. A student must start by "identifying and defining their internship project in collaboration with the training organization," advises Claudine de Vaux-Bidon, executive assistant and internship manager at ESME Sudria. Only then comes the time to search for a company. Even before contacting it, it is best to find out what it does and "identify the right contacts". Participating in "mock interviews, CV preparation and cover letter preparation" also increases the chances of landing an internship.
Know your rights
A good internship involves a good understanding of intern legislation, to know your rights and responsibilities. Once in the company, the missions entrusted to the intern must be set in advance, recalls Virginie Lacroix, director of the corporate relations department of the Idrac group. And this according to the employer's expectations but also those of the student.
Make yourself known in the company
Getting to know the company where you are interning - and "not just in your department" - is essential, emphasizes Laurent Hermel*, executive advisor and specialist in development strategy: "Don't hesitate to introduce yourself to employees and get back to them," he advises. Having lunch with your internship supervisor, other employees or even interns allows you to gather information about the company that is not discussed in the context of work. However, be careful not to stay only among interns, at the risk of cutting yourself off from the employees.
Add value
An intern is recruited for their qualifications, it's up to them to exploit them. A good command of foreign languages or computer skills, for example, can be an asset for the company, recalls Emmanuel Eloy, general secretary of the Federation of General Student Associations (FAGE). How to score points during an internship? By bringing information to the company. Internet monitoring, reading a book to deepen a current file, etc., "don't hesitate to go further than what your internship supervisor asks you," summarizes Laurent Hermel.
Regularly take stock
Discuss difficulties encountered, ask questions, review ongoing projects and work done: this is what reviews are for. They can take place every morning for 5 to 10 minutes, or rather at the end of the week. An intern should not hesitate to ask their supervisor what is wrong with their work or to ask for advice to improve.
Talk to your colleagues
It is essential to communicate with your supervisor so that they can pass on their knowledge. "A quality internship is one in which you apply your knowledge, you learn, and during which you are well integrated into a team of professionals," recalls Claudine de Vaux-Bidon, from the CGE.
Stay humble
During an internship, "avoid thinking that you know everything and that you are going to revolutionize the company. Know how to stay humble," recalls Laurent Hermel. There is no point, for example, in "looking down on people", because everyone has something to teach the student. "Feeling good with everyone" is fundamental, he concludes.
Show "know-how"
Arriving on time, respecting the rules specific to each department and adapting to dress codes promotes the integration of the intern and helps them acquire "know-how". Too casual attitudes - putting your feet on the desk, using too familiar expressions - are obviously to be avoided. An intern must also not forget to thank the people who helped them throughout their internship.
Build a network
The contacts made during an internship are sometimes decisive, including obtaining an internship or even a first job. Hence the interest in maintaining them, once the internship is over. "Think in terms of future relationships. You have to get used to creating them," insists Laurent Hermel. How? First by making sure to remind the employer of you. The intern must therefore listen carefully and not hesitate to send them a message on a subject they may have discussed together in the past, for example. Their network should extend to the entire company and not just their department.
Highlight your work
A successful internship involves highlighting the knowledge acquired. "The intern must identify the skills they have acquired during the internship, estimates Claudine de Vaux-Bidon, both in terms of know-how and know-what, in particular through evaluations."
* Co-author of Succeeding in your company internship: a springboard for employment, Afnor, 2009
Lexpress.fr
Posted online on March 20, 2014.
