Getting the Most Out of Your Internship

Alisha Mody, University of British Columbia (alishazdmody@gmail.com)

Internships can be a hit or miss affair. Having had a great internship for the seven months preceding my entry into SCARP, I would like to share what I think made it successful. I hope this will help you put yourself in the best possible position for a meaningful internship this summer.

What made my internship awesome:

1. I worked across the hall from my boss. This made sure that I was visible and therefore easier to remember when there was new work to be done. Hearing from other planning students about internship experiences, I think it is easy for interns to be overlooked or forgotten when things get busy. If you don’t have enough to do, don’t be afraid to ask for an additional project!
2. I asked questions early on in and throughout a project (and certainly regretted it any time I failed to do this).
3. I understood the expectations for my work. If you aren't clear, ask. One idea is to create an internship agreement before you start and schedule meetings throughout the process to check on your progress. This holds both you and your supervisor accountable for making the most of your internship!
4. I had a great relationship with my co-workers. This is important for lots of reasons... but especially because it allowed me to spread my questions around. Sometimes co-workers will ask you to help them with projects, too, which is a great way to learn about something new and develop new professional relationships.
5. I was hired to – and did – work on ongoing projects with a variety of staff. This was a great way to get a good idea of the kind of work going on in the organization and to learn from lots of different teachers.
6. I updated my direct supervisor on a regular basis (I can't take the credit for this; my supervisor made it happen, but in future I will definitely request it). This can be as simple as taking a coffee break together. It doesn't have to be formal and is a great way to make sure you are both on the same page.
7. I was involved in the day-to-day affairs of the planning operation. Don't be afraid to ask for this, because in exchange for the cheap labor you are providing, you should be getting a great learning experience!
8. Don’t forget that the first impression you make for the organization is critical, so make your first assignments great! Your supervisor and host organization has to put in effort to give you interesting work, so show them that you will be an asset during your short experience.

Overall, I think a successful internship is based on good communication! So in sum:

• Set up an internship agreement, so both you and your supervisor have clear expectations for your work
• Meet with your supervisor frequently so assess your progress
• Remind your supervisor that you are around, and ask for additional work if you don’t have enough
• Ask questions!
• Develop relationships with your co-workers so you can ask them questions or try new projects with them
• Get some great experience with the daily operations of your host organization

Happy internship hunting!

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