July has officially wrapped up and August has begun. We’re starting to see back to school commercials on TV and school supplies filling the shelves. That can only mean one thing – internships at many companies, PerkSpot included, are coming to an end. While we will be sad to see our interns go, we’re so appreciative of the lessons they taught us during their time at PerkSpot- and here are some of the most important ones:
1. Ask Questions
When an intern comes into your company, they’re bound to have a question or two … or twelve! A new workplace, new responsibilities, and new faces can equal a lot of confusion for someone, and we loved watching our interns learn how to adapt and acclimate to our workplace. But most of all, it was very refreshing to experience people in the workplace who weren’t afraid to ask questions when they didn’t know the answer to something or wanted to dive deeper into a topic or project. In the workplace, there can be an incredible amount of pressure to know the answers at all times. When did we stop asking questions? Asking the who, what, when, where and, most importantly, why, of something helps us create and innovate. It’s how we continue to move forward instead of getting stuck in the same place. Take a page out of our interns’ books and ask a question whenever you’re unsure!
2. Be Enthusiastic
The beauty of an internship program is that interns get to try their hand at several different projects and tasks. Often, doing so helps give them get a better understanding of what they do and do not enjoy, so they can make better decisions about the roles they’d like to pursue in their careers when it comes time to do so. As we assigned tasks and asked for help in various projects from our interns, we loved the enthusiasm they displayed. No matter how big or small the task, our interns strived to give their 100 percent, every time. Sometimes at work, the things we do over and over again can feel menial and tiresome. We forget the excitement and sense of achievement that we felt the first time we completed a task perfectly on our own and watching our interns do so reminded us of that. Adopt the enthusiasm of an intern and you’ll enjoy your workload you work on a bit more.
3. Make Connections
As our summer internship program wraps up, the LinkedIn requests and emails with contact information have come rolling in! Our interns made wonderful connections this summer, with their coworkers, managers, and fellow interns, and they’re working hard to make sure those connections remain intact and strong as they leave our office. But connections like these shouldn’t stop just because you’ve lost your intern status. Networking is part of the professional world, and an important part at that. Make a concerted effort to form connections with those that you work with, as well as people who work in your field and can relate to the work you do every day. Not only is it enjoyable to have coworkers and friends you can celebrate and commiserate with, but you just might find that you’ll need their assistance in your professional life one day!
4. Invest in Yourself
One of the most important elements of an internship program is helping interns grow themselves as working professionals. They’re constantly seeking out opportunities to gain skills or develop the ones they currently possess. They dive into projects they might not be completely familiar with just so they can gain experience and know-how. When was the last time you gained a new skill? We encourage you to be like an intern: be open to taking on new skills, both in your professional and personal life, that can help you grow as an employee and person.
We can’t believe that our summer internship program is almost over. It feels like just yesterday that we welcomed our interns to the office, and soon we’ll be wishing them good luck on their journey. But PerkSpot is extremely fortunate to have had their skills and talents in the office, if only for a short time. Us PerkSpotters will be sure to take the lessons they taught us to heart, and we think you should do the same! What did your summer internship program teach you?
