Read more about How To
But first, let’s have a look at some of the benefits you could reap as an intern—the reasons you should take advantage of the opportunities that come your way while you’re one.
Benefits You May Derive from Your Internship
- Acquire new skills
- Learn what it’s like to work within a corporate organization, specifically within a given industry
- Meet people who could help you progress through your chosen career
- Gain experience that lets you stand out from among the competition in the market for talent
How to Make the Most of Your Internship: 6 Tips to Follow
The following are tips for how to make the most of your internship at a Nigerian company:List Your Goals Early On
When going into an internship, the first thing you should do is set goals for yourself. Be definite about the skills you want to acquire. It’s hard to overstate how important this is. When you list out your goals at the start, you’ll have targets to meet. This ensures that you’ll spend your time as an intern aiming to achieve those goals, and thus, improve the odds of your success later on in your career journey.Adopt a Can-Do Attitude
Your attitude to work will greatly determine the extent of your success as an intern. Given this fact, you’ll want to take on challenges with boldness and a willingness to learn from the experience. Instead of shying away from responsibilities, be that person who wants to take them on. The hard work you put in will help to build your skills and character and earn you the admiration of the people you’re interning with.Build Valuable Connections
Don’t neglect the humans with whom you work. Whether they’re senior management, lower-level employees, or fellow interns, the relationships you build with them could yield immense benefits in the short, medium, and long term. They could make your life as an intern easier, teach you a few important things, share opportunities with you, or even recommend you for a job. Their presence in your life may constitute the support you need to chase your dreams.Sign up for the Connect Nigeria daily newsletter
Learn from a Mentor
Decent mentorship is an ingredient for a successful career. If you’re a young talent who’s feeling his or her way through their career, you’ll find the advice and guidance of a good mentor useful. Thanks to the experience they’ve garnered over time, they have a lot of wisdom to share with upcoming professionals. You may find that some of the senior staff at the establishment you’re interning with may be open to mentoring you. Take advantage of such an opportunity if it comes along.Learn to be a Team Player
If you’re wondering how to make the most of your internship, here’s another way: practice being a team player. This means learning to work with a team of people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This is one skill you can only acquire and sharpen by doing. And it’ll come in handy afterwards because corporate organizations are primarily made up of people—individuals you must interact and work with on an ongoing basis.Keep in Touch
If your internship doesn’t end with you being hired immediately, make sure to stay in touch with the company. Email them a thank you note, to show that you appreciate the opportunity they’ve given you. Also, remain in contact with people from the organization, so you know when opportunities for full employment open up.Register to attend the CN Business Mixer
Final Words
An internship presents you with a chance to build up professional capacity and, hopefully, gain entrance to full employment. To get value from it, follow the tips we’ve discussed here. They’ll set you up for an excellent career further down the line.Featured Image Source: 898 Marketing
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