How to get the most out of your internship

Joshua Crofts
Monday 14 February 2022

Internships can be a great learning experience. But there are things you can do to ensure you get the most from them.

Below are eight tips on how you can do this, whether your internship is in-person, remote or ‘hybrid’ (both remote and in-person).

1. Manage your time effectively

Especially in remote internships, it’s easy to get caught in a cycle of working whenever you feel like it. Sometimes it seems possible to deliver your work before the deadline by fitting in your internship between other obligations.

While flexibility is one of the benefits of remote internships, it should not affect the quality of your work. Set a schedule for yourself and turn off all distractions to recreate an office environment at home. You should talk with your manager and colleagues to agree on a work schedule.  This will help you deliver your tasks without sacrificing your work-life balance.

2. Connect with colleagues

In a remote or hybrid internship, you do not get the same interaction with colleagues that you might enjoy in an office environment. When you do not have the benefit of physical contact, it can be hard to feel connected to your new colleagues and manager.

To address this, talk to your manager about how they would like updates about your work. If they prefer emails, consider sending a weekly email recap about lessons you have learned, projects you’ve made progress on, and any questions that might have arisen during the week. If they prefer video meetings, come to these prepared with notes, questions, and ideas. If you have urgent concerns, message your manager early on.

To get to know your colleagues better, you could also request brief calls to get to know people across your area of work.

3. Set goals and monitor your achievements

Think about what you hope to gain from your internship before you start. Split your wider expectations into smaller, specific goals, using SMART as a guide. Make sure to communicate your goals with your manager and ask about their expectations for you.

Setting your goals does not stop there: now it is time to work hard to achieve them! Review them frequently throughout your internship so you can track your progress. At the end of your internship, you should review your goals more formally. You may be surprised by everything you’ve accomplished.

You should also record your achievements. What have you completed or impacted? What are the skills you have developed? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?  This process may help you update your CV, expand your portfolio of work, and add special skills to your LinkedIn profile.

4. Ask for feedback

To maximise your internship experience, be clear with your manager that you want feedback so that you can continue to grow as a professional. This might mean scheduling a meeting to review changes they have made to a project draft you delivered or their suggestions and comments on a document you authored.

When seeking feedback from colleagues, you should accept it graciously. Think of feedback as a favour, because it will help improve your work.

5. Make an impact while improving your professional skills

Once you have got to know your manager or mentor, you may feel ready to suggest some ideas. This may lead to further opportunities, such as you being asked to present your ideas in the next department meeting. This will be a highlight for your CV, because you will be able to show future employers you have improved processes and that you take the initiative.

While you are doing these things, consider improving some key skills like public speaking, communicating, and socialising in professional settings.

6. Be professional

Be aware of how you present yourself to your colleagues and manager. What is the appropriate clothing for your department? What is appropriate email etiquette for the person you are addressing? If you have a concern or there is an issue you are not sure how to handle, who is the most appropriate person to talk to?  And do not forget the basics of common courtesy – be punctual, say thank you, and be reliable.

7. Ask for a reference

A professional endorsement from a past internship can be extremely useful when applying for permanent work after graduation. Remember to ask key people if they are willing to be your referees for future jobs. Make sure you approach them well before the application deadlines to give them plenty of time to write your reference.

8. Build your network and stay in touch

Send a thank you to everyone you’ve worked with and everyone who’s helped you in some way. Get contact information, then make an effort to stay in touch. LinkedIn is a great way to do this, but it’s also good to send an email, asking how someone is and letting them know what you’re doing too.

Additional resources

If you’re looking for further advice on how to make the most out of your internship, you may find the following resources helpful:

In addition, consider booking an appointment with a careers adviser for further help.

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