7 Secrets to Make the Most of Your Communications Internship
So you’ve landed a communications internship? Congrats!
Now that the applications, interviews, and contract signing are done, the real work begins!
As a recent communications graduate who has done seven internships over the past six years, I’ve collected many tips and secrets to take full advantage of each of my internships.
Let’s get into the Comms&Me secrets to making the most of your internship!
7 Secrets to Make the Most of Your Communications Internship
1. Make LinkedIn Your Best Friend
One of the best decisions I made when I started my very first internship was creating a LinkedIn account. I had a simple profile but knew that it was the best way to keep in touch with my coworkers once I left.
Over the years, I’ve received multiple job offers from past managers and coworkers through LinkedIn. It’s sometimes easier for employers to message you on LinkedIn than to try remembering your email address.
I highly encourage all communications interns to create a LinkedIn profile because it’s an easy way to stay in touch with colleagues and discover future job opportunities!
Comms&Me tip: It’s best to connect with coworkers on LinkedIn towards the end of your internship. This gives them time to get to know you first at work instead of bombarding them with a friend request on your first day.
2. Chat with the other interns
In most internships, you won’t be the only intern working at the company, especially over the summer. Meeting and chatting with your fellow interns can make your experience much more enjoyable and it’s a nice bonding experience.
The other interns may be working in completely different departments and teams from yours, so send them a message to show them you’re interested in chatting.
Comms&Me tip: Create a group chat with your fellow interns to message regularly and invite each other to lunch or coffee!
3. Know your goals
Your internship is what you make of it. And the best way to do that is to know what your goals are from day one. Write down what goals you want to achieve by the end of your internship.
And most importantly, make sure to let your manager know what your goals are so they can help you achieve them!
4. Communication is ACTUALLY key.
The saying “Communication is key” is very true in the internship world, especially communication between you and your manager.
Always advise your manager of any concerns or challenges you’re facing. Here are some key moments when you should communicate with your manager:
You’ll be late for work or a meeting
You should tell your manager ASAP if you’ll be late for work or a meeting. If you don’t show up on time, they’ll notice immediately, and it could damage your image if they’re not aware.
You run out of work to do
It can be common for interns to feel like they finish their work quickly and run out of tasks. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to always tell your manager when you’re done with your tasks and if you need more. Don’t be scared to tell them because you’ll help teach them how much time you need for tasks and how much work you can handle.
You’re given tasks by other colleagues
Always let your manager know when you’ve been assigned work by another colleague. This ensures that your manager stays aware of what you’re working on and to not overwhelm you with tasks.
You need more time to get work done
One of the most common things managers have told me on my first day is “If you need more time to finish a task, let me know.”
Managers have told me time and time again that they’ve given a task to an intern with a specific deadline and the intern doesn’t finish it on time. But the main issue is that the intern never TOLD the manager that they needed more time. Usually, managers can adjust their timeline if you need more time to complete a task, but you should NEVER wait until the deadline to let them know.
Comms&Me tip: At the beginning of your internship, ask your manager which form of communication they prefer. Some managers prefer communicating via email, while others prefer messaging channels like Microsoft Teams or Slack.
5. Plan check-in meetings with your manager
Make sure that you and your manager book at least one check-in meeting during your internship. A check-in meeting is a good time to receive feedback from your manager and to mention any challenges or interests you have for the rest of your internship.
Most of my managers only booked one check-in meeting with me at the halfway point of my internship, while other managers preferred having monthly check-in meetings. It just depends on what you both think is necessary!
6. Keep a running list of all your completed tasks
One habit I implement during every internship is a list of all the tasks and projects I work on throughout my internship. This is really helpful for your future self to remember what work and experience you gained from that internship.
When it comes time to update a future résumé or LinkedIn profile, all you’ll need to do is look back at your old list of work tasks to get a good idea of your internship experience.
If your internship is part of your university/college program and requires you to write a report at the end of your internship, it can be SUPER helpful to read through your list and remember exactly what you got up to.
7. Keep an eye out for training and mentoring opportunities
To take full advantage of your internship, look into what learning opportunities your company offers. Many companies offer training courses and discounted offers for learning programs.
Some companies also have mentoring programs where students and early career employees get matched with senior-level employees. I participated in a mentoring program at one of my internships and got matched with a senior communications manager who helped me refine my résumé and interview skills.
Any other internship secrets?
Comment below any internship secrets and tips you’ve learned to help out future comms interns!
