My first job out of college was an internship.
I was lucky enough to get one that paid a few bucks for an up-and-coming startup back in 1999, and it was one of the defining moments of my life. That internship was the backbone of my career, where I gained knowledge (and a paycheck) that I still use on a daily basis.
Over the past 10 years, I’ve “worked my way up” to becoming owner and CEO of my own startup business, ResumeBucket.
I’m very fond of those early years.
And I think it’s important to emphasize not what internship to apply for, but what to do once you have the job in order to really make the most out of it. As such, I have put together a few tips I would like to share with the current or future class of interns.
Focus on your Accomplishments
Make sure you keep a record of what you achieved at your company, and figure out how to best represent that on your resume and with your manager.
Approach your duties as individual projects, and track measurable results. It pays off.
Report your results in your work experience, not just “duties.”
For example, a marketing intern could cite how many new followers they accumulated through a new social media initiative.
Deliver on Quality
Managers want the highest quality from their teams, so don’t rush your work. Pay attention to detail, from drafting basic e-mails to creating business documents.
The same goes for your resume since this document provides the hiring manager a
first impression of you.
Be Proactive
Be proactive in volunteering for projects. Your willingness to take on more tasks will make a company see you as part of a larger business strategy and keep you on board after graduation.
On your resume, be sure you highlight proactivity in your experience, objective
statement or skills summaries.
Mind your Aptitude
Understand the skills needed for potential jobs that you can apply after your internship. Get involved in projects that will help develop and showcase the skills that match a company’s needs.
Include a bulleted list of critical skills that are relevant to the jobs you apply for to make your resume stand out.
I hope this helps the current class of interns and everyone who’s considering an internship in the future.
It’s one of the most valuable experiences you can have. Most first-year graduates who have had an internship earn an average of $8,000 more than students who didn’t. In today’s economy, we can’t waste the opportunities.
Thank you, and good luck.
Ted Hekman is the CEO of ResumeBucket
