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Internships are wrapping up all over as the summer winds down. Before you move on to what's next, it's worth pausing to think back on what you learned during your internship, what you’ve learned about yourself, and how to carry it forward. While it’s still fresh in your mind, now is the time to catalog your takeaways. Read on for the sorts of things that you can take with you through your career.
What Skills Did You Learn?
Every internship teaches you hard skills related to the position, but most of what folks learn are the soft skills it takes to survive the workplace. Maybe you got better at prioritizing when everything felt urgent, or you learned to speak up in a meeting without waiting to be called on. Perhaps you got really good at reading between the lines when your manager asked for something, deciphering both what they asked for and what they actually needed. Whatever they happened to be, include them on your list to reference later, say on a resume or in a job interview. But, most importantly, you hopefully built relationships that will stay with you long after this internship ends.
Who Have You Gotten to Know?
Whether it’s with your managers or your fellow interns, you’ve no doubt fostered plenty of relationships while at your internship. Think about those you worked closely with, those who gave you feedback, and those you want to stay in touch with. This is the start of your network—a crucial aspect of being a working professional. It’s not just what you know, like what you noted down in the above step. It’s also (and sometimes even more so) who you know. Make sure to reach out to these people before your internship ends, or soon after. A quick thank-you message or a request to connect on LinkedIn costs you nothing, and it can turn a summer connection into a long-term one.
What Did You Gravitate Towards?
When you look back over the summer, certain things start to stand out. Which tasks did you look forward to? Which ones dragged? Which projects sucked you in, and which ones seemed pointless? That's information about the type of work, pace, and environment where you do your best thinking. Knowing the kind of work you like to do can help you narrow down the industries, roles, and companies that most interest you.
Then narrow it down into one specific thing you can point to: a project you completed or a tool you mastered, for example. Turn your experience with it into a story—one that you can use in interviews or on a resume. Concrete examples are helpful to reference in interviews, as they give your interviewer a real insight into how you work.
Share Your Feedback
Noting the above is important for self-reflection, but it’s also important that you share your insights with your internship program, if asked. Programs solicit feedback through several methods: surveys, exit interviews, or just a casual conversation with your manager. If your program is asking for feedback, consider what worked, what stood out, and what could have been different, and share it with them. The best feedback is constructive and specific. Don’t just say it was fun, tell them about something fun you experienced. Similarly, if there were aspects of the program that you didn’t like, specify why and what might improve that aspect. Your input helps shape and build the program down the road for the interns who come after you.
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