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How to Get the Most Out of Your Internship… According to an Intern

This week, University of Nevada, Reno student Madison Cleveland is wrapping up her more than two-month internship at The Firm Public Relations & Marketing. Before heading back to the classroom, we asked her to provide insight on how future interns (at The Firm or anywhere) can maximize their experience.

Madison wrote:

“Starting an internship can be scary. What do I wear and say? What if I don’t know anything? How can I get the most from my experience? These are the real questions that ran through my head on the first day. Now that my internship is coming to an end and I have learned so much more than I could ever have expected, I have advice on how you can make the most of your internship, too!

Tip 1: ASK QUESTIONS!

Ask any question that you can think of. If you don’t know, now is the perfect opportunity to learn. Learning is the purpose of an internship. How else are you going to get real-world experience?

Tip 2: Get to know as many people in the company as you can.

Whether the company is big or small, these are the relationships that are going to help you succeed and grow with the company and grow as a professional. Everyone comes from a different background, so it is interesting to see the different paths that lead people to where they are now.

Tip 3: Take it seriously.

This is the chance to work in the real world before you actually have to be in the real world. An internship is a true career opportunity and just because it might not be permanent doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it your all.

Tip 4: If you have no idea what is going on, take a deep breath and then take notes.

Relax and then start writing down what questions you have and what you want to learn more about. Then, when someone has a free minute, you can ask the questions you already have prepared. This is a great way to stay on top of the information that is being thrown at you.

Tip 5: Before you start or even halfway through the internship, make a list of things you want to learn before you leave.

Internships can fly by and if you don’t make it clear what you want to learn, then it is very possible it could get skipped. If you know what skills you want to acquire while at your internship, share those with the team, so they can help you accomplish them.

Tip 6: Enjoy it!

An internship is a great opportunity to see if this is, in fact, the line of work you want to go into. Do you enjoy going to work? Do you like the work you’re assigned? These are things to consider during your internship.”

Madison Cleveland is an intern at The Firm Public Relations & Marketing and a student at the University of Nevada, Reno. Keep an eye on our Careers page for future internship openings.

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I have worked with The Firm Public Relations & Marketing for more than 10 years and they are more than just business partners, they function like an extension of my marketing department. Their strategic expertise extends beyond traditional public relations initiatives. They produce tactical programs with dedication and proficiency that earn tangible results.

Lisa SantwerVice President, Marketing & CommunicationsComprehensive Cancer Centers