5 Ingredients for a Successful Internship

Last week, a talented, young go-getter named Sophie came into our agency to learn all she could about the world of a full-service marketing firm. We were blown away by her engagement. Still in high-school, Sophie impressively absorbed a ton of complicated information and had a great time doing it.

Sophie even wrote about her experiences and her 5 ingredients for a successful internship, listed below. We loved having her, and hope that more opportunities to work with St. Louis’ talented youth become available.

For more information about our internship opportunities, check out our careers page.

As summer approaches, there are many things that are going through a student’s mind. What am I going to do this summer? How can I make this summer worth-while? Look no further than internships! Students have the chance to learn so many things, and gain much-needed experience before applying for a real job.

Students benefit from internships on multiple levels, including practical work experience, growth as an individual, growth within a team, self-confidence, and communication with others. Although internships are a great way to gain experience, they can also be intimidating and nerve-racking for someone who doesn’t know what to expect. Here are 5 tips and tricks to a successful internship.

Engage Yourself with the Company

A great way to familiarize yourself with the company for which you want to work is by researching and visiting their social media sites online. Most companies provide a way to get information about their organization online. Before applying for the internship you are interested in, it is important to learn about the company and get some background so you don’t go into the job unprepared.

Always Be on Your Toes

After being tossed into a new atmosphere and unfamiliar setting, it can be difficult to step outside your comfort zone. It is important to always be willing to accept new challenges and material headed your way. This strategy exposes you to different aspects of the company you are working for and encourages you to work hard and try new things.

Keep an Open Mind

Maintaining an open-minded work ethic will open a whole new window of opportunity for the an intern. Being open to suggestion and the opinions of others will broaden the intern’s knowledge and experience as a worker in that field. Regardless of where you are working, trying new things and challenging yourself is what helps you grow as an individual and can lead to performing to the best of your ability.

Communication Is Key

Although you may not know everyone in the office yet, it is essential to become familiar with everyone. Be confident and introduce yourself to your coworkers and other people you will be surrounded with. Interacting with these people on an everyday basis helps you to not only become comfortable, it will make your overall experience more enjoyable and you never know — you may even make some friends!

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

The amazing opportunity to learn and gain the ability to put new things into practice is what makes internships so successful. Learning how to work together and build confidence are all aspects which lead to getting the most out of your time with that company.