Figuring Out What You Want from an Internship

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Figuring Out What You Want from an Internship
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Decide What You Want from Your Career

• If you know what you want from your career,
  itll be easier for you to decide what you want
  from your internship. But this means figuring out
  what you do and dont want from a future job and
  employer. Knowing what you want will help ensure
  you intern in a field and at an organization that
  you like. Besides, internships are trials that
  can be used to help you gain experience and the
  ability to make informed career choices.

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• This time should be used to help you define who
  you are and what you want. Remember that even the
  most tedious activities can test your abilities,
  improve your professionalism and help you build
  character. Although you might perform many
  trivial tasks, you will also have opportunities
  to learn many valuable skills and inside
  information about your future career.

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Define Your Internship

• An internship is not the same thing as a job.
  Most college students use jobs to supplement
  their income, but they use internships to gain
  experience in their field of study, build skills
  in a professional environment and help them
  figure out their future career path. In fact, an
  internship can be the first step in a career.
  Internships provide useful information and
  professional experience, as well as help you
  learn marketable skills.

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• For example, if you plan to work in the business
  sector, an internship can teach you about the
  best marketing practices, how to negotiate
  contracts, how to manage accounts and so much
  more. Everything you learn at this level will
  prepare you for working at higher levels. But it
  all begins with defining what you want your
  internship to be.

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Choose a Feasible Schedule

• An internship is like every other job, it
  requires a time commitment a commitment that
  fits your schedule and lifestyle. This means
  scheduling your work days and committing to a
  part-time or full-time position. A full-time
  internship can be highly demanding, so most
  students opt for part-time positions. The partial
  time commitment offers flexibility and the
  ability to pair your internship with a summer job
  or courses. On the other hand, a full-time
  commitment can help prepare you for a real work
  schedule and expectations.

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Weigh the Pros and Cons of Corporations vs. Small
Companies

• Most students dream of landing an internship at
  a major corporation. But small companies or
  startups can offer as much opportunity and
  experience as large organizations. It all depends
  on your experience, what you want from your
  future career and what you want and need to
  learn. If youre inexperienced and looking for
  your first internship, a startup or small company
  is best for you. Because small companies have a
  small amount of staff members, you will likely
  receive more meaningful tasks and projects,
  leading to more experience.

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• Comparatively, large companies are generally
  interested in experienced interns with unique
  skill sets. Plus, if you intern at a major
  corporation, you will likely receive more trivial
  tasks and less experience in leadership roles.
  However, where you intern could depend on where
  you live. If you live in one of the best student
  rentals Ottawa has to offer, like 1Eleven,
  there's a good chance that there will be
  opportunities at many organizations.