Ace That Internship: 6 Things To Do Before You Leave

It's the end of summer internship season, and here is a list of things to do your last week!

1. Get coffee/lunch with your supervisor: Make sure you continue to build your relationship with your supervisor. They can be a great mentor, reference and sounding board in the future. One day you can even repay them for their kindness!

2. Compile your portfolio (ask for permission) : Start putting together samples of what you did during your internship. Ask your supervisor what is appropriate to bring with you, and whatever you get permission for make sure to take a digital copy for future portfolios. Try and find your best work, as well as pieces that show you can do the more common tasks.

3. Update your LinkedIn, professional website and resume: Take an afternoon or night to update all three of these items and make sure they reflect what you did. It takes a lot of editing and rewriting, but use your task list to make this easier.

4. Finish any projects: Even if you can't finish them, make sure you stop at a place that others can pick up at. Keep your supervisor updated on your progress, and leave a description of where you left off.

5. Ask for a review: If your internship doesn't already schedule a review at the end, ask for one for two reasons. One, you get to hear how you did, and can make goals for yourself to improve. Two, you can give your supervisor feedback on your experience.

6. If you feel comfortable, ask for a reference: If you feel as if you have a great relationship with your supervisor, ask for them to be a reference or for a letter of reference. They are the best ones to ask because they worked with you directly.If you connected with other people in the company and worked with them closely, ask them as well to be a reference. It's important later on when you're applying for internships, awards and scholarships.

Bonus:Write a thank you card! Alicia and Elana reminded me of the most important tip, write a thank you note to people you worked with! Both remarked how it had left an impression on them. I can't believe I forgot about this, since it's normally my number one tip!


What did/do you do to end your internship on a positive note? If you had an internship, how did you think it went/?

xoxo

Ace the Internship Posts:
Ace That Internship Part 1: Find the Right Internship for You
Ace That Internship Part 2: What to Wear
Ace That Internship Part 3: Interviews
Act That Internship Part 4: The Follow-Up
Ace That Internship Part 5: During Your Internship
Ace That Internship Part 6: How to Gain the Most From Your Internship Part 1
Ace That Internship Part 7: How to Gain the Most From Your Internship Part 2

Ace That Internship: How to Gain the Most from Your Internship Part 2

Here is the second part of Ace That Internship: How to Gain the Most from Your Internship! Check out the first part here! This part is all about the people you meet and work with. These tips will hopefully help you make lasting connections and make it a little less awkward.

1. Schedule Lunch/Coffee: Throughout the duration of your internship try and schedule lunch or coffee with almost everyone you work with, your boss's boss and even upper management in the company. Simply send an email or stop by their office and ask if they would be willing to sit down with you to discuss their career journey.

2.Follow Up: After that coffee or lunch, make sure to follow up with a thank you card for their time. Make sure to stop by periodically to check in with the, and don't be afraid to ask follow up questions if they seem to be open to it. You'll have to read their body langauge, and even ask point blank if you would be able to follow up with them. Time is precious, but many professionals are open to mentoring!

3. Connect on LinkedIn: Send a personalized message to your co-workers and supervisor, as well as anyone that you had lunch or coffee with. Connec with other interns as well! In your message include who you are, and something personal you may have connected about. They're a lot more likely to connect with you that way!

4.Remember Details: Do they have a kid? What about their favorite sports team? Make an effort to remember one thing about every person you have a conversation with. It's one of the easiest ways to get to know people and build relationships!

6.Keep a Contact List: Depending on who you have contact with during your internship, keep a list of people you've met. This can be done in an Excel spreadsheet. It's a lot easier than you think! A little googling or using the business card they gave you should give you the information you need.



Remember not to force relationships, sometimes you might not just click! But don't be afraid to reach out to people, always be polite, and work your hardest!

What do you do to make the most of your relationships? What do you do to go above and beyond at your internship?


xoxo

Here are the links to my other Ace That Internship Posts!
Ace That Internship Part 1: Find the Right Internship for You
Ace That Internship Part 2: What to Wear 
Ace That Internship Part 3: Interviews 
Act That Internship Part 4: The Follow-Up 
Ace That Internship Part 5: During Your Internship 
Ace That Internship Part 6: How to Gain the Most From Your Internship Part 1

Ace That Internship: How to Gain the Most from Your Internship Part 1

It's a very long title, but the two posts cover two different subjects! In this post I'll be discussing how to document your experiences at your internships!

1. Be Observant & Ask Intelligent Questions:  Observe your co-workers! Look at how they complete tasks, interact with clients, complete their to do lists and what they say during meetings. Ask questions about their relationships with clients, how they execute tasks and where they gain inspiration!

2. Take selfies: This is a weird idea, but take selfies at cool events, at your desk, and before big meetings at different places. You can use these on your professional website to illustrate all the fun thing you were able to experience.

3. Save Samples: Ask your supervisor if you can save some examples of your work. Always ask because your work is probably considered property of the company or business you work for. Save some of your best work, especially of projects that are already completed. Try and show a progression of work, from the beginning to the end. Save an electronic copy so you can print it multiple times as well as uploaded to your portfolio!

4. Keep a Task List: After each week, set aside some time to write down all the tasks you completed at your internship. Try to associated numbers with it, such as wrote this many press releases that were picked up by this many news outlets or increased page views by 10% with new blog posts. This is also helpful when you tailor your resumes because you'll know what you did at each internship!

5. Keep Track of What You Learned: Keep a list of what you learned throughout your time as an intern! It's a great way to refresh your memory when you need it later on down the line. Some ideas would be what you observed during the set up and take down of an event.



What do you do to gain the most from your internship? Where are you interning? If you have a full-time job, what did you do in your internship that helped you get a job?

xoxo

Summer Internship Reflection

I'm a big believer in constant improvement. In order to improve I believe we should reflect every once in awhile on what we've accomplished.

This summer I took a media planning internship at an ad agency. This is definitely out of my comfort zone, but it was a great experience.

1. Asking questions is a must: Since this job was out of my comfort zone, I definitely needed to ask lots of questions, and my curiosity was appreciated.

2. Double-check, triple-check your work: This job involved a lot of math, which is not my strong suit.  In the beginning I wanted to get the job done quickly, but by the end I was doing to job quickly, and then checking my work two or three times.

3. Make connections: Internships are great to build your skill set, but their more valuable if you connect with the people you are working with. These connections enrich your experience and help build your network for after college.

4. Take positives out of everything: Even thought this internship was not the exact job that I want in life, I gained great skills and contacts!

I'm excited for the possibility of internships next semester and next summer!

How was your summer job or internship?

xoxo

PR Friday: All Work, No Pay: Finding an Internship, Building Your Resume, Making Connections, and Gaining Job Experience

TGIF! I'm back with a great read for those of you in college or about to be in college. A couple of weeks ago I reviewed Lauren Berger's book  Welcome to the Real World: Finding Your Place, Perfecting Your Work, and Turning Your Job into Your Dream Career  here, but this is really the book that I should have read first.

 All Work, No Pay: Finding an Internship Building Your Resume, Making Connections, and Gaining Job Experience  is a great read. Just like before, Lauren gives great insight on how to start with your internship search. Now before you think she's just any person giving advice, this woman had 15 internships in college. She's got some real experience to back up her advice.

Once again I loved that Lauren broke down essential tips for you in each chapter. The book is basically step-by-step so you are able to read a chapter and then start your search without having to finish the whole book right away. Some how-to books make you wait and then I get confused.

I also really enjoyed the examples that she gave in the book, and that she included "copies" of some important documents that you should make. I can be a very visual learner and this was great for me to set up my own system based off of hers.

The best part about this book is the networking advice. Networking can be a very delicate task, and I'm always nervous that I will mess something up. Lauren gives great advice and even examples on types of messages to send, which I found very helpful.

If you are just starting out, or a seasoned intern veteran you will still probably learn something from Lauren, because I did.

 All Work, No Pay: Finding an Internship Building Your Resume, Making Connections, and Gaining Job Experience

Read her book and let me know what you think! Comment below or send me an email!

Any book suggestions? I'm look for one more book to review before I leave for Spain!

xoxo

Ace That Internship: During Your Internship

Now that you are over half way through your internship, what can you do to really stand out and use this position to your advantage? Here are some of the most important tips that I've heard throughout the past couple of years!

Ask questions: At this point in your internship you should be asking lots of questions. Not just about the assignment, but more "critical thinking" questions! Show your supervisors that you've been picking up on things and want to know more about the industry. This also shows that you're invested in the job and are planning on actually doing something

Ask your boss to lunch or coffee: Once again at this point you should feel comfortable around your boss to ask them to lunch! You can start to build a relationship and learn about how they go to their position. It's a great networking tool and a great way to create a reference for your next internship or job. They may even help you get a job.

Keep a list of everything you do:By keeping a detailed list of what you do at each internship, you are able to use this for your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile. This can also come in handy if it's your job to update an intern folder or database.

Connect with co-workers on LinkedIn:If you feel comfortable enough start connecting with co-workers and your boss on LinkedIn! Make sure to personalize your message though! Just a simple greeting and opener and "I would appreciate connecting with you on LinkedIn", then sign your name!

What are you doing in the last couple of weeks in your internship? What are your go-to tips for your internship?

xoxo

Ace That Internship Part 1: Find the Right Internship for You
Ace That Internship Part 2: What to Wear
Ace That Internship Part 3: Interviews
Act That Internship Part 4: The Follow-Up
Ace That Internship Part 6: How to Gain the Most From Your Internship Part 1
Ace That Internship Part 7: How to Gain the Most From Your Internship Part 2

Staying On Your Game This Summer

I am participating in PRSSA’s “Progressions Writing Prompt” exercise for June 2014. To learn more, check out this post for details.

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As a younger public relations student, I am constantly searching for ways to learn more about the industry and immerse myself in public relations.  Just like athletes, say a soccer player,here is how I am staying on my public relations game this summer. 

Reading through Issues & Trends:  On your lunch break, try and read at least three articles from the daily emails that the PRSA sends out. The emails normally come around 8 am central time. This way you can see what other public relations professionals find important. Just like a soccer player should follow league news in order to see who the competition will be next season, you should be up to date on industry trends and issues. 

Internships: Whether or not your internship is paid, this is a great way to hone your skills. Just like a soccer player has to practice and learn from older players, this is your time to practice. If you make a mistake, ask how they would have done it and why. Instead of just learning the steps, learn the reasons why the task is completed with those steps. A soccer player in order to play in the major leagues has to master their fundamentals, a public relations student needs to master the fundamentals of day to day tasks. 

Projects As someone who is passionate about the PRSSA, there are lots of options for you to stay sharp. You could write for Progressions, discuss with your president about starting a student-run firm, or attend local PRSA events to network. Just like a soccer player practices during the off season, use summer to make weaknesses strengths and add skills to your resume. 

While you hone your public relations skills, build your professional portfolio and resume don't forget to enjoy yourself! Public relations is a 24/7 industry and passion, but as college students it is important to start thinking about a work-life balance. 

Ace that Internship: The Follow-Up

Here is the fourth installment of the my internship series.  I'm going to discuss following up after an interview!

Following up on your interview is very important. It reminds your interviewers that about your interview and why they liked you for the position. This can be really important when you are one of many candidates for the job. It also shows you have initiative and want the job.

Hand written note: Send a hand-written note to those who interviewed you. Thank them for their time and remind them what you discussed.

Email: If you aren't able to send a hand written note, make sure to email them at the least. This email can be a little more personal than others, but still professional. Thank them for their time like you would in a hand written note, and remind them what you discussed!

Even if you don't get the internship, you may have made a contact!

How do you follow-up?

xoxo

Ace That Internship Part 1: Find the Right Internship for You
Ace That Internship Part 2: What to Wear
Ace That Internship Part 3: Interviews
Ace That Internship Part 5: During Your Internship
Ace That Internship Part 6: How to Gain the Most From Your Internship Part 1
Ace That Internship Part 7: How to Gain the Most From Your Internship Part 2