An internship is an excellent opportunity to try out a career field, build skills, grow your network and potentially become employed at a company full-time after graduation. Here are 10 tips to make the most of the experience:
  

Meet your coworkers 

Introduce yourself to everyone in your department, or company if it's small enough. Try to have contact with each person and get a sense of what they do. You never know when someone else in the company is doing something that might interest you later down the line. You may not want to work for your company past the 10 weeks, but you will definitely want to get a recommendation from them for grad school, your first job or a future internship. The better a job you do and the more familiar your supervisor and other employees are with your personality and your work, the stronger the recommendation.

Set goals

It is always a good idea to meet with your supervisor at the beginning of the internship to find out what their expectations are for your experience. If your supervisor doesn’t set a meeting with you, you should ask for some time to meet. What are you expected to accomplish every day? Every week?  Make sure to request feedback from your supervisor to make sure you are on the right track. Finally, keep in mind what your own goals are for your internship and what you would like to learn. Discuss your interests with your supervisor and ask if there are opportunities to get involved in those areas.Watch and learn Understanding and acting in accordance with the culture of an organization is extremely important whenever you start working somewhere new.  Watch and seek guidance from your colleagues and peers. What are the routines of the organization? Of the people? Read all organizational material, policies and procedures, etc. If it’s appropriate, ask to sit in on meetings or shadow other employees so you can learn the ins and outs of the business.

Be professional

Be mindful of how you present yourself to your co-workers and supervisor. What is the appropriate attire for your workplace? What is appropriate email etiquette for the person you are addressing? If you have a concern or there is an issue you are not sure how to handle, who is the most appropriate person to talk to?  And don’t forget the basics of common courtesy – be punctual, say thank you, follow up and follow through. 

Keep busy

If things are slow for you, make sure your supervisor knows it. And then if things are still slow - read some trade magazines or see if it's OK to ask another employee if they need help. Or, generate ideas about what you might be able to work on as a longer term project to fill down time, and present it to your supervisor. Everyone has to do grunt work at one point or another and the more enthusiastic and willing you are to do it - the better the chance of you're being hired full-time and/or getting a strong recommendation. Plus maybe there's a better or more organized way to finish the grunt work. Definitely make a recommendation if you see a solution.

Stay organized 

Take notes during all meetings and keep to-do lists of tasks and deadlines. Keep your work space neat so that your work is organized and out of the way when you are not around. Take care to observe data storage processes—if your organization keeps files in central locations, take note and observe and maintain records in accordance with policy.

Being punctual

Being punctual is very important. If you are unsure about the buses go early or visit the place the day before so that you familiarise yourself with the area. Running late does not augur well for a successful internship.

Manage your time wisely

Always complete projects on time, and when one task is done – ask for another. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with projects, talk to your supervisor about prioritizing your work. If you have doubts ask and ask again. It is better to ask than to make mistakes.

Dress code

Make sure that you are appropriately dressed. Ask about the dress code before you arrive at the work place but use common sense. If your internship is in an office do not turn up for work as if you are going for a day at the beach. Don't overdress especially in warm climates. Personal hygiene is very important.

Keep track of your projects 

Start a list of all of the projects you have worked on so that you can discuss your progress with your supervisor. It will also help you remember everything you’ve worked on to update your resume, add to a portfolio, or talk about on a future interview. Ask if you can keep examples of projects you have worked on for a portfolio. Remember that some of this information will be confidential, so always get approval before taking any copies of work with you.

Get a little gift

A small gift like a souvenir or some chocolates will go along way in building a healthy relationship. You do not need to spend alot of money. It is the thought that counts.

Using your mobile at work

Try not to use your mobile as much as possible so that you concentrate on your work. Work managers or colleagues might not negatively comment about this but they do notice and will not like use of mobile during work hours.

Reflect on your experience 

If there’s no formal review process, be sure to ask your supervisor and coworkers for feedback on your performance so you can learn what you’ve done well and what areas need improvement. Reflect on the skills you’ve gained during your internship and update your resume with your experiences and accomplishments. Even if you decide that this career field is not right for you, the experience is still a valuable one.