Setting (and Achieving!) Internship Goals

Whether you’re a student preparing for your first internship or fifth, one of the best ways to begin a new career experience is to set goals.

This may seem like a simple task, but setting aside time to create legitimate objectives can improve your enthusiasm and outcomes during an internship. Breaking down goals into three areas will make it even easier.

Here is a great place to start:

• Industry-specific goals
  • These goals are set with the intent to apply theory-based knowledge from your classroom directly to your tasks and projects during the internship.
  • Learn new industry skills and the techniques that other employees know best. Absorb the language of the business and be ready to be a hands-on learner. If you are in marketing, maybe you’ll learn design and Photoshop. If you are in informatics and computing, perhaps you’ll learn Java or coding.
  • If you are learning a new software program or a new technique, don’t be afraid to ask for help! The best managers and leaders will be excited to show you the ropes.

• Networking goals
  • Learning how to create and expand your professional network is one of the most important skills to master in today’s job market.
  • Throughout your internship experience, create as many connections as possible. Say hello and shake the hands of the employees around you so you can become familiar with their roles and create a comfortable setting for collaboration.
  • The best part about enhancing your professional network during an internship is once the experience is over, those people you met could be the very same people who help land you a full-time job. They can be the ones to vouch for your work ethic beyond the words on your resume.

• Personal goals
  • During the course of an internship, you can set personal goals to improve your workplace skills or “soft skills.”
  • Soft skills could relate to improving time management, critical thinking, emotional awareness, problem solving, organization, communication skills and interpersonal skills.
  • Soft skills can also transfer into any industry no matter what you’re plans are after the internship.