Three things you should learn from any internship experience

by Caitlyn Banks
Marketing Intern at Charles Aris Inc.

Over the course of my undergraduate and graduate school career, I’ve completed six unique internships across multiple industries and functions. Each internship has provided invaluable experience and has taught me what I want in a future career. I firmly believe that every student should complete at least one internship prior to entering the workplace.

Here’s what you could gain from an internship with an outstanding organization:

The career path

One study shows that only 27 percent of college graduates are working in a job that relates to their degree, which is a statistic that applies to me. My undergrad degree included a concentration in accounting – but as soon as my first internship required me to put accounting into action, I knew it wasn’t for me.

Internships can help you figure out what you truly want to pursue in your career. During my second internship, I went to an almost polar opposite with marketing and sales, and I’ve been in love with marketing ever since. Each successive internship has confirmed that marketing is where I belong.

Students should give internships in their majors a try – and if it works out, great! If not, you still have time to explore your options and see what else might best suit you.

The organizational culture

My time as an intern has enabled me to discover that I prefer more creative freedom in my projects; a chain of command I can follow; and a medium-to-large-sized workplace. Similarly, you could use your internship as a time to discover the environment you thrive in.

For some, structure and hierarchical management is what they need, but others may want a more relaxed and integrated management style. Depending on whether you intern in a small business or in a Fortune 500 company, you’ll find drastically different cultures in each place – from the way employees dress to when they leave work – and you can figure out what kind of culture you relate to most.

As an intern, cultural fit is important and has an impact on how you work, but it is far less stressful to be culturally mismatched in an internship than when you land your first role following graduation.

The chance to build your network

Lastly and perhaps most importantly, you can use your internship as an opportunity to build your network. I have connected with current and former colleagues and managers on LinkedIn and have stayed in contact with them over time.

One former manager contacted me prior to my graduation to ask about my plans for the summer and if I had a job lined up; she wanted to see if I was interested in coming back to work with her. I informed her that I would be attending graduate school and would be unable to commit to a full-time position. As we parted ways, she asked me to keep her updated on my future endeavors, leaving the door open for opportunities down the road.

An internship is your chance to make an excellent impression on those you work with and build connections which could result in an opportunity even after you leave that organization. During your internship, take the time to connect with those you work with on LinkedIn. After you complete your internship, be sure to send a thank-you email (or even better, a thank-you note!) to those who helped you grow.

Do your best. Take any and every chance to show your talents and develop yourself as a young professional. Every internship opportunity can offer invaluable experience and help craft what you want your professional career to be.

At Charles Aris, we offer robust internship opportunities in research, marketing and recruiting. To learn more about internship opportunities at Charles Aris, visit our Internship page.