Our Blog: where do you stand?

Lessons from the Intern

By: Beth Doriani | 11/14/2011

I began working as an intern at Standing almost exactly three months ago. And for the past 90 days, Standing has been a place for me to develop skills I never had before, and to hone the ones I did possess.

See, I wasn't exactly what you would call a shoe-in for the position. At that point, not only did I not have the AP Stylebook memorized, I didn't even know what it was. My only prayer was to write (to write well) and to be myself. Well, it worked. Here I am! And at the very beginning of my professional journey, I am sharing the lessons I've learned so far:

Learn on the job. Being an excellent intern - or entry-level employee for that matter - isn't about owning all the skills necessary for the job before you are hired. It is about demonstrating 1) a desire to learn and to work hard at it, 2) coachability, and 3) intelligence to pick up the necessary skills - fast! I've learned that, to stand out from the crowd, you need to show your unique skill set that can and will translate into an effective employee - regardless of what degree you have.

Ask for work. Be proactive instead of waiting for the work to appear on your desk. As an intern, I offer support to my colleagues in their work with clients. But how would I know if they are swamped and need my help if I don't ask? How would they know I have some time to devote to a particular project if I don't tell them? Daily, even hourly, communication with the team is the key to producing a meaningful internship. It maximizes the company's investment in you as an employee and in turn you gain hands-on industry experience.

Find your voice. Being an intern doesn't mean being a fly on the wall. Yes, it means knowing your place within the organization's structure, but it also means taking ownership of the things you can control. Recognize ways you can contribute to make something better - your ideas may offer fresh perspective. For example, I volunteered to write a blog post and didn't try to hide my natural voice. As I result, I now write about five posts per month.

Check for culture. The interview process is a two-way street - as an interviewee you are entitled to ask questions about the company, the employees and the office culture just as much as they can ask about previous employment and education. During my interviews here, I immediately recognized Standing was a place I would love to work. In my first two weeks, I already felt part of this group affectionately called the Standing family. All 25 members are concerned not only with my professional growth but my personal well-being - from constructive criticisms on that first press release to an impromptu engagement party. I am always treated with respect and afforded the same opportunities as any full-time employee.

Be yourself. And I know I run the risk of being cliché here, but it's true. Identify the skills you have and the ones you want to build upon. During the internship/job interview, let your personality shine through. If it's a fit, both you and the company will be better off because of your transparency with each other.

So to Standing I say thank you, for the innumerable learning experiences I've had thus far. I wasn't hired for my press release-writing skills but I still got to write one my second day of work. And I am proud to say that now I at least know how to use the AP Stylebook, even if I don't have the whole thing memorized.

Standing recognized potential in me and took a risk. My colleagues and managers have trained me well in the last three months and I still have one to go! I've only uncovered the tip of the iceberg that is my professional future, but I couldn't have asked for a better starting point. 

Posted in Culture