You’ve been offered an internship; congratulations! You might be wondering how to make the most of your internship experience. One way to do so is to maximize your leadership capability throughout the internship. Leadership is not about a job title or authority but how you engage with others and the contributions you make.
Leadership is a valuable skill that will help you stand out among your peers during your internship. Demonstrating leadership skills can potentially turn your internship into a full-time job conversion.
There are many ways to showcase leadership skills. A good place to start is by engaging and making connections with colleagues.
- Facilitate dialogue: Be brave and curious! Get to know the people you are working with and ask them questions about their role or what they love about working for the company. Have a conversation with your supervisor to create a set of goals you hope to accomplish while you are there.
- Take initiative: Seek out opportunities and actively participate in team projects and collaborations. Be proactive and offer to take on tasks to make a positive impact. Show enthusiasm!
- Communicate effectively: Practice active listening and ask thoughtful questions. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification when needed. Clearly convey your ideas in a professional manner.
To identify additional skills to develop during your internship check out the Skills Employers Are Seeking in Candidates handout and complete the second page to put your plan into action. Schedule an appointment with your Career Coach to discuss this further.
