“It’s nice to meet you all. By the end of the semester, I may actually remember some of your names. That’s really up to you.”

For over 10 years I have watched a steady stream of interns pass through our office. Each semester a new crop of fresh faces walks through the door on orientation day, excited to see what life is like in the real world. For about 20-30% of these interns, this will be a transformational experience that aids them on their career path. I probably won’t even catch the others’ names.

This may seem cold or even downright mean. When I ask someone in the office where “the one from Marquette” is on that project, they give me a look as if to say, “Can’t you even put in a little effort to get to know these people? They are working here for FREE.” I get it, I do. And while I appreciate the work interns put in, every young leader taking on an internship experience should understand something:

Without you, this business would be fine.

Just fine, really. We would sell products, satisfy customers, generate revenue, and grow market share. We would get that project done, make those copies, and answer our phones. You are valuable, yes, but not essential. Young leaders who realize this recognize that the internship program is about YOU. Businesses do this to give students without any business experience a chance to see how things really work and grow their skills. They are doing it for you, so you should give it your all.

If you want to be the kind of intern that gets noticed, the kind that gets considered for full time positions down the road, the kind that gets a glowing letter of recommendation with actual thought put into it…approach your internship with the right mindset.

Treat it like a job

Nothing demonstrates a lack of experience more than interns who think they can skip work like they skip class, roll in late because they were out until 2 AM, or rock the Girl Talk t-shirt in an office of crisp Brooks Brothers. Whether you collect a paycheck or not, an internship is a job and you can easily lose it. Or worse, you could spend an entire semester of your life at a company and NOT get a good reference.

Build skills, confidence, and evidence

Think a lot of hiring managers are looking for folks with experience making a Starbucks run? Or changing toner cartridges? Or filing (shudder)? Seek out opportunities to get your hands into projects that stretch your (marketable) skills. Don’t volunteer for only the tasks that you are comfortable with — you know that stuff already. Shadow the finance guy! Go on a sales call! Build a spreadsheet!

Will you fail? Sure. Your first sales call is going to be a joke. But an internship is a lot like a job with training wheels. They aren’t going to give you something that has the potential to sink the company, so take a shot. The right manager will give you valuable feedback and help you do it better next time. Your confidence will grow and when that future hiring manager asks you about your strengths you can boldly reply, “I build a mean spreadsheet.”

Along the way, be sure you are documenting your efforts. How many sales calls did you make? What percentage resulted in actual sales? How much did this net the company? These measurable results are the ammunition you need to turn internship experience into a full time opportunity.

Build relationships

As important as the skills you develop are the relationships you create. Get to know everyone you can, not just the other interns and your manager. Take advantage of opportunities like company outings or the “team lunch”. Ask your colleagues about themselves and their jobs. Not only will you learn more, but these contacts will strengthen your connection to the organization and culture. Also, it’s a lot easier to ask Mark from Accounting to be a reference for you during a conversation about his daughter’s softball game.

Don’t be afraid

I once walked back to an intern’s desk to check on her progress with a project. She was sitting at her desk, staring off into space. When I asked for an update, she told me she had been stuck for two days waiting on an answer from my business partner. He sits ten feet away from her desk! She was too afraid she might disturb “the boss” to ask a simple question.

If you want to get noticed, you shouldn’t hide behind the water cooler. Take ownership of projects you are given and go after the people you need to help you. As a manager and business owner I can tell you that I would much rather be interrupted by an intern asking for clarification than have to go track down that same intern to find out what is happening. Be proactive.

The same rule applies as your internship is coming to a close. Time to ask some key people to support you by writing a letter of recommendation, serving as a reference, or giving you a shot at a job opening. Be sure you target the right people. Ask directly and with enough lead time to keep it convenient for them. Don’t forget to say thank you!

Successful internships can give your career an early boost. Follow these simple tips and don’t waste the opportunity!

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