Dear future interns,
First off, congratulations on reaching your internship! You’ve managed to get this far and now it’s time for a small peek at what lies ahead in the future -- post studies.
You’re probably wondering about where to go, what to do, how to make friends, basically how to survive. I have three tips for you.
1. Make a list
I know it’s a bit of a pain to do some times (a lot of the time) but trust me when I say it helps. If you’re a bit of a forgetful kind of person like me or you tend to forget what you’re supposed to do when you stare at a screen, have a list helps. Whether it’s on your phone or a small sticky note (that you’ve probably rewritten several times because you keep on forgetting to add this and that), having a visual reminder of what you need to do helps keep you on track. Don’t forget to check and then double check that list. If the list involves another person, maybe to perform a daily task, ask if it’s correct and have them check and then double check the list. This is a crucial step and it is 100% worth the extra 5 minutes of your time.
2. The customer is always right... to a point
They say that the customer is always right, but that statement is only correct to a certain degree. No matter what industry you’re in, it’s always important to listen to your guest and try to exceed their expectations with their wants and needs. BUT if the situation gets out of hand and they try to harass you, say for a ~~~~~discount~~~~~, you may “politely debate” and ask any of your fellow coworkers or managers to back you up and help fix the situation. Which leads me to my last tip...
3. Ask for help.
Let’s face it, just because you’ve been taught in class everything that’s supposed to be done and you’ve received high remarks for said subject, doesn’t mean you know it all. OOF MAJOR EGO STRIKE BUT HEY IT’S TRUE. It’s okay to ask for help, in fact, it’s highly welcomed -- just don’t abuse it by constantly asking for help to the point where you’re just being lazy, that won’t get you anywhere. Your internship has probably got to be the biggest learning curve you have before stepping into the actual industry. It’s one of the biggest chances you’ll ever have to absorb so much information that will definitely help you decide a career path in the future, so take advantage of that and use this opportunity wisely; and if you ever feel like you’ve hit a road block of some sort during your internship, just as for help. In the words of Albus Dumbledore, “Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it”.
There you have it. Three tips to help you survive internship. If you need more advice, have questions, or just want to talk, always remember that we’re here. Whether it be your professors, fellow students, and even alumni. We want to see you excel as much more than you think we actually do, after all, when we’re done with all of this you’re next.
Stay safe, stay clean, and don’t forget where you came from.
Stay Feliz!
- Ma. Carina D. Gonzales