How to Get the Most Out of a Marketing Internship

Internships also increase your employability as you gain relevant experience in the field, giving you an advantage over other potential candidates. An internship will look better on your resume and give you the tools to be confident and efficient when entering the workforce as you develop the soft skills required in professional workplaces.

An internship can provide opportunities for educational, professional, and personal growth as you gain further knowledge and skills in the industry, learn to work within a professional environment, and grow as an individual as you understand more about yourself and your interest and dislikes. All of this is possible through undergoing an internship. However, it is ultimately up to you to get benefits. You will only get out what you put in.

Here are three tips to ensure you get the most out of your internship:

1. Set Goals

A great way to ensure you stay on the right track and get something out of your internship is to set goals. Before the commencement of your internship, write down a set of goals you want to achieve throughout the internship. These goals will vary primarily based on yourself and the industry that you are in; however, ensure that your goals effectively outline precisely what you want to get out of completing the internship.

Set SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound to ensure that your goals are well-planned and grant the best opportunity for success. In addition, it is a good idea to have at least one SMART plan that illustrates educational, professional, and personal growth.

2. Journal

A great way to keep a well-documented transcript of what you have done throughout an internship is to keep a daily journal. Here you should note the work you completed, the new things you learned, what you enjoyed, what you didn’t want, what you think you did well, what you think you could improve on and how you are tracking with your goals. As you continue to journal throughout your internship, you will start to understand your strengths, weaknesses, and what you like and dislike. This allows for great opportunities for educational growth as you know what you’re good at and what you can improve on, as well as personal growth as you gain a better understanding of your interests and what excites you.

By journaling your experience, you can guarantee you won’t just go through the motions at your internship but will do your best to get something out of it and improve. Additionally, after you conclude your internship, you will have a well-structured document of all the work you have completed, meaning that you can remember everything you have done throughout the internship. In a future interview with a potential employer, this will allow you to quickly give a comprehensive answer to the type of work you have done, your experience, and your skills.  

3. Ask Questions

As the new face in the office, everyone around you has been there longer than you and likely have had experience being in your position. If you are unsure about anything, ask someone; they will more than probably be willing to help you. In any workplace, there will be loads of helpful information you can learn through the knowledge and experience of those around you. Never be afraid to ask about something regardless of if you are embarrassed because it may seem likely a silly question or an obvious answer. By asking questions, you may gain a new perspective on a task or learn a new trick to make something easier from someone with years of experience doing it. Questions are fundamental; however, ensure that the questions you ask have a purpose and that you aren’t just asking for the sake of it. Sometimes it is best to show that you can work autonomously and solve problems independently.

Internships can cause many emotions, including excitement, nervousness, fear, relief, joy, and much more. An internship could be something you love every minute of, dread every minute of, or somewhere in between. Ultimately, it is up to you. You get out exactly what you put into your internship. With these three tips of setting goals, journaling, and asking questions, you can ensure that you get the most out of your time as an intern.