By Paul Wozniak of 99.9 the Point
Solid careers and opportunities are created, not found. Students pursuing higher levels of education will find that if they don't find real life experiences in actual workplace scenarios, they will lose future jobs to those who have.
Climbing the Intern Ladder is an excellent way to not only gain valuable real work world experience, but also make contacts and create a resume that will, upon graduation, prove invaluable.
Most 1st time interns take out the proverbial 'trash'. They are assigned the simplest of jobs and are on the lowest rung of the Ladder. Everyone has to do their time. Those who aspire to higher levels can achieve them in a simple way. A 1st time intern who looks to the intern or part timer who is in a higher position merely needs to ask themselves, "How can I do what they are doing?"
Curiosity and availability are the first things a 1st time intern needs to move up. Finding a mentor is also an important step in climbing the Intern Ladder. After the 1st time intern masters the tasks they are given, they need to shadow their mentor and learn what the mentor knows. When the intern can do what the mentor can do, that is when they'll be sought after as a person who can do more than take out the 'trash'.
This process involves the simplest of steps. Asking questions. "Can you show me how to do that?" Requesting projects. "If I do this for you can you check my work and tell me how I did?" Most mentors would love to have someone to help them with their simpler projects because it will free them up to take care of other things they need to do. Attrition and/or performance will lead the 1st time intern to becoming an intern with more important responsibilities or a paid employee.
The bottom line is that if a 1st time intern doesn't learn something new and gain new abilities every day, week, and month they will remain on the bottom rung of the Intern Ladder.
And no one is going to tell a 1st time intern that they need to be learning more and doing more. So the final thing required for an ascent up the Intern Ladder is good old fashioned initiative.
Paul Wozniak
Mornings on 99.9 the Point
paul@999thepoint.com