What To Expect – And Not To Expect – From An Internship

The summer of my senior year in college was special – I had landed an internship at a chemical products processing plant. This was not just any internship; I was one of only two engineering students chosen for the program.

I had built the job up in my head, knowing the work would be stimulating, my co-workers interesting and it would confirm beyond a shadow of a doubt my choice of career.

Oh, to be young and full of hope, yet so naïve!

First, that summer ended up being one of the hottest on record. It probably came as no surprise to anyone except us interns that a chemical plant is not air-conditioned. Jeans, long sleeve shirts, close-toed shoes, and safety glasses were required. I don’t have to tell you that perspiration was an issue.

The work, while it did require using our brains, was more physical than I imagined. Our job was to re-wire an oven kiln. Yep, never thought I’d say those words. Definitely not the kind of work I had anticipated or even wanted to do in my career. Occasionally the plant manager gave us a desk assignment, although it was rare.

For a woman earning a technical degree, the job provided foreshadowing of what was to come when I entered the workforce, in the form of crude behavior and hazing by workers in the plant. I learned how to roll with the punches and dish it right back. Rather than let their childish pranks bother me, my mantra became, “Never let them see you sweat”.

I was so happy when August rolled around.

My next internship was a bit better; although still not perfect at least it was actually inside, at a design firm, and definitely more in line with my interests.

Some might say my internships were failures, especially the chemical plant. I disagree.

Many students mistake summer internships for semi-glamorous, made-for-TV job experiences, when all that does is provide a back drop for disappointment.

The truth about internships is they are not the “be-all, end-all” to a job search. Somewhere along the way we have confused an internship with providing a long-lasting career instead of what it was meant to provide: real work experience.

It’s important to understand what to expect – and not to expect – from an internship. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Try it Before You Buy It. Let’s say you’re a marketing major torn between consumer and business marketing. A summer internship provides a short-term opportunity to try a job without committing long-term. If you are on the fence, just pick one and give it all you’ve got for the summer to determine if you like it. No strings attached!
• Resume Builder. This is especially important for undergrads: internships provide a great way to add valuable work experience to your resume. Sometimes it may not seem like the work is stimulating, yet if you are observant you will learn much about the organization and work in general. Take notes about the projects you worked on, including metrics that contributed to business success, to add to your resume.
• Networking Opportunities. You never know when you might be looking for a job. Your colleagues should become part of your professional network – you know, that thing we keep mentioning? Make sure you have connected with them on LinkedIn before you leave the company. Stay in touch with the hiring manager and HR representative for future job opportunities as well.

What an internship is not:

A guarantee of a full-time job offer at graduation. That would be great, yet there are no guarantees. Don’t place all of your career dreams in that basket.

Work hard at your summer internship, make professional connections and take note of what you like about the work as well as what you don’t. This is part of your college learning experience, as well as building your resume.

Place less emphasis on finding your “dream” job at this point and more emphasis on “learning” – even if it’s learning what you don’t like.