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    How to Get the Most Out of Your Summer Internship

    Molly McEwan is a summer intern with the marketing team at the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.

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    You’ve landed a coveted summer internship. Now what? Here’s my three-rule guide to getting the most out of it.

    Develop Your Skills.

    Make goals for yourself to achieve. At the end of your term, what would you like to be able to say that you accomplished? Although most internships are very structured, reach out to your boss, be confident and let them know what you would like to learn. This not only shows that you are taking initiative, but also that you are ready to work hard and learn.

    Be curious. The point of a summer internship is that it is an opportunity for you to explore your interests. Get your job done that you were hired to do, but remember that this is your experience and you will only get out of it what you put into it. By learning new things you may shock yourself at what you are capable of.

    mollymcewan
    Molly McEwan

    Make Connections.

    Even if your internship is not with your dream company, you should take advantage of the contacts given to you and begin to establish relationships with the people around you. Although your internship may not set you up with a full-time job, being able to leave with a strong reference can help you find one elsewhere. You will create a more rewarding experience for yourself by being proactive in your work and relationships so that you may begin to grow a network of people in your desired field. By doing this you will leave your internship with great experience, recommendations and professional connections.

    Log Everything.

    Whether you’re required to write updates on your progress during the summer or not, I recommend that you do. By doing this simple task every day you will be able to look back at the progress you have made by the end of your term. Being able to see everything that you have accomplished over the course of your internship will make updating and building your resume a lot easier.

    — The Columbus Chamber of Commerce provides access to the connections, resources and solutions you need to help start and grow your business. Learn more about the Chamber at columbus.org. —

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