Starting your internship soon? Check out the Scout team’s advice before your first day

Ah, internship season. Definitely one of college life’s milestones. It’s the time you get to step out of the comfortable walls of your classroom and out into the big, big world of employment, working for and alongside industry professionals. 

While most internships may be part of school requirements, a large part of it, much like your career post-graduation, will rely on your own decisions and efforts. Your internship (or series of internships, if you’re extra and want to try many things) is the perfect opportunity to learn real-life working skills, and basically get a glimpse of your future professional life.

[READ: Scout’s no BS guide to applying for a job or internship]

We, the Scout team, have been there and we’re more than happy to share with you some tips to help you ace and make the most of that internship experience.

Make those connections!

“Apply to a company or organization different from your friends. Don’t go where everyone else is going. it will help you form connections outside your college circle, and allow you to explore your professional options without the safety net of people you know from school.” — Ella Lambio, graphic designer

“Make friends with your short-term (lol) co-workers! Aside from building genuine friendships, you’ll be able to use these connections in the long run!” — Samantha Ong, visual content creator

“Grow your network. Keep positive relationships with your co-workers and maintain them even after the internship ends; this way when you’re ready to go full-time and companies look for recommendation letters or reference contacts, you know who to turn to!” — Nicca Chen, graphic designer

Build knowledge and experience

“Be a sponge! Learn as much as you can but also set boundaries because this is (oftentimes) unpaid work. Never be shy to ask how something works because this is one of the last few times it’s okay to look like a total idiot without people judging you because again you are (likely) not getting paid. Lol. 

And most importantly never be quiet for more than 10 minutes in a meeting. Chime in. Let them know you exist. But do back that chatter with knowledge. Make sure what you’re saying at least makes sense or offers a new insight. Oh and yeah know what corporate jargon like ‘insight’ means.” — Christian San Jose, associate editor

“Be curious! Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the job or career path in your chosen organization or company. The internship isn’t just about applying skills you’ve learned at school, it’s also an opportunity to learn more real-life skills that probably haven’t (or won’t) be discussed in the classroom. 

Also make the most out of the opportunity you have to talk to the professionals around you. It’ll also help you decide if this is really what you want to pursue after graduation. Make those connections!” — Pauline Miranda, managing editor

“Do the most! You’re an intern, so you really have to pop off when you do anything for work. Being prepared is the best bet for success. If they like you, you’ll get a glowing recommendation. And it’ll help when you’re job hunting for real.” — Andreiana Yuvallos, junior content creator

“Say ‘yes’ to everything—in the sense that, while you’re at your internship, you need to be curious and try everything you can experience because that’s a glimpse of how it’s going to be in real life after college. This will help you get a clearer understanding of what you really want to do and how much work you can do.” — Nimu Muallam-Mirano, creative director

“Ask questions. There are a lot of things you can learn and apply even beyond your internship, use your internship to learn as much as you can about the industry and your potential career path.

Stay organized. Keeping your list of tasks and files organized helps you stay productive (it makes it easier for your manager to keep track of your responsibilities, too). Paying attention to this skill and putting it into action shows your team that you’re an independent and reliable individual!” — Nicca Chen, graphic designer

“Between the workplace and school, there is a lot you don’t know compared to people who have been at it professionally for years. Internships are the perfect time to learn from those around you, whether or not these directly apply to the specific job you have your eye on, from certain skills to workplace etiquette and professional standards.” — Martin Agustin, content creator