Last week at a PRSSA meeting, I listened to two seasoned professionals give public relations newbies a few lessons on how to be a great intern. They gave several tips for success, but their most valuable piece of advice was to have a positive attitude. Those interns worked on the most high-profile projects, earned the most respect and lasted with the company the longest. To retain those important contacts within your company, you have to be memorable. Show off your value to your employer. Don’t stop at just doing the minimum – having the right attitude will come out in your work and lead to success in life.
Be early – The most important way to stand out is to be on time, if not several minutes early. Often when you’re early, you get first pick on assignments, have time to talk to your supervisor one-on-one and get a head start on the daily grind. Your supervisor will recognize your commitment to the job. Waking up a little bit earlier is worth getting the advantage over your fellow interns.
Be motivated – Your job is to stay on task. While it may be tempting to drift over to your personal Facebook page, Twitter or other networks, try to focus on your job for the day. Complete your assignments and when done, ask your supervisor if there’s anything else you can do. A supervisor values interns who take initiative and put in extra effort. There are quite a few things you can do if you find yourself with extra time – clean up your space, check voicemails, read up on the news. All of these things are small but important steps in maintaining a good attitude on the job.
Be willing to learn – Jump on new projects that your supervisor assigns. Ask a lot of questions if you’re unsure of how to do something. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Have someone show you instead of trying to figure it out yourself; work with someone who can help. Chances are they’ll remember you in the future and be willing to assist you with other projects.
Be positive – Smile when you come into work every day. It makes a difference on your outlook for the rest of the day. Be friendly, and offer other interns help on any of their projects. Most may not take you up on it but will remember you offered and ask you questions. Show your supervisor you’re willing to take on leadership positions in the office.
In my internship, I took a chance and showed my weaknesses to my supervisor when I told her I didn’t know how to use a computer program. She took the time to show me how to do it, and now when we need to use the program, she trusts me to use the program and always answers my questions. Opening the lines of communication allowed me to show my supervisor that I was willing to learn, and it paid off by her giving me more responsibility. Having a positive attitude directly leads to success, offering greater opportunities in your internship and your future career.
Sara Steffan is a public relations student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. She hopes to get both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in four years. Sara loves things like pens, mainstream music, puppies and social media. She can be found tweeting about those and more entertaining things @saras116, or check out her blog here.
