What should I do to succeed in my internship?

The internship opportunity is a highlight of the LLC experience. It opens your eyes to horizons and avenues previously unknown, and gives you skills and contacts that will give you an edge in your field. It can even lead to paid summer or full time employment. So how do you make the most of your internship opportunity? Here are some suggestions:

1. Act professionally
   
   Your internship may be the first "real job" you have had. While you are not being paid, you work on equal terms with permanent staff and are trusted with important responsibilities. Often you will meet with the public or with other employees within the organization. Your attitude, appearance, work ethic and performance, therefore, reflect on you and on your supervisor. 
   
   In a nutshell, you have an obligation to act professionally. People in an office recognize professionalism when they see it, and notice its absence when they don't. Small things make a difference. Here are some aspects of professionalism that you should take to heart:
   
   • Punctuality: Your time is not your own. In an office environment, punctuality is a basic courtesy which shows respect for others. Arrive and leave when you are expected to, and meet deadlines as assigned.
   • Dress: In a professional work environment people evaluate you on how you look. They wont comment on it, but the way you dress determines how seriously others take you, the expectations they have for you and the sort of tasks they assign you. As a rookie, your only way to navigate the unspoken rules is to observe what others wear in the office. When in doubt, ask your supervisor.
   • Work ethic: The quality of your work speaks volumes about who you are. Develop a reputation for excellence in all you do. How you perform each task will dictate what other opportunities you will be given.
   • Discretion: In any office setting, you are privy to all sorts of private information. You may not recognize the value of what you know, but lots of people outside the office would be very interested to know what you do. Ensure that what goes on in the office stays in the office.
     
     
2. Make the most from every opportunity
   
   Some aspects of your internship will be interesting and exciting. Some will be menial. While your LLC internship will be substantive and academically respectable, you will still end up doing some things you don't like. Don't grumble or complain. Instead, look for ways to learn from everything you do, from filing to database entry to answering the phone. You will have to make time to reflect on what you are doing and seeing, but in doing so, you will be rewarded with useful insights.
   
   
3. "No regrets"
   
   Adopt the expression "no regrets." Resolve not to leave your internship saying, "If only I had done this or that when I had the chance." Ask questions. Take initiative to meet people. If its appropriate, ask if you can sit in on a meeting or accompany your supervisor to an event. If you do so out of an eagerness to learn and to broaden your experience, most supervisors will applaud your willingness and initiative. And, even if they say no on that occasion, they will look out for ways to include you in the future.