{"209291":{"#nid":"209291","#data":{"type":"news","title":"10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Internship","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThis June, the release of \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.theinternshipmovie.com\/\u0022\u003EThe Internship\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d movie will showcase the experiences of two unlikely individuals participating in Google\u2019s competitive and coveted intern program. As many college students begin their summer internships, the Georgia Institute of Technology\u2019s Division of Professional Practice and students who previously served as Google interns share the following advice on maximizing an internship experience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHave realistic expectations\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 \u201cHands-on\u201d experience may not always mean the most glamorous job duties. While menial tasks may come with the territory, keep in mind that the trade-off is exposure to a professional work environment in your field.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEstablish goals\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Define the company\u2019s expectations as well as what you want to learn from the experience. Have a concrete plan for the project you are going to work on during the summer and frequently discuss progress with your mentor to make sure that you are on the right track, recommends Deepal Jayasinghe, a computer science major who interned at Google last spring.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAsk questions \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 No question is \u201ctoo dumb,\u201d according to former Google intern Daniel Castro. \u201cFrom day one of any internship, you will be overwhelmed with a vast amount of questions about what to do, how things work and how the coffee machine spits out energy.\u201d He recommends getting the silly questions out of the way so that you can focus on your project or other internship duties.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWork hard\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Participating in an internship presents the opportunity to learn and grow. Take advantage of opportunities to work on additional projects. You may discover that you enjoy other types of work that you previously never considered and you may be offered the opportunity for a repeat performance.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERequest feedback \u2013 \u003C\/strong\u003EWhile not all companies conduct performance reviews for interns, it is important to know what you are doing well and how you can improve.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENetwork\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Cultivate relationships by interacting with your mentor, fellow interns and others in the company. Hannah Pileggi, a 2012 Google intern, advises interns to make the most of the entire experience \u2013 both in the office and outside of it. \u201cThe networking and personal growth opportunities are almost as important as the things that happen in conference rooms and at your desk,\u201d she said.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EShare ideas \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 If you have an idea that might improve a process or tackle a challenge, share it with your supervisor to show that you are strategic and invested in the company.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnjoy perks\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 If you are permitted access to the company gym or have a chance to join a company softball team, use this as an opportunity to meet others beyond the unit where you are working.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBe appreciative\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Make sure that you thank your supervisor and other appropriate individuals for the experience and opportunities.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMaintain contacts \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 The contacts you make during an internship can offer guidance and provide important references as you move forward in your career.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach year, more than 3,000 students participate in internship, cooperative education and work abroad programs, according to Patrick Antony, Georgia Tech\u2019s executive director of the Division of Professional Practice (DOPP).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCombining classroom learning, performing inquisitive research and applying this knowledge in a real-world environment is the best way for students to prepare for successful careers,\u201d said Antony. \u201cGeorgia Tech students are in high demand, and these opportunities are a winning proposition for both our students and corporate partners and employers alike.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you would like to explore internship opportunities at Georgia Tech, check out the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gtip.gatech.edu\/FAQ.html\u0022\u003Efrequently asked questions\u003C\/a\u003E on the Division of Professional Practice website. You may also want to check out the work experience options available through the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.coop.gatech.edu\/FAQ.html\u0022\u003Eco-op program\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFormer Google interns and the Division of Professional Practice offer tips on how to get the most out of an internship experience.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Former Google interns and the Division of Professional Practice offer tips on how to get the most out of an internship experience."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2013-04-25 13:45:55","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:14:08","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2013-05-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2013-05-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/profpractice.gatech.edu\/","title":"Division of Professional Practice"},{"url":"http:\/\/career.gatech.edu\/","title":"Georgia Tech Career Services"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_embedded\u0026v=712JPHER0uY","title":"Trailer for \u0022The Internship\u0022"}],"groups":[{"id":"1182","name":"General"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"8563","name":"careers"},{"id":"1648","name":"Internships"},{"id":"2181","name":"professional practice"},{"id":"37321","name":"The Internship"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:patrick.antony@dopp.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPatrick Antony\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EProfessional Practice\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}