If I Only Knew Then: Intern's Notebook

Lyndsay Reville started at CW as an intern in our Special Events department. Immediately inundated with client work, Lyndsay quickly learned the ins and outs of the world of philanthropy. Lyndsay was recently hired full time, so for our If I only knew then issue, we sat her down and said, "Lyndsay, what do you wish you knew when you started"?

After graduating college I was unsure of what my next step would be, so I began meeting with professionals who I thought could guide me in the right direction.  I started learning about fundraising for the nonprofit sector and was introduced to a company that felt like a perfect fit. 

After I was offered a full-time position at the company, I began to reflect on what it was that helped me land the offer. When this company hired me as an intern, I realized that it could not only be an amazing learning opportunity but also a chance to embark on my career.  I realized that I needed to take this opportunity seriously and put forth my best effort with the goal that the internship would result in a full-time offer.  With very little professional experience, I knew I needed to set myself apart from the other recent graduates searching for a job.  My internship granted me the opportunity to prove myself and that was my daily mission.  I approached everyday as if it were an interview, a chance to demonstrate that I was someone worth hiring.  I strived to have all of the features of an ideal employee while embracing my opportunity to learn as an intern. 

I’ve compiled the questions I had before I started my internship and thought about what I did to secure this offer; I’ve put together a list of pointers that I wish I knew before I started my internship.

• Take full advantage of your opportunity. You are there to learn and most of the people you work for or with are glad to help you.
• Although you are an intern, you must be a professional.  You represent the company you work for and everything you do is a reflection of that company.
• Dress the part. You must look and act like a professional at all times.  Somebody once told me “dress for the job you want, not for the job that you have.”
• Don’t expect to start at the top. Everybody stuffs envelopes at some point and nobody is too good to stuff!
• Every step in a process is as important as the final result and has an effect on the final result.
• There is no such thing as a stupid question; if you are unsure, ask.  It is better to ask and do your job correctly than to be unsure and make a mistake.
• With that, mistakes do happen.  If you think you may have done something wrong it is better to speak up and fix the problem sooner rather than later.
• Don’t complain. No task is pointless, you are doing it because it needs to be done.
• Say thank you. The company you intern for is doing you a great service by offering you an internship.  What you learn during this time is priceless and can possibly mold the future of your career.  People like to know that you are appreciative.
• Speak up if you have something to say.  If at first you feel uncomfortable adding your input during meetings, make a note and mention it to your boss afterwards.  After a while, you will know what ideas are worth mentioning at meetings or during conferences and you will feel more comfortable sharing your ideas with others.
• Try to talk to everybody you meet.  Each individual is another source of knowledge that you can go to for information.  Make as many connections as possible and don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to others.

I hope that what I have learned during my internship can help the next intern along the way.  Being so young in a “grown-up” world can sometimes be intimidating and it helps to know that other young professionals are thinking about the same things you are.