Congratulations! You earned an MBA internship at one of your top choice companies.
You spent months networking, practicing your interview skills, and applying to the best internships in the nation.
It’s now time to make the most of your summer! All manner of bad things can happen to interns. You can be ignored, pushed to the side, sent on fool errands, or set up for failure. An internship alone isn’t a pathway to success. It’s how you play it.
The truth is that it’s not enough to just intern with a well-known company. Your resume and future career are dependent on the skills, relationships, and experiences you have during the MBA internship. In fact, 70% of employers said their primary goal in hiring an intern was to hire them as a full-time employee after the internship ended.
To capitalize on your MBA internship and land that full-time job, make sure to follow the ten tips below.
10 Tips to Enhance Your MBA Internship Experience
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Confirm Expectations
It doesn’t happen often for MBAs, but there are horror stories of interns regulated to menial tasks or forced to perform duties outside the organization (such as getting coffee for everyone). That’s why it’s so important to confirm the company’s job expectations before you start for the summer. Send an email to your hiring manager to discuss goals, expectations, and how they’ll evaluate your performance.
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Be Realistic
The MBA internship is one of the best ways to learn about your future career field; it can also be a major setback if you take on too much. Try to avoid taking a full load of summer courses while working. Taking on too much can mean failing at everything. It’s better to set realistic goals. Also, be realistic about the experience. Interns perform a certain amount of menial work. Don’t expect to work on only top clients or projects.
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Soak It All In
Treat your internship as an opportunity to learn as much as you can about the industry, the organization, and your job function. Read trade journals, interact with various departments and people, and throw yourself into each assignment. It’s also important to ask thoughtful questions and to actively listen and take notes whenever you learn something new.
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Network
Part of soaking in your MBA internship experience is building relationships with as many people as you can. Interning is your opportunity to interact with coworkers at all levels and to learn from them and about them. Get out from behind your desk and prioritize meeting new people inside and outside the office. You have no idea which connection could help you in the future.
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Set Goals
Since, typically, interns aren’t as busy as full-time employees, it’s the perfect opportunity for you to reflect on your goals and to determine who you want to be after graduation. Take a look at your skills, plans, and dreams and then determine what you’ll need to accomplish during the second year of your MBA to make your aspirations a reality.
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Find a Mentor
Casual relationships are great, but it’s the close mentor relationships that make the biggest difference. At the beginning of your internship, find a mentor who is open to meeting with you on a regular basis. Set up meetings outside the office, like at lunch, and develop a mentor/mentee relationship with this person as someone who is actively engaged in your success. Ask your mentor about his or her career and what advice they have for you.
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Ask for Feedback
Set a meeting with your supervisor for guidance and feedback at least once a week. Feedback not only helps you improve your work while you’re there, but it will also demonstrate your determination to succeed. The feedback you receive can also help you discover what skills you lack to be successful in the career field. It’s best to rectify these issues before you start your job, and not after.
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Keep Positive
No matter what happens during your internship experience—no matter how much or how little work you’re assigned or how bored you feel—you have to stay positive. A positive attitude can overcome a multitude of sins. Head into the office every day with a smile on your face, dressed professionally, and ready to interact with your coworkers in the best light. Even in moments of extreme stress, don’t let your smile slip.
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Challenge Yourself
Don’t coast. Think of your MBA internship as a chance to show a future employer what you can do. Don’t run away from assignments that are unfamiliar or difficult. Instead, take the time to dive into each task and see what you’re capable of. Remember, quality trumps quantity. So, pay attention to detail and challenge yourself to complete tasks that are outside of your wheelhouse.
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Seek New Career Opportunities
At the end of the internship, let your supervisor know that you’re interested in a job. Even if you’ve decided that the company isn’t for you, expressing interest opens doors for similar positions in other departments or partner businesses that may better suit your needs. The key is to remember that your supervisors and colleagues can’t read your mind, so be bold about asking about career opportunities.