Sana Johnson
How to be an Outstanding Student Intern
Sana Johnson
Spring 2016
As the job market matures, there is increased pressure on applicants to have an impressive list of work experience. For college students, this often results in taking on internship positions during the school year. Finding a part-time internship is a great way to build your professional skills and gain insight into career interests, but it can be difficult to balance your work schedule with your academic course load. Here are some tips to find a balance between the two and maximize your student intern experience:
1. Use a planner/calendar
I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to organize your time. Missing deadlines does not feel great, but you can easily avoid it by writing everything down! Figure out what type of time management system works for you. You can use an online resource like Google Calendar or iCal, or use old fashioned pen and paper. Whatever method you chose, stick with it! As a first step, I suggest combing through ALL of your syllabi / work schedules and filling in important deadlines and exam dates on your calendar. This will provide you will a big picture view of the semester. From there you can set personal deadlines to keep yourself on track.
How I use iCal to organize assignments
2. Communicate with your supervisor
As a full-time student, your priority should always be school. To achieve a balance between your work commitments and coursework, you should communicate early on with your supervisor that class comes first. Do not be afraid to make this clear. Often times, your supervisor will respect you for speaking up and admire your commitment to your classes. Having this conversation up front will also give you the opportunity to have a substantive discussion with your supervisor about your goals for the internship, your responsibilities, and any logistical concerns you may have.
Washington, DC, the land of student interns.
3. Communicate with your professors
Your professors want to help you succeed. If you find yourself falling behind or needing extra support, visit their office hours or schedule a time to meet with them. Your professors are a resource that you should be taking full advantage of. Just like in tip number two, this piece of advice provides an opportunity for you to connect with your professors on a professional level. Take the time to meet with them about your career interests and to get advice about being a professional in your field. Pro tip: The more genuine face-time you get with a professor, the more willing they are to help you find / secure new opportunities in the future (*cough* letters of recommendation *cough*).
4. Know Your Limits
Check-in with yourself frequently. Periodic self-reflection will allow you to make changes to your schedule if necessary, and think about whether or not you are meeting your goals. It can be easy to get caught up in your busy schedule, but remember that you are a college student! Let yourself relax and have fun.
It is no secret that BU students are a highly motivated and capable bunch. There are so many opportunities for students to get involved in extracurricular activities, take on leadership roles, and gain professional experience. While it is by no means easy to balance all of our responsibilities and interests, with the proper tools and support you can be a great student and intern. You got this!
Julia Metjian (COM ’17), Sana Johnson (CAS ’17), and Molly Mcglynn (COM ’17) enjoy the snow.
Sana is in the Pardee School of Global Studies. She expects to graduate in 2017.
