Allison Gaffney graduated in May 2016 from Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She majored in Journalism with a concentration in Public Relations. While at IUPUI, Allison interned with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis.
Internships are a great way to develop skills, build your network, make an impact and gain experience working in a professional environment. While it is important to produce quality work during an internship, it is also important to make sure that your internship provides you with opportunities to build your resume and portfolio.
According to Robert Meier, President of Job Market Experts, only the top two percent of applicants make it to the interview stage. Once you reach the interview stage, it is important to stand out. One of the best ways to do this is by having a diverse portfolio of work from internships and classes to show interviewers. Telling an interviewer about all of the amazing work you did is one thing, but being able to show them will set you apart.
Utilize your internship to build soft skills like time management and teamwork while creating materials to put into your portfolio. Blog posts, news releases, sales reports, brochures and any other relevant work are great things to show off during future interviews. These materials will reinforce the soft skills and accomplishments listed in your resume.
When your internship ends, be sure to take copies of your work! Once you leave, you may not have access to your email account and the files you created. During my internships, I would send copies of my work to my personal email account. Before you print or send anything, check with your supervisor to make sure youâre not taking anything that contains confidential information.
If you ever find yourself in an internship where youâre only making coffee and picking up dry cleaning, review your internshipâs job description. If what youâre doing does not align with the description, speak to your supervisor and point this out. Express your desire to produce work, and your eagerness to make an impact within the organization.
If things still donât change, reach out to your collegeâs internship coordinator. He or she can speak with your supervisor to make sure you do relevant work. However, if things remain the same, it may be time to look elsewhere.
While youâre working hard at your internship, keep in mind that your internship should be working just as hard to provide you with plenty of real-world experiences. Then, use those experiences to build your portfolio, impress an interviewer and get the job!
