Successful internships challenge, utilize full potential of intern
Filed under: Employer Tips, Guest bloggers, Student, Student Tips — chamber @ 8:21 amby Britany A. Byers
When I started my internship at the Columbus Chamber I had one goal in mind; work so hard that they offer me a full-time job.
My marketing internship began in January 2011 and in the five months of working I grew to love the Chamber, its mission and its employees. With graduation right around the corner, what better way to prepare myself for the “real world” than work near full-time hours at an organization that never sleeps?
A successful internship, in my opinion, is one that challenges and utilizes an intern and continuously involves the intern in the organization’s operations. The Columbus Chamber did that and more.
The Chamber helped me develop a feel for how to work and operate in the professional world. My day-to-day tasks and side projects truly made me feel like another Chamber employee, and not just an intern. My supervisors trusted me with big projects, such as compiling content for an advertorial in C.E.O. Magazine, and appreciated my opinion. They made me feel like a valuable part of the team.
The Chamber not only taught me professional skills but also helped me on a personal level. I have always wanted to live in Columbus but never really knew why. Through my internship I learned all about Columbus, its assets and its award-winning rankings. The Chamber confirmed my belief of wanting to live in Columbus in the future.
When my internship ended, there were no open positions in the marketing department. I was very disappointed, but I realized that working toward the goal of getting a job with the Chamber is what made the internship successful. I was always hungry for more work and never afraid to take a stab at something I hadn’t done before. Having this attitude allowed me to show my supervisors what I was capable of which then increased my range of responsibilities. Thanks to my internship experience I feel more confident in myself, my skills and my plans for the future. I am ready for the “real world.”
If I could offer any advice to employers who hire interns it would be to use the heck out of them. An internship doesn’t have to stay tailored to the job description that he or she applied for. Make an intern’s time worthwhile. Challenging an intern can result in growth for your intern and success for your organization.
As for interns, make goals at the beginning of the internship. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or take on additional responsibility. Your internship should benefit you just as much as your work benefits an organization.
Britany Byers is a former intern at the Columbus Chamber. Britany is a 2011 graduate of Otterbein University and currently works fulltime as a reporter for This Week Community Newspapers. Check out more of her musings at BritanyAByers.wordpress.com and follow @BritanyByers.


