As you head into your summer internship, evaluate how you want to project your image to your internship colleagues, and how you’d want to put your internship on paper as you will need to update your resume after the internship is over.
Even if the role is not completely in line with your interests, consider the specific aspects of your internship that stay true to your brand.
- Is your LinkedIn profile up-to-date? Colleagues may check your page to see your background and interests, so you’ll want to make updates to make sure that the listed items align with your goals.
- Do you have your pitch ready? What you say matters! For instance, perhaps you have a background in film, but are now pursuing sports management. Instead of saying, “Hi, my name is ___ and I worked in X Production Company for 4 years before b-school,” you could instead say, “Hi, my name is ___, and I’m involved at XBS as a student leader in the Sports Management Club.” By rewording your introduction, you can immediately start off on the right foot with your colleagues.
- Where will you focus your efforts? It’s possible that your internship might not have been your first pick (since it’s not as relevant to your intended industry goals), but you could also take the initiative to invest in volunteering activities, events, and organizations outside of your internship. You might even be in a new city, where you can explore new opportunities!
- Do you have your sights set on who to connect with? By connecting with specific colleagues in your internship company, you have the opportunity to convey your interest in their role and they’ll see you as an individual who is truly interested in learning about their role.