Tips for summer intern success
UW-Extension and other state agency summer interns
UW-Extension is participating in the Summer Affirmative Action Intern Program, with 15 interns throughout the state. Stephanie Endres of the UW Colleges and UW-Extension Office of Inclusion welcomed the seven who attended a June 19, 2012, seminar presented by the Office of State Employment Relations for them and dozens of other interns from state agencies.
They picked up tips from speakers who formerly were interns, such as Tracey Caradine, now a policy initiative advisor with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Tips like the following from Caradine also would apply to student employees.
- Swagger is important. You control how you want people to see you. Exude confidence but do not seem conceited.
- Remember that this is your job, your career. The goal is to build yourself up. Never sell yourself short or dumb yourself down.
- There is no such thing as being bored. Make the most of your assignments. If you have nothing else to do, ask for more.
- Brush up on your agency or project, just in case you’re asked about it at a meeting. You don’t want to look clueless.
- Make sure to get a copy of your position description. Look at what your supervisor wants you to do, compare it to what you are doing and keep note of your tasks.
- Update your resume as you complete tasks or assignments. Don’t embellish but use language to expand on tasks. Filing, for example, can be explained as “coordinating and organizing statutorily mandated documents for usage and referencing by the public, public organizations and public officials.”
- Find value in what you are doing. Remember that you put in what you get out of this experience.
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