Whether you’re at an internship that aligns with your dream job or landed somewhere else, you should take full advantage of this experience to maximize your chances of future success. By further developing your professional skills, you can make a greater contribution which can lead to new opportunities and long-term achievement.
Here are five ways to get the most out of your internship and land your dream job in the future:
Create a Career Plan
In order to advance your career, it’s important to create an outline of your plan to land your dream job. First, understand where you are now and evaluate your current position. Then decide where you want to go and identify how to get there. And finally, set a plan to make it happen.
Set SMART Goals
Setting goals is like creating a road map that leads you to your desired career. Each goal you achieve ensures you’re one step closer to the intended milestone such as a new job or promotion. When setting goals for yourself be sure to use the acronym SMART to ensure you’re addressing every step necessary for success.
- Specific- Make sure your goals are detailed and clearly stated.
- Measurable- Define the criteria that measures your progress and defines how you’ll know when the goal is accomplished.
- Achievable- Set goals that you can reasonably attain based on your circumstances.
- Relevant- Ensure that your goals coincide with your life purpose and career aspirations.
- Timely- Set a specific timeline that includes a start and end date to create urgency.
Develop New Skills and Sharpen Up on Old Ones
Add value to your current position by sharpening up on old skills and developing new skills that are relevant today. Further develop your networking skills by connecting with others on LinkedIn and building connections with anyone you encounter. Enhance your communication skills by becoming an active listener and becoming aware of your body language. Also practice public speaking to get comfortable speaking in large groups. Being flexible and adaptable has also become increasingly important with all the recent changes in the workplace.
Ask for Feedback
Ask your managers and colleagues for constructive criticism to show that you’re willing to learn from your mistakes. When someone has an appreciation for feedback it shows that they’re accepting of outside perspectives and eager to grow professionally.
Continue Learning
Always be willing to learn more by investing in your career development. You may discover a new passion or take a different route on your career path after learning about another position. Explore other departments, utilize company programs, job shadow other employees, attend training sessions and always ask questions.