Mid semester ‘check in’
October 14th, 2009
Have you been doing an internship since the beginning of the semester? Now might be a good time to assess your progress and think about what you still want to accomplish before the semester ends.
Have you had the opportunity to meet the key people in your internship organization? Are you receiving feedback on your performance? Have you acquired some new skills as a result of your work assignments? Do you understand the ‘big picture’ of your organization?
Your answers may vary. However, this would be a good time to set a formal meeting with your supervisor for both feedback on the first weeks and goal setting for the remainder of your internship. What do you still want to do? Who do you want to meet? If the informal daily interactions are not meeting your expectations, develop a formal agenda for the rest of your term.
The mid term exam period is also a good time to check in with your employer on your mid term internship progress.
Schedule time with the people you still want to meet. Ask for 15 minutes on their calendar. Have a list of questions and make the most of your ‘face time’. Your pre-meeting organization and good interview skills might impress and lead to a new opportunity. And don’t forget to take notes.
If you have not already negotiated time off for Thanksgiving and set a date for your last day at work, now is the time. If you have been interning in finance and find the people in marketing more of a ‘fit’ with your personality, set an appointment with the hiring manager for marketing and ask about spring internships. If you have decided a large company is too fragmented, ask your colleagues to recommend some smaller organizations in your field. Not only is this a good time to plan for the rest of the semester, it is also a time to plant some seeds for spring.
The second half of the semester is always ‘academic crunch time’. Take a look at your calendar and plan your time to balance your internship commitments with your academic requirements. If there are conflicts, meet with your internship supervisor to address any issues. Planning ahead and communicating with your employer will further establish your professional reputation.
Check in, plan and communicate. Not only will your current internship be successful, but you will have positioned yourself for your next career move.