- Find a mentor. It’s like that Beatles song: How do I feel by the end of the day? Are you sad because you’re on your own? I got by with a little help from my mentors and you can, too. Friends are great for venting and decompressing from your day, but it’s crucial to have a mentor to help guide you through your professional career. I found a mentor early on during high school and she’s guided me through my teenage years, college and my desperate attempt at adulting. Luckily this summer, I found another mentor who navigated me through my workplace, connected me to others within my organization, and helped me branch out at Families USA.
- Make and maintain meaningful connections. Having a mentor is wonderful but don’t forget everyone else.Network with others and make it meaningful. As a public relations student and a general human being, one of my biggest pet peeves is networking for the sake of networking. It can feel transactional and disingenuous. Don’t think of how that person can advance your career, but rather if that person is someone you would want to build a relationship with. Do they have similar passions or interests? Do they work in your desired industry? Is this someone you wouldn’t mind having dinner with?
- Set boundaries for yourself. Especially when you are working virtually. It’s hard to not roll out of bed, grab your laptop, and crawl back under the blanket to do your work. But this behavior leads to low productivity with even more fatigue. The lines between work and leisure become blurred and suddenly you’re in your pajamas at 3 a.m. sending emails to your boss. I overcame this by creating a morning routine: wake up, make tea, get dressed in real-people clothes, and then walk to my desk and stay there until lunch. A real lunch. No shoving sandwiches down your throat during the five-minute windows between meetings. If you don’t take the time to take care of yourself, you will burn out quickly and if you get burned out, who’s gonna save the world?
- Stay organized and communicate. Work, whether remote or in-person, can be overwhelming. I recommend having a planner or a Word document that can help you keep track of your projects and notes. Pro-tip: Make an assignment list and check it off as you go along. This helps keep track of your work while giving you a sense of accomplishment for the bits of progress you are making. And if you don’t understand an assignment? Ask for help! You’re here to learn and it will save everyone the heartache.
- Make yourself memorable. I remember being in a meeting and my managers started going on about old school hip hop. They assumed none of the interns knew what they were talking about, but I’d just seen Public Enemy live the previous summer and if you drive down my street any day of the week, you will hear me belting Wu-Tang Clan lyrics from my mom’s Toyota RAV4. I could have chimed in, but I chose not to. But here’s the thing: When you don’t say anything, you just blend in. The people you intern for could be your future employers or help you jumpstart your career. They won’t remember the quiet intern from Random University, but they will remember the person they geeked out with.
- Work hard, but don’t forget to play hard. Seriously. Get off your computer and go do something. When was the last time you saw the sun?
