Internship Guide

You have your internship contract in your pocket? All preparations have been completed and now the first day in the new company is just around the corner.

With the internship guide, we would like to give you some help along the way to make your internship a success.
All tips apply in principle to any internship. But when interning abroad, it is even more important to follow some basic rules so that your internship will be a success for both you and the company.

Preparation is everything

Go out celebrating the evening before your first internship day? Not a good idea.
On the first day you should appear well-rested, well-prepared, and in an appropriate outfit. The evening before starting, take another look at the documents you have about the company and go through them again.
Lay out your outfit for the first day. Whether you appear in a suit or trendy and relaxed depends on the company.
Ideally, you have already gone from the place you’re staying to your office so that you know what underground you need to take and how long you will need. That way you’re not in danger of being too late on your first day.

Making a good impression

It’s may be a cliché, but you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Greet your new colleagues with a friendly smile. If you’re given a tour of the company by your supervisor, introduce yourself by name.
Be open and interested in your new colleagues

Participating observation

Every company is different. There are unwritten rules that you don’t know at the outset. Observe the conversations and behaviors of the employees without intervening at first.
Ask questions. No one will expect you to know everything. If you ask competent questions, that is a sign of interest and will be seen positively.
Take the opportunity to spend lunch breaks with the other colleagues. Here you will often learn important informal things.

Showing commitment

Before starting, think about what you would like to learn during your internship. Which departments or processes interest you? Clarify what will be expected of you and what tasks you have - that will prevent misunderstandings.
Of course no one wants to constantly make coffee during their internship. But don’t mind doing simple tasks like copying or delivering messages. This is how you can show dedication. You also often relieve the workload of other employees. But watch out: Make sure that you are also allowed to do higher-quality tasks.
Take initiative and don’t hide behind your computer screen until someone hands you a task. Ask actively for tasks or present your own ideas. If there is some downtime at some point, you can ask employees whether they could look over your shoulder. But accept it if an employee doesn’t want to let you.
Show interest in your colleagues’ work. You should actively listen and ask questions. Never be a know-it-all or give unsolicited advice to experienced employees. If you have suggestions for improvement, give them in the form of questions: “Why is that done in this way here?”

Keep private matters private

Quickly read your private e-mails and take a look at what your favourite club is up to? Not a good idea.
You should also keep to yourself your thoughts about the strange colleague from the next department. Gossiping can get dangerous quickly if you’re new and aren’t yet familiar with the internal company hierarchy.

Reflect on the internship

Regularly get feedback from your internship supervisor. Accept suggestions for improvement and don’t be offended by criticism. After all, you’re in the company in order to learn something.
But you should also have a talk with your internship supervisor if you have the feeling that you’ve only been asked to make copies over a long period of time. Sometimes it is only a misunderstanding that can be cleared up.
If you are not content over a longer period of time and nothing changes in your situation despite several discussions, you should also think about quitting the internship.