How to Get an Internship

How to stand out in your internship (before, during, and after)

Landed an internship? Congratulations! Now let's make it count.

A great internship can do more than fill a line on your resume. It can confirm (or reshape) your career direction, expand your network, boost your skillset, get your foot in the door for a return offer, and help you stand out when applying to future roles.

But those outcomes aren't automatic. They're the result of being intentional about how you show up, what you focus on, and how you build relationships.

Let's walk through the three critical phases of a successful internship:

• What to do before it begins
• How to stand out during the experience
• How to extract the most value after it ends

Let's get into it.

BEFORE your internship: set yourself up to stand out

Standout interns don't start on Day 1. They start before it.

If you show up without a plan, you'll spend the first few weeks reacting — just trying to keep up while others are already making an impression. Don't give them a head start.

This section walks you through five key actions to take before your internship begins so you can hit the ground running, contribute faster, and stand out early.
 

1. Set personal goals

If you don't define what success looks like, your internship will be shaped by chance — not by you.

You can't expect to get meaningful outcomes from this experience if you haven't first decided what you want from it. And once your internship begins, things move quickly. Without a clear plan, it's easy to get caught up in day-to-day tasks and lose sight of the bigger picture.

The more clarity you have going in, the easier it'll be to seek the right opportunities, advocate for yourself, and measure your growth.

Ask yourself:

• What skills do I want to build?
• What tools or software do I want hands-on experience with?
• What types of projects do I want to participate in?
• Who do I want to build relationships with — and why?
• What would make me say, "That was transformational"?

Write your answers down.

These goals will shape what you ask for, how you approach your work, and who you reach out to along the way. They give your internship direction — and make it easier to track your progress.

You might be thinking, "Won't my supervisor just tell me what I'll be working on?"

Yes, to an extent. But supervisors also appreciate interns who take initiative, express where they want to grow, and show a genuine desire to learn. When you share your goals early, it opens the door to more relevant projects and mentorship — and helps your team see what kind of intern you're trying to become and how they can support you.

You don't need to (and won't be able to) control every part of the internship — but if setting and expressing your goals leads to even a 10% more focused experience, like getting hands-on with a tool you want to learn or a project you want exposure to, that's a win. It gives you stronger stories, more impactful resume bullets, and a confidence boost when it's time to talk about what you did.
 

2. Plan your logistics

The more you figure out ahead of time, the less you'll have to worry about on Day 1 and the more headspace you'll have to focus on making a strong first impression.

That means:

• Confirming your start date, schedule, and location
• Mapping out your commute or prepping your virtual setup
• Testing hardware, software, and logins
• Knowing who to contact if something goes wrong

Preparation may not feel exciting, but it's a competitive edge. It lets you show up calm, confident, and ready to contribute — while many others are still scrambling.
 

3. Research the organization

The earlier you understand the team, the culture, and the work, the earlier you go from observer to contributor — and the easier it is to earn trust, credibility, and meaningful work.

Before Day 1, take time to learn:

• The organization's mission, values, and any major initiatives
• What's happening in the news, on their social media, or within their industry
• Who's on your team and what their roles or career paths can teach you
• How your team's work fits into the broader goals of the company

This kind of preparation does more than help you follow conversations — it helps you participate in them.

When you walk into a meeting already aware of the campaign that launched last week, or you reference an industry trend in a conversation with your manager, you immediately signal that you're tuned in and thinking beyond your own role.

That's how interns stand out — not by knowing everything, but by showing they care enough to do their homework.

A few tips to make this easier:

• Check the company's LinkedIn and press releases for recent updates
• Read the bios of your teammates on LinkedIn — note their backgrounds and any overlaps with your interests
• Search for articles or interviews featuring company leaders — they often reveal priorities that don't show up in job descriptions
• If you'll be working with a product or service, try to understand who the customer is and how your team contributes to the experience

None of this takes more than an hour or two, but it's one of the highest-ROI things you can do to start strong.
 

4. Talk to past interns

If there's one shortcut to standing out, it's learning from someone who's already been in your shoes.

Past interns have the playbook. They know what the role is really like, what teams value, and what helps an intern succeed (or fall flat).

Ideally, you find an upperclassman on your campus who interned at the same company in the same (or similar) role.

(Many companies consistently recruit interns from the same campuses for certain teams, offices, or roles — finance majors at your school often intern at the same banks, marketing students end up at the same agencies, and so on.)

These people know what the role is really like, what the team values, what mistakes interns make early on, and what actually helped people stand out.

You can often find them through:

• Asking your career center or professors
• LinkedIn (use title + school + company filters)
• Student orgs or career clubs in your major

Once you connect, ask questions like:

• What do you wish you knew before Day 1?
• What helped you make a strong impression?
• Were there any early mistakes you learned from?
• Who at the company had the biggest impact on your experience?
• What separated interns who got return offers from those who didn't?

These conversations can uncover things no onboarding packet will tell you.

Now — this tactic is not foolproof.

Sometimes you'll be the first student from your school to intern there. Sometimes the company may not have had many interns before.

But it's still worth asking around.

And even if you can't find someone from your exact company or role, it's still valuable to talk to students who have interned before — especially if this is your first internship.

Even one 20-minute conversation with the right person can save you weeks of trial and error and completely change how you approach your internship.
 

5. Build your intern pitch

You'll be meeting new people constantly — in meetings, elevators, virtual calls, team lunches, and one-on-ones.

Having a clear, confident way to introduce yourself helps you make stronger impressions and start better conversations from day one.

Craft a simple 30–45 second pitch that includes:

• Who you are (school, major, and any relevant background)
• Your internship role and the team you're on
• What you're excited to work on or learn this summer
• A personal detail to make it more relatable or memorable

Here's a quick example:

"Hi, I'm Maya — a junior studying economics at ASU. This semester I'm working with the corporate strategy team as a business operations intern. I'm especially excited to learn more about how we use data to shape high-level decisions. Outside of work, I love hiking and baking — so if you have any favorite trails or dessert spots, I'm all ears!"

You don't need to rehearse it word-for-word, just get comfortable hitting the key points so you can introduce yourself naturally in any setting.

It might feel small, but this kind of preparation builds confidence, and confidence helps you speak up, ask better questions, and connect faster.

DURING your internship: how to stand out day to day

Once your internship begins, every interaction, project, and conversation becomes part of your track record. You don't need to be perfect, but you do need to be intentional.

The best interns aren't just completing tasks. They're building relationships, asking good questions, paying attention to how the organization works, and finding smart ways to add value.

This section walks you through the key actions to take while you're in the role, so you can stay aligned, stand out, and actually grow from the experience.
 

1. Get on the same page with your supervisor

Most intern issues don't come from lack of effort — they come from miscommunication.

If you don't know what's expected of you, how success is defined, or how to ask for feedback, you'll spend most of the internship guessing (and second-guessing).

Your first task?

Schedule a 1:1 with your supervisor as early as you can (ideally Week 1).

Then ask these seven questions:

• What are my priority projects during this internship?
• How is success measured by the end of the semester?
• Who should I get to know outside of our core team?
• What's the best way to ask for your feedback or input?
• What made the best interns you've had stand out?
• How do you prefer to communicate — email, chat, text, or something else?
• Are there any resources or trainings you'd recommend I start with?

For a deeper dive into why each of these questions matter, check out this post.

Most interns never ask these questions. They spend weeks figuring it out the hard way.

But if you ask them in Week 1? While others are still getting oriented, you'll already be building momentum. That's how you stand out.
 

2. Network proactively

Your internship isn't just about the work you do — it's about the people you meet.

The relationships you build now can open doors, shape your career path, and help you grow in ways no project ever could. But that won't happen by accident. You have to be intentional.

Make it a goal to connect across levels:

• Those above you (senior team members, directors, even executives) can give you insight into what success looks like in the long run. They've navigated key career decisions, know how the business works, and can help you connect your current role to future possibilities. These relationships can turn into long-term mentors or advocates down the line.
• Those around you (fellow interns, recent grads, early-career employees) are navigating many of the same challenges you are. They can share tips, tools, and lessons learned in real time. These are the peers you'll grow up in your career with, and building those connections now can lead to future collaborations, referrals, and friendships that support your growth.

Ask yourself:

• Who would I love to learn from and how can I reach out?
• Which fellow interns or teammates should I get to know better?
• How can I create time for casual chats or intentional 1:1s?
• How can I follow up and turn good conversations into real relationships?

Start simple. Message someone after a meeting to ask about their role. Invite a fellow intern to lunch. Ask a senior team member if they'd be open to a quick coffee chat.

And when you do meet with someone, show up curious, prepared, and respectful of their time. A thoughtful 15-minute conversation can leave a lasting impression if you ask good questions and follow up meaningfully.

Finally, don't make the mistake most interns do — leaving these conversations at one interaction. If you find a person who you made a strong connection with (and/or learned a lot from), make sure to schedule a follow-up conversation.

One-off chats are great. A series of them can be transformational.
 

3. Seek feedback proactively

Feedback is a cheat code for growth.

And during an internship, that feedback doesn't come from a professor — it comes from people who actually work in the field you're trying to break into. They know what success looks like in that area and can provide highly relevant advice on your growth.

You can either passively wait for it, or you can ask for it and improve in real time.

The truth is, most interns avoid feedback because it makes them uncomfortable. But avoiding it won't make it go away, it just makes it harder to process when it finally arrives.

Asking for feedback does more than help you improve. It builds your reputation as someone who's driven and coachable. And those two qualities matter in every field.

Here's how to ask for feedback effectively:

• Be specific about what you want feedback on. Instead of "How am I doing?" try "I'd love your feedback on how I facilitated that client call — what went well and what I could improve for next time?"
• Ask early and often. Don't wait until your final week. Request feedback after completing a project, presentation, or milestone so you can apply it while you're still there.
• Show you're listening. When someone gives you feedback, thank them, clarify if needed, and follow up later to show how you applied it. That reinforces that you value their input.

4. Track the 3 p's

Internships move fast.

You're learning constantly, juggling new tasks, and meeting new people every week. And with everything happening at once, it's easy to forget just how much progress you're making.

That's why it helps to take 5 minutes each week to track these three things:

Projects

• What did I work on or finish this week?
• What tools, skills, or software did I use?
• What impact did I make (metrics, outcomes, results)?

People

• Who did I meet or collaborate with for the first time?
• Who offered advice, mentorship, or support?
• Who do I want to follow up with or stay connected to?

Performance

• What feedback (positive or constructive) did I receive?
• What actions or behaviors led to that feedback?
• What strengths or skill gaps are starting to emerge?

You won't list every one of these things on your resume — but tracking them now will help you:

• Write stronger bullet points later
• Maintain relationships with the right people
• Build a focused development plan for next semester

Internships teach you a lot in the moment, but the real impact shows up later in clearer goals, sharper skills, and better opportunities.

Track them now, leverage them later.
 

5. Ask to return (if interested)

If you want to stay, tell them.

Interns who express interest (and back it up with results) stand out from those who stay silent and hope for the best.

If you're interested in a return offer, make your intentions known. That doesn't mean making demands, it means being proactive, professional, and clear about your interest.

When the timing feels right (ideally before your final week), schedule a quick check-in with your manager and cover three things:

• Why you're interested in returning: Share what you've enjoyed and what you're excited to keep learning or contributing to.
• What you've contributed: Make a brief business case by highlighting what you've worked on, any impact you've made, and how you've grown.
• Your mindset moving forward: Emphasize your enthusiasm, openness to feedback, and desire to keep building on what you've started.

Showing initiative now can lead to real opportunities later, or at the very least, helpful guidance on what it would take to come back.

After your internship: turn your experience into future offers

Your last day isn't the end of the experience — it's the beginning of what you do with it.

Now's the time to reflect, reconnect, and build on the progress you've made. Too many interns log off, move on, and miss the opportunity to capture the value they've created.

This section walks you through how to close strong, make sense of what you've learned, and turn your experience into future opportunities.

1. Reflect on your experience

Looking back helps you move forward.

Internships aren't just about confirming what you want to do, they also help you figure out what you don't want. Honest reflection helps you identify what energized you, what drained you, and what kind of environment actually brings out your best.

It also helps you make sense of what you've learned, where you've grown, and how this experience shaped your thinking about what's next.

Ask yourself:

• What did I genuinely enjoy (and not enjoy) about the work I did?
• What parts of the role felt frustrating or misaligned with my strengths?
• What team dynamics helped me thrive or held me back?
• What kind of environment do I want more of (or less of) in the future?
• What skills or experiences do I want to build next?
• What would I do differently in my next internship?

Don't let your experience blur together once it's over.

Take time to process it while it's still fresh and use those insights to shape your next move with more clarity, more confidence, and more direction.

2. Build your skill development plan

You've seen what the role actually requires.

Now's your chance to build the knowledge and skills you wish you had on Day 1, so your next Day 1 starts at a whole new level.

Every project, challenge, and conversation gave you insight into where you're strong and where you could grow. Don't ignore those observations. Use them.

Ask yourself:

• What skills or tools held me back from contributing at a higher level?
• What tasks felt challenging, and what would've helped me handle them better?
• What skills did top interns or teammates have that I want to develop?
• What can I start doing this semester to close that gap?

This doesn't have to be a complete overhaul. A single online course, some targeted practice, or joining a project on campus can all move you forward. But don't stop there — the biggest gains come from consistent effort over time.

The more focused you are on closing the right gaps, the more prepared and confident you'll be when your next opportunity comes.

Turn your experience into a game plan. That's how you make the internship keep working for you long after it ends.

3. Maintain connections

Internships are short, but the relationships you build can open doors for years to come.

Whether or not you plan to return, staying in touch with the people who supported you is one of the most overlooked (and highest-impact) things you can do. It keeps you top of mind for future roles, referrals, and mentorship.

Ask yourself:

• Who supported or advocated for me, and have I properly thanked them?
• Have I connected with them on LinkedIn with a thoughtful message?
• Who do I genuinely want to stay in touch with and why?
• What's one way I can follow up or add value now that the internship has ended?

This doesn't have to be complicated. A thank-you email. A short message sharing how their advice helped you. An article you came across that reminded you of a conversation you had.

Small actions show appreciation and keep the connection warm.

Your network isn't something you build once. It's something you continue building, one thoughtful interaction at a time.

Your internship is what you make of it

The students who get the most out of these experiences aren't the ones who wait for opportunities to come to them — they're the ones who show up prepared, stay intentional throughout, and turn what they've learned into a foundation for what's next. Do that, and this internship becomes more than a line on your resume — it becomes a long-term career asset that opens doors far in the future.

*Article from thestrategicstudent.com