Pre-Internship Guide - Making the Most of your Internship 2019 · Pre-Internship Guide - Making the Most of your Internship 2019 . 2 Dear SMF student, This document is designed to

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Pre-Internship Guide -

Making the Most of your Internship

2019

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Dear SMF student,

This document is designed to give you information and guidance before, during and after

your internship. It has been compiled from feedback and advice from past students,

employers and staff here at the Social Mobility Foundation. At the end of this guide, you

will find a final checklist that will help you to ensure that you are well prepared for your

internship. If you have any queries or worries about your internship, please get in touch.

Best of luck!

Best wishes,

The SMF Team

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Before your Internship Your placement is your chance to gain some insight into your chosen profession or sector, build

up practical skills and experience for your personal statement and job applications. You could

even meet some potential future employers.

Before you start your internship, it’s helpful to think about what you want to gain from it. Whether

you’re not sure what career you want or whether you’d love to work for the company when you

graduate, thinking about the goals you want to achieve on your placement will help you focus and

make the most of the short time you have in the workplace. We would like you to better

understand options and roles available for a professional career by the end of your internship.

In the space below, identify five specific things that you want to know or achieve during your work

placement. These might relate to academic study, people skills, business awareness or working

culture, e.g. find out what interests you about the work, learn how to write a report, spend time in

a professional environment.

Preparation

Making sure you are fully prepared before you begin your placement is vital.

1. Dress code – Check the dress code before you start and make sure your outfit is ironed and

your shoes are polished the day before. Any events or interviews you may have had at the

workplace can give you clues on the dress code, but if in doubt, go smart. You must dress

appropriately at all times whilst on your placement. Your employers expect to see a high

standard of professionalism from you at all times, and this must be reflected in your

clothes. Trainers, jeans, t-shirts and skirts shorter than knee length should not be worn to

work, and iPods/mp3 players should not be visible whilst you are in work. Similarly, mobile

phones/iPhones should be switched off or put on silent and not used during your working

hours, unless you are on a break.

2. Plan your journey – If you have never been to the workplace before, it’s a good idea to do

a practice run before your first day. That way you’ll know the route and be able to find out

if there are any roadworks or obstacles that might delay you. If you’re using public

transport, use the internet to check timetables and routes. Importantly, give yourself

plenty of time – aim to arrive early rather than rushing in late. Arriving 15 minutes before

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your start time is usually best. If you are more than 15 minutes early, wait in a coffee shop

or shop nearby as your host might not be ready for you.

3. Be informed - Know exactly where you’re going, who you’re going to be working with, and

who to ask for. This is especially important if your placement is within a large organisation,

or a building with multiple offices. Make sure you have read, and re-read, any information

you were given about the internship by the SMF. If you need to bring any special

documentation or equipment with you, put it in your bag the night before!

4. Don’t forget the basics. Make sure you’ve got any relevant information, including

telephone numbers, cash for transport, a map, pen, notebook and a bottle of water.

Finally, get a good night’s sleep!

Once you have received confirmation of your internship write the name and details of your

internship provider and the dates that you will start and finish into the box below.

Below, write the information you will need in preparation for your first day. This will help you plan

for travel, and if anything happens, the contact information of your supervisor.

Organisation:

Address:

Start Date: End Date:

Time I need to arrive:

Train/Tube/Bus I need to take:

Supervisor Contact at Internship:

APP Coordinator – Email & SMF Office Number:

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During your Internship Using the Managing my Future, you can set goals for during your internship. After completion of

your internship, the SMF will send you a Post-Internship Reflection Guide which will help you to

reflect on these after your internship. Setting goals and working towards them is a very important

step in your personal and professional development – this will continue throughout your degree

and career, so it’s good to get into the habit now. Below is a reminder of Managing my Future.

Using this, you can develop the goals you have for during your internship. Below is some guidance

and questions to answer in order for you to record them.

Managing My Future

Managing Post 18 Options

Managing My Career

Managing & Understanding

Myself Communication

Networking & Working with

Others

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Managing My Career

I can identify the career options in my sector and understand the entry requirements and skills

needed to succeed.

During your internship, you will have a chance to learn more about your career sector,

and better understand your suitability for it You should have questions prepared you would like to ask You can reflect on your aspirations and set goals for the future

How have you prepared for your placement, both independently and through SMF events?

What would you like to learn about your career sector?

Networking & Working with Others

I can build strong relationships with others, including SMF stude nts. I can work well in groups

and develop my networks.

During your internship, you will have work in a team, as both a leader on your own

project , and with others You w ill be able to speak to your supervisor about their own network You will develop your professional network

How would you like to develop your network during your internship ?

What techniques could you use ?

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Top Ten SMF Internship Tips

1) Remember the Basics – check the dress code, the time you start, and where you’re going.

2) Work Time is Work Time – avoid personal phone calls, listening to music or texting. Don’t send

personal messages or go on social media. Turn your phone on silent or off altogether! Be aware of

the working culture and adapt to it, taking your cues from those around you. For example, if it’s a

very quiet office, don’t make lots of loud phone calls.

3) Be Punctual – being on time makes a good impression. You should treat an internship as you

would a full time job. Not only make sure to arrive on time in the morning, but to come back in

time after lunch and any breaks too.

4) Be Realistic - It can be difficult to predict the sorts of things you’ll be doing in your internship.

Remember, your internship is not a full length internship that some students and graduates

undertake, but a short taster that will give you an insight into the profession. You may have to

limit your expectations; at hospital work placements you may not be given a lot of responsibility

and at an MP’s office you may not meet your MP due to the summer recess. Your involvement

could be anything from being part of an important project, to shadowing another staff member or

completing numerous small tasks. Even small tasks allow you to demonstrate your skills and

abilities, so always approach them with enthusiasm and do your best.

5) Be Proactive - You may have the opportunity to socialise with colleagues or other interns. This

should be fun, but don’t forget that your behaviour may still be being watched, so make an

impression for the right reasons. E.g. there may be a social club after work which you may wish to

attend, which will help you meet other people who may not be in your department.

6) Be Professional - Showing your enthusiasm will make other people want to enhance your

experience by giving you interesting tasks or taking you to exciting events or meetings. If you are

entrusted with a specific task or responsibility, use it to show them what you’re capable of. Be a

good colleague; remember that the people you are working with may be under pressure, so

always ask them if there is anything you can do to be of any assistance, but be friendly and

receptive – not pushy.

7) Take It All In! - Simply being in the environment of your chosen sector can teach you a lot.

Observing how your colleagues work and communicate with both you and the rest of the staff is a

fantastic insight. E.g. make notes of what tasks colleagues do which you feel are important to their

role, and how they communicate this to others. Also, at the end of each day, write down what you

have done. This will help you when writing your personal statement and applying for part-time

and graduate jobs. For this, you can use the Internship Record Worksheet on page 12 in this

document. Believe us – you will not remember all of the incredible experiences you have gained

unless you

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8) Ask Questions - If you’re unsure about what you’re doing, it’s much better to check with

somebody else first rather than making a mistake unnecessarily. Asking the right questions will

also show that you’re interested and keen to learn. E.g. if you’re asked to do a task, and are

unsure about a detail after thinking about it, email or approach your supervisor and ask for

clarification on the detail after explaining how you’ve thought about it. Important details include

information for when you need to complete your task and any other milestones – e.g. Does your

supervisor need a first draft by a certain date?

It might also be useful to start a jargon dictionary. All organisations use their own special jargon, and

there will also be jargon words specific to your sector. Make a note of jargon you come across and

what it means so that you don’t forget. If unsure, ask colleagues for help – most likely they use the

words so often they have simply forgotten they aren’t understood outside of the organisation!

9) Remember you’re Learning - Start your placement with an open mind. Your experience could

either convince you that you’ve chosen the right career or cause you to completely re-evaluate

your decision. Either way, it’s a positive experience that you can learn from for the future.

10) Enjoy Yourself! – Your colleagues will enjoy having someone new in the office, so make the most

of interacting with everyone – even if you’re not working with them, you don’t know where it could

lead!

Hints & Tips from SMF Students

Inez undertook two successful internships – one at The Observer, and the other at the office of Ed

Miliband MP. At the beginning of her week at The Observer, Inez was proof reading articles, but as the

week progressed, she was asked to help various journalists complete interesting tasks.

Please remember…

As a charity we work very hard to arrange and organise these internships for you. Companies and

their staff members don’t have to take part, they’re not paid extra, but they choose to generously

donate their time and resources for you. You are therefore a representative of SMF. We want

employers to continue to take our students on internships in the future and to appreciate how

talented you are. Please help us keep up this reputation by being on time, attending all workdays

and acting professionally. Any behaviour considered unprofessional will not only jeopardise your

work placement and future opportunities but will also reflect badly on the SMF and affect the

chances for students like you in the future. Please be proactive and demonstrate to employers just

how valuable SMF students are!

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Hints & Tips from SMF Students Inez undertook two successful internships – one at The Observer, and the other at the office of Ed Miliband MP.

At the beginning of her week at The Observer, Inez was proof reading articles, but as the week progressed, she

was asked to help various journalists complete interesting tasks.

“Don’t be afraid to let them know your interests and what you are working towards for your future, and

always be willing to help out others and take on extra work”.

During an informal chat about her interests to an editor at The Observer, Inez mentioned that she worked

at Topshop. It so happened that one of the fashion editors needed help with an article and her knowledge

was very useful.

1) “No matter what sector your internship is in, you must research the organisation. It is important to have a

rough idea of what to expect, so Google-ing goes a long way!”

2) “Have an open mind. Even with all your research, you can never really know what might be thrown at

you, so be ready for a challenge”.

3) “Remember – the person/people you are working for want you there, and want to find out about why you

want to be there as much as you want to know about them. So, be open to speak about yourself and ask

questions about themselves to others.”

4) “NEVER be afraid to ask questions. No matter how silly your question may sound, no question is too basic

or complicated for them to answer; they are professionals who want to give you a real insight into the jobs

they enjoy so much”.

5) “Finally, I would urge everyone doing a work placement to make the most of it and enjoy it. After all,

these experiences could shape the career route you choose to go down in the future. You should appreciate

that these placements are literally like gold dust and could be the tipping point as to why an employer picks

you over another person in the future”.

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Problems

It is very rare that students encounter issues at their internship. Although, these are very unlikely, if they

do happen they must be dealt with professionally. If you find yourself experiencing any problems, you

must contact the Social Mobility Foundation straight away. Deciding not to go your internship and not

telling us until the day after is not an option.

Lateness

If you are running late you must phone your supervisor as soon as possible and then also let the SMF

(your APPC) know by phone or email. If you prepare properly beforehand this should not happen.

Illness

In the unlikely event you are ill and unable to attend you must phone your company before 9am and also

email or phone your SMF regional office.

The SMF might issue warnings if you do not contact your host organisation and the SMF informing them

that you are not able to attend your internship in any of the cases above. Please see further details about

the SMF Warning System in your APP Student Handbook.

After Your Internship

After thanking your internship provider before you leave, send an email of thanks soon after you

have left. This will ensure you can keep in touch with them in the future. You can use your

Making an Impression Handbook to do this, using page 6.

The SMF will provide you with a Post-Internship Reflection Guide. Use this to reflect on your

experience and on the original objectives you had set yourself for the placement. Carefully record

the achievements you have made at your internship. You’ll find this invaluable when you come to

referring back to your experience in your UCAS personal statement, future internship or job

applications.

Remember that the SMF are here to support you. We really want to ensure that you are ready to make

the most of the short internships we provide you with, but if there is anything you feel unprepared for

or are worried about your internship, let us know. You can email your relevant APP Co-ordinator, or

call your SMF office.

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Final Checklist

As you pass through the different stages of your internship, use the checklist below to make sure

you’re on track to make the most of the experience.

Preparing for your internship

Find out what to expect by researching your internship provider online

Carefully read and re-read any information you were given about the internship by the

SMF

Fill in the SMF Pre Internship Questionnaire online

Plan your own personal goals

Plan your journey

Check the dress code and plan your outfit for the first day

Pack your bag the night before, pack cash for transport, pen, notebook, and water

If you don’t know if your internship provider will provide lunch, prepare a packed lunch

Check the final details

During your internship

Introduce yourself to your supervisor and colleagues

Log notes of your tasks and progress on your Internship Record Worksheet (p. 12)

Start a jargon dictionary

Observe your work environment and learn from your colleagues

Build your networks – to stay in contact with colleagues you can ask them to write down

their email addresses into your notebook

Be proactive, professional, and enthusiastic

Ask questions

At the end of your internship

Say thank you

Save any records of achievement, e.g. the internship Record Worksheet

Keep in touch

Reflect and record your experience

Carefully read the SMF Post Internship Reflection Guide

Fill in the SMF Post Internship Questionnaire online

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Internship Record Worksheet

Add tasks to the worksheet below throughout your internship and ensure it is up-to-date and saved somewhere accessible at the end of the internship.

Internship organisation:

Main contact / supervisor:

Main contact email address:

Start date:

End date:

Summary of internship and key tasks:

No. Task description

Which skills did you use/develop/learn and

how?

1 Example:

Situation: The team I was in had a meeting

with a new client.

Communication – Wrote a concise summary of the information I found and practised public speaking in front of a small group when presenting my results to the team. Time-management – I created a research timetable to help manage my time and deliver the project by the deadline. Attention to detail – It was essential that the facts

for my colleagues were correct so I checked with

two sources and used different methods to

conduct the research.

Task: I was asked to help researching the

client to prepare my colleagues for the

meeting.

Action: I discussed the meeting with my

colleagues to find out which information

would be most useful.

Result: My colleagues were well-briefed for

the meeting..

2 Situation:

Task:

Action:

Result:

3 Situation:

Task:

Action:

Result:

4 Situation:

Task:

Action:

Result:

5 Situation:

Task:

Action:

Result: