Getting that great internship is only half the battle. Once you’ve stuck your foot in the door, you have to prove yourself — and nobody knows this better than Lauren Berger.
“Internships are life-changing,” says Berger, 28, who held a staggering 15 internships during college — and channeled this wealth of experience into creating the Intern Queen Network, a Web site that provides tips and publicizes internships for students and postgrads.
“They not only provide resume builders, workplace experience and networking opportunities, but they encourage young people to think about their futures,” Berger says.
The author of “All Work, No Pay: Finding an Internship, Building Your Resume, Making Connections, and Gaining Job Experience,” Berger shared her expertise at the second annual Intern Queen networking soiree last month in Chelsea, where students and postgrads mingled with a panel of nine professionals ranging from a Teen Vogue staffer to a Make a Wish Foundation worker.
Follow these do’s and don’ts from Berger to make the best impression on your bosses — and potential bosses.
DO
—Maximize the short time you have there. “Walk in every day and ask, ‘How can I make the most out of today?’ ”
—Stay in touch afterward. “My policy is that every student stays in touch with all their professional contacts three times a year. Even when students have graduated, they should still maintain that three times a year policy.”
DON’T
—Be a wallflower. “If you don’t have an inkling about how your boss likes to communicate it’s a great question to ask … always better to ask than just assume.”
—Feel entitled. “Read everything you get your hands on and ask if anyone needs help.”