Getting the internship is one thing, but actually getting something out of it is something completely different. The professional environment can be overwhelming, and you might not have someone to guide you through the ins and outs of an internship.

The best thing about internships is you can learn a lot, but take it from me – someone who’s done five placements in three years and five-plus years of volunteering at community radio – there’s also a whole bunch of stuff you don’t want to do during your internship.

Don’t expect people to give you something to do

Workplaces are busy, professional places, and often people don’t have the time to constantly give you work. Take initiative and find something to do. Ask around to see if you can help anyone out and offer up your skills. Showing you can be proactive in taking on work will definitely set you apart from anyone else. But whatever you do, don’t get caught in the trap of doing the coffee run!

Don’t hide in the corner

Being shy is totally alright, but you also want to leave a lasting impression and make them remember you. Make sure the person they remember isn’t the shy intern who sat in the corner throughout their placement, but the proactive intern who took initiative and had a can-do attitude.  You’re there to do a job, so back yourself and do yo’ thang.

Don’t sit on your phone all day long

Even if you’ve got nothing to do and you’re bored out of your mind, the last thing you want to do is pick up your phone. If a potential employer looks over and you’re spinning on your chair playing Candy Crush or Snapchatting selfies to your mates, they’ll instantly think less of you.

If you’ve got nothing to do, exercise your ability to make yourself look busy. Google things that look impressive on your monitor, like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, so passers-by know you’re a smarty-pants. Otherwise you could look up words like “synergy”, “cross promotion”, “deal mechanics” and “revenue streams” to improve your business jargon. That way, when the boss looks over, it actually looks like you’re doing something productive.

Don’t get intimidated

With all these grownups and professionals around you talking about grownup and professional things, it can sometimes get a little intimidating. But have no fear; you’ve got a voice, so you can talk like a professional grownup, too. All those years of learning at uni and doing countless assignments have led to this. Clear your throat and make your voice heard.

Don’t keep your skills to yourself

An internship really is the best way to showcase your skills, so treat it like a prolonged hands-on interview. It isn’t a place to hide, it’s a place to brag and show off your experiences. Roll with the punches and get up in people’s grills. Overcommit but always deliver. If you make yourself invaluable, you might even get yourself a gig out of it.

Don’t think negatively

You’ll be asked to stay back, come in early and do tight deadlines, and you’ll even be asked to do all of this whilst standing on your head. But whatever you do, don’t pass any of it down. The work might get hairy sometimes, but it’ll build up your street cred, and there’s also the chance you might get a job offer when they see how super capable you are.

Of course, this all takes a little common sense. Don’t end up like that poor chap who had to sleep in a tent during his internship at the UN. You have every right to say no.

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Keegan Thomson is studying journalism at the University of Western Sydney. He’s an avid storyteller and global traveller whose likes include fresh bed sheets and Jeff Goldblum movies.

(Lead image: Sarah Van Quickelberge, Flickr Creative Commons license)