10 Extra Things You Can Do During Your Internship (For That Competitive Edge)

1. Update your resume.

As a college student or recent college grad, your resume should not have anything from high school on it. Focus on your relevant work experience, volunteering, and special skills. Don’t forget to add your new internship!

2. Clean out your emails and old files.

Emails, old essays, and downloads from the year make your computer and web browser run slowly. Delete anything you don’t need!

3. Research your own company or business.

Check out the website, Facebook page, and news articles about the place where you’re working. When you go in for a review with your boss, he or she will be impressed with all that you know.

4. Start planning where you want to work next.

Do you plan on working in the fall? Start researching other internships and jobs related to what you’re studying – these jobs go much faster than the typical barista and waiter jobs. Apply for as many as you can!

5. Start a LinkedIn account.

Now that you have an internship, you are very marketable to employers! Use your LinkedIn account to stay in contact with your site for references later on.

6. Make sure your social media sites say what you want them to about you.

Have any unprofessional pictures posted? Probably take them down or hide them from your public profile. It’s time to start thinking like an adult.

7. Make a reading list.

There are books out there for everyone! It’s important to be well read in your area of interest, even if you’re not an English major. Read biographies of people you admire, self-help books on getting the job you want, and as many classics as you can.

8. Get a credit card.

If you don’t have a credit card already, now is the time to start. Limit yourself with what you buy and pay the full amount every month. In a few years you’ll have a great credit score and can begin thinking about getting a house, nice car, or travel!

9. Research big name companies or graduate schools in your field.

If you haven’t already, start to get an idea of where you want to work or study after you’re done with your undergraduate. That way, when it’s time to apply for jobs or schools, you know exactly where you’re sending applications.

10. Set goals.

Take some time and set out day, week, month, school year, and long-term goals. Just pick a couple for each; you decide how attainable to make them. Post the goals somewhere you can see them every day!

After all of this is done, give yourself a pat on the back and spend a couple hours on Facebook or Pinterest.