Intern Tips for Students

A guide to making the most of your internship experience

Each year, hundreds of students at the University of Portland will complete an internship. If you will have an internship,
how can you make the most of your time at the organization? Whether this is your first professional work environment,
or you have had multiple internships already, it is time to apply your coursework in a real-world context! This guide
contains information about:
• Elements of a Quality Internship and Benefits for Students and Employers ― pg. 1 - 2
• Creating Learning Goals ― pg. 3 - 5
• Maximizing Each Stage of your Internship ― pg. 6 - 9
• Questions for Reflection ― pg. 8 -9

Implement these tips to maximize your personal and professional development while interning. Have fun!

But first, what is an internship?

The University of Portland defines an internship as: A form of supervised experiential learning that combines critical
thinking and intentional reflection within a framework of a liberal arts education. By completing internships, students are
able to sharpen professional skills, develop career interests and employer contacts, assess strengths, and connect
classroom theories to practical, real world settings. Internships offer employers the ability to evaluate and mentor
upcoming talent. 1

Components of a quality internship include:

• The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the
knowledge gained in the classroom.
• The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
• The experience has a defined duration, and a job description with desired qualifications.
• There are clearly defined learning objectives/duties outlined by the employer prior to the intern beginning the
internship.
• There is supervision by a professional with expertise and background in the field of the internship.
• There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
• There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning
objectives/goals (e.g., computers, desk, training materials).

Can I earn academic credit? Do I have to earn credit?

At UP, academic credit-bearing options vary by professional school or department. It might be
possible for you to get credit for your internship! You must pre-arrange this before the internship;
students cannot retroactively receive credit for a completed internship. Many students get this
important experience without the structure of a faculty-supervised internship course. If that is the
case, reach out to [email protected] for additional support.

1
Note. Based off of the “NACE Position Statement on U.S. Internships,” Adopted by the NACE Board of Directors July 2011.
 How are internships mutually beneficial?

Benefits for students Benefits for Employers

Gaining an understanding of different careers and An opportunity to strengthen recruitment and hiring
evaluate their career path. efforts with a continuous pool of highly qualified students
Setting and accomplishing work-related goals Interns are enthusiastic, bring new ideas and provide
fresh perspectives
Developing professional skills and experience that make Supervising interns allows employees to gain
them more attractive candidates to recruiters supervisory/mentorship experience as a professional
development point
Confidence gained when they have tangible evidence of Internship programs promote community involvement by
their contributions and growth teaching the prospective work force―a great public
relations tool
Connecting with professionals in a field or organization of Interns can support projects that employees otherwise
interest might not have time to complete
Chance to apply classroom knowledge and training to
professional context.

Common internship expectations

Students expect from their employer:

• A clear job description
• A chance to apply classroom knowledge and training
• An opportunity to contribute ideas
• Effective supervision / mentorship
• Assigned work that is meaningful
• Support towards meeting the learning goals that they define at the beginning of the internship
• An opportunity to earn credit and/or be paid
• An opportunity to build relationships and network
• The ability to reflect on course learning in the context of the experience

Employer site provides intern:

• A clearly defined role in the organization and
workspace. This includes a complete job Faculty supervisor provides (only if student is
description, defined start and end dates, and
expected hours per week receiving academic credit for the internship):
• Thorough onboarding and orientation to the • A means to earn academic credit
organization • A well-crafted set of learning objectives
• Defined learning objectives that are consistent connecting student learning with experience in
with the student’s academic course of study the field
• Exposure to as many parts of the organization as • Advising for the duration of the internship
is possible • An assessment of the intern’s performance
• An opportunity for consistent mentoring, training • Varied course assignments that provide guided
and feedback learning and reflection applying classroom
• An opportunity to see realistic professional tasks theories to a professional work environment
representative of the industry
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 Intern Tips for Students
A guide to making the most of your internship experience
Learning Goals
To make the most of your internship, a key first step is to outline what you plan to gain out of it by setting learning
goals! In addition to building skills, internships are valuable because they create a sense of purpose - both personal and
professional - based on what you learn and the types of activities that you accomplish during your internship.

Why is goal setting important?

At its core, goal setting helps you build the framework for a valuable internship learning experience.

Goals assist you in your internship by keeping you:

1. Motivated while moving through the transition of student life to professional life;
2. On task so that you have direction and clarity about your day to day duties;
3. Aware of a standard against which to measure your growth and progress as an intern;
4. Focused on getting what you want to develop out of the internship - not just what the employer wants!

Goals should be mutually beneficial!

Your supervisor’s input will be valuable in determining the feasibility of goals to make sure that you are carrying out
agreed upon activities and projects that meet both of your needs for the internship. You have specific goals that you
want to accomplish and your supervisor has specific duties that need to be done.

You may be confronted during your internship with changes in what you are doing from day to day depending on the
needs of the organization. If you have solid goals set prior to the internship, you will be better equipped to gear your day
to day performance towards meeting those goals. Research has shown that the act alone of setting goals has the ability
to ensure that you meet at least some if not all of what you want to achieve.

How do I set goals?

Based on the mutually agreed upon job description which outlines your tasks and responsibilities, you can
create goals that focus on different areas of development:
• Knowledge development: understanding factual information associated with the industry or profession, and
application of discipline-specific theories or concepts (“I will learn, understand, develop, etc.”)
• Professional career development: exploring different career interests and learning about professions (“I will
explore, talk to, etc.”)
• Skill development: gaining skills and competencies that employers look for; this can be a combination
of technical skills and career competencies (“I will acquire, conduct, create, schedule, build, etc.”)

The best goals will be specific, actionable, and measureable. Consider the following as you develop your goals:
• Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve or develop? How? When? What is your timeline to achieve this
overall goal? Are there milestones needed along the way?
• Action Steps Needed: Is your goal realistic and attainable given the available time and resources? What steps
are needed? Who you will consult or shadow? What resources will you need?
• Measurable: How will you objectively measure your success? How will you know when you have met this
goal? What tangible outcomes will you see (metrics) or hear (feedback) when you reach your goal?
Here are some example learning goals:
• I will understand the complete development and testing process for an iOS application by writing
high quality source code for the beta release of the HealthNET Application at the end of July.
o This is a knowledge and skill-based goal. It is specific in learned outcome, deliverable, and timeline.

• I will meet with and shadow managers in different departments of marketing and product
development to see which area interests me more.
o This is an exploratory professional development goal. The activity itself is specific and measurable in that
it either will happen or not, but open-ended in terms of how and when it will happen.

• I will improve my public speaking and presentation skills by delivering a cumulative presentation on
my research and findings to key stakeholders at various levels of the company, after weekly
presentation-updates to my team for the entirety of the project.
o This skill development goal has a very specific deadline and tangible outcome, as well as weekly
milestones outlined along the way.

• I will develop an understanding of fundraising event work by helping organize and run the OMSI
Fundraising Gala event in August.
o This is another knowledge and skill-based goal. It is focused around one particular event with a
timeline.

• I will write and distribute a press release by drafting and submitting one for the upcoming product
launch pop-up party happening in October.
o This is a skill-based goal that is specific, measurable and has a timeline.

Communicate early and check in often!

Share these goals with your supervisor at the start of your internship so they can give meaningful assignments to you
and incorporate relevant learning experiences throughout your time at the organization. When you communicate these
goals to your supervisor and team, it creates transparency about what you are hoping to gain from the experience.
Together you can evaluate your goals and create a roadmap towards achieving them. They cannot help you meet your
goals if you have not communicated them.

It is recommended that you have regular check-ins with your internship supervisor. One topic you should periodically
check in about is progress regarding your learning goals.

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 Intern Tips for Students
A guide to making the most of your internship experience

Create your own Learning Goals

Intern name: Intern Title: Organization:

Learning Goal #1:

Action Steps – What, when, where and how will you accomplish your goal?

Measurement of Goal – How will you objectively measure your success? What are the metrics?

Learning Goal #2:

Action Steps – What, when, where and how will you accomplish your goal?

Measurement of Goal – How will you objectively measure your success? What are the metrics?

Learning Goal #3:

Action Steps – What, when, where and how will you accomplish your goal?

Measurement of Goal – How will you objectively measure your success? What are the metrics?

Learning Goal #4:

Action Steps – What, when, where and how will you accomplish your goal?

Measurement of Goal – How will you objectively measure your success? What are the metrics?
Intern Stages of Development
Understand the developmental stages of an internship: Anticipation, Exploration, Contribution, and Culmination. While
everyone has a unique internship experience, there is a common progression of confidence, learning and participation
for most interns. As you navigate and familiarize yourself with this new professional work environment, your self-
confidence and abilities will develop over time. However, this is a journey and there will be different obstacles and
opportunities for you to grow through and learn from.

1. Anticipation:
In this stage, it is normal to feel: eager, hopeful, motivated, anxious, and self-doubt.

You might wonder: What if I can’t connect with my coworkers? What if I can’t handle projects? How will I
manage work-life balance? What if my supervisor thinks I know more than I actually do? Remember that they
hired YOU because they believed in your abilities and wanted you on their team! Use that confidence to frame
defining realistic expectations of your internship and communicate those to your supervisor to make sure you
are on the same page regarding your role.

While some internships are structured and have established programs, others might be more informal or loosely
organized. Wherever your internship falls on this spectrum, you’ll want to do as much as you can to prepare for
it before you start, and to maximize your experience once you begin! Follow these guidelines and you should be
well on your way to a successful internship!

• Set learning goals. Spend some time setting learning goals that you want to accomplish during your internship.
Goals could incorporate desired industry-related knowledge, skills, or abilities required for successful career
advancement. Work with your supervisor at the beginning of the internship to develop expectations and a plan
to ensure that the established goals are met, and check in regularly throughout the internship to see if you are
on track to meet these specific goals.

• Be a sponge during orientation. The beginning of your internship will be focused on orientation and training.
This will likely consist of: touring the facility, meeting other employees, learning about the organization,
reviewing communication standards and workplace expectations, and meeting with your supervisor. During this
period, you will learn a lot of new information and begin establishing a workplace identity and understanding of
the organizational culture.

• Ask questions! While the employer expects a certain level of work from you, you are not expected to know
everything. Take initiative to ask questions—don’t expect anyone to read your mind if you’re lacking information
or are confused. Be open-minded about new ideas and procedures. Remember that you don't know everything
and that your professors didn't teach you everything; be open-minded.

• Be patient. At the beginning, you might feel overloaded with all of this information, while simultaneously feel
underutilized and underwhelmed by routine tasks. The sooner you understand what the organization does and
how it operates, the sooner you can assume responsibilities and be productive. Workplace structure and pace is
very different than the classroom and might take some adjustment.

Note generational differences: As a Gen Z professional, your communication style and

workplace values might be different than those of your supervisor, who is likely to be at least one
generation older than you. Work to see things from their perspective, and ask clarifying questions if
you don’t understand where they are coming from.
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 Intern Tips for Students
A guide to making the most of your internship experience

2. Exploration:
In this stage, it is normal to feel curious, open, unsure, and underwhelmed/overwhelmed.

You might wonder: Who is my internship support system at and outside of work? How can I get more projects
and meet other departments? Am I comfortable in this setting? Keep track of your questions, and take initiative
to find answers. Continue to examine your expectations, goals and role to in order to feel grounded and have a
sense of purpose.

A few weeks into your internship, it’s common to feel like you have things generally under control. You’re
getting more familiar with your coworkers, your job duties, and how the organization operates. As self-
confidence in your workplace identity grows, you might start to picture yourself working in this field or industry
someday! As you get into a good rhythm, guard against overconfidence and continue to seek support when
needed.

• Schedule regular meetings with your supervisor: This might seem obvious, however if your supervisor is hard to
get a hold of during the average work day or travels quite a bit, get regular check-ins on the calendar. You can
share what you’ve worked on, ask clarifying questions, and get a sense of what work might be coming up next.
Get feedback on areas of strength and ongoing areas for development, as well as check in on your learning
goals.

• Take advantage! Use every opportunity presented to you to attend company or industry meetings, conferences,
and events; participate in training workshops and professional development opportunities; and read all
company materials.

• Explore the field. Internships are a way to explore industries and job functions that you have not yet had
exposure to. Set up informational interviews with colleagues to learn about their role and career journey.
Shadow different departments to see what else within the organization interests you.

• Maintain an upbeat, positive attitude. You will undoubtedly love some duties and projects more than others,
but the key is to complete all your work assignments with the same level of positivity and professionalism.
Successful interns demonstrate enthusiasm and a sincere interest in the company and their role.

When things go wrong, talk about it sooner rather than later.

If expectations and the reality of your internship are not aligning, have an honest conversation with
your internship supervisor. Or, if you are struggling to communicate with your internship supervisor,
ask for help! Reach out to the Internship & Engagement Coordinator in the Career Education
Center, Academic Internship Coordinator in the College of Arts & Sciences, or your faculty
supervisor to help you navigate communication with your supervisor so that you can have a fulfilling
internship.
 3. Contribution:
In this stage, it is normal to feel: accomplished, excited, independent, invested in the work, and more able to
confront challenges.

As an emerging professional, you have a platform of performance within the workplace. You might be given
more responsibilities from your supervisor, and can demand more from yourself too. Avoid being too hard on
yourself and expecting perfection with every assignment—remember, you are there to learn!

You are more than halfway done with your internship! This is a great time to reflect on your experience so far.
Think back to the expectations you had and the learning goals that you set at the beginning of your internship.
With those in mind, here are some tips to help you make the most of the rest of your internship.

• Document your contributions. A goal with any internship is to leave it with some tangible results. Maybe you
created a guidebook, computerized an inventory system, organized a fundraising event, met with clients, etc.
Keep a journal to help you remember all you accomplished during your internship. Please check with your
supervisor to see what work samples you can keep for future reference, and what are confidential company
materials.

• Acknowledge skill development. It can be difficult to recognize and articulate the skills (“soft” and technical)
developed while interning. These will be transferrable to future experiences inside and outside the classroom.
Process with your supervisor or mentor: what do you do at work? But more importantly, how do you do it? How
have you gotten better at it over time? Be confident that you have learned and grown during this experience!

• Speak up! If there are projects you’d like to work on or experiences you were hoping for, now is the time to
advocate for yourself! Express your hopes and present thoughtful solutions as to how those items can be
incorporated into the remainder of your internship.

Questions for mid-point reflection

• Which of your strengths are becoming apparent as effective tools in this internship and why? What affirms you
in this role?
• In general, would you say the tasks you have been given so far have over-challenged you, under-challenged you,
or been about right?
• Take a look at the Learning Goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the internship. Which of these has
been met, not met, or is in process? Do you feel proud of what you’ve accomplished, disappointed in what you
thought you’d be doing but haven’t yet, or a combo of the two?
• What else have you been learning?
• Have you and your supervisor disagreed yet? If so, how did that happen? How did it make you feel? How was it
resolved?
• How is your confidence level now compared to the start of the internship?
• How has the organization compared to your expectations? What are the unwritten values or norms that you’ve
learned about the workplace?
• How does your role, within this organization, impact the greater needs of the community?
• How are you growing professionally through challenges that you've faced in this role?

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 Intern Tips for Students
A guide to making the most of your internship experience

4. Culmination:
In this stage, it is normal to feel proud, confident, sad, unfinished and not ready to leave.

You might wonder: Did I make a difference? Will I be missed? Did I learn what I wanted to? How can I apply my
experience and expertise to future coursework? It can be confusing and hard when experiences come to an end,
especially if you are transitioning back to an academic setting after your internship. Mixed emotions are
common—identify and talk about them with your support system and peers.

As your internship comes to a close, consider how to end on a good note with your employer. One of the keys to
navigating the lifelong career journey is utilizing your network to find your next step. This starts now, by
connecting with professional contacts you have made during this internship. Your future self will thank you!

• Arrange final feedback. Towards the end of the internship, it’s important to get some final feedback from your
supervisor. Ask to arrange a time where you can have an informal discussion about your accomplishments,
strengths, and opportunities they see for continued growth. If you are completing this internship for academic
credit, both you and your supervisor will be asked to complete confidential evaluations, however we would
encourage you to review these together after they’ve been completed.

• Thank people. Who has invested in you and made a positive impact on your internship experience? Thank your
supervisor and any colleagues who you’ve appreciated. Handwritten cards are always a nice touch.

• Stay connected. Connect with your supervisor and colleagues on LinkedIn, and reach out periodically
throughout the academic year just to stay in touch. These professional relationships are also a good source for
getting other job-hunting advice and tips from their years of experience in the industry. If anyone you’ve worked
with would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation or serve as a future reference, ask them now.

• Prepare to tell your internship story. Now that you’ve documented and reflected on your contributions, how
will you remember and share these experiences in future applications and interviews (for another internship,
job, post-grad service, or graduate school)? Consider updating your resume or creating a portfolio of your work
while this is fresh in your memory. The Career Education Center can help you with these!

Questions for continued reflection

• What did you like best about the internship and why? Least?
• How are you different now than when your internship first started?
• What progress did you make on the learning goals you established at the beginning of your internship?
• What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? Were there any goals that you did not accomplish? What
are your plans for working on them?
• What are your thought on how the work you’ve done during your internship connects to your vision of your
future self?
• What new knowledge, skills, insights, and professional vocabulary have you gained from this internship?
• What interests have been sparked as a result of this experience?
• Was there anything that this internship confirmed you do not enjoy doing? Does this surprise you? Why?

For information and guidelines for virtual or remote internships, please review the Virtual Internship Guidelines
handout on our website.
Resources to support your experiential learning as a UP student:
As a UP student you have access to many campus resources may be helpful to support your holistic wellbeing,
including: Employees who are Confidential Resources, the Health and Counseling Center, Title IX and Campus
Ministry that you can talk to if needed. The Career Education Center is also here to support you as you participate in
experiential learning; reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

If you have questions, please contact:

Career Education Center

[email protected] | 503.943.7201

Adapted from:
Bridge.Jobs’ “Employer Guide: Creating a Meaningful Learning Experience for Students”
University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts’ “CLA Career Readiness Internship Guide: Making the Most of Your
Internship”
University of Nebraska – Lincoln “Internship Toolkit for Employers

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