Summer Internship Survival Guide
With summer comes nice weather, fun vacations, and, if you are a student in Ohio State's MHRM program, internship season. Many students in the program choose to travel all around the United States for internships with various companies. This summer, I traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to intern with General Mills. I had a great experience with the company, and I am so grateful to all those who helped me to get there along the way.
A number of tips, both from former MHRM students and professors, helped me to have a better experience over the course of my internship. Here are three of those tips to help you succeed in your MHRM summer internship.
- Network, network, network!
Making connections with HR professionals and other individuals within your company will not only provide you with information vital to your internship experience, but it will also help you get a sense of how you belong within a company. Talking to as many individuals as possible will help you get a sense of the culture of the organization you are working with. Understanding this culture will help you to get a sense of this organization, and if it will be a long-term fit for your personality and goals. - Learn from failure.
In any new endeavor, there are moments where you succeed, and moments where you don't. Over the course of your summer internship, there will be moments when you fail. Accepting and admitting to this failure, and treating it as a lesson rather than a hardship will allow you to grow as a person and as an HR professional. Honesty and a growth mindset can turn failure into opportunity. - Have fun!
For many folks doing summer internships, you are traveling into a new city or region of the country. Make sure to take time to enjoy yourself, and learn about the area. A balance of work life and personal life is key to enjoying this experience!
With these tips, you will be able to approach your internship with a learning, growth, and fun mindset.
