Intern Series: Common Challenges During An Internship and Their Solutions

Challenges are a part of everyday life and internships are no exception. One interesting thing about challenges is that they aren’t “one size fits all” so the challenges you face might not be the same as those close to you.

BUT, the best thing about challenges is that they create growth opportunities. It’s like they say “challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes them meaningful”.

So, I want to share with you 4 common challenges you may face during an internship paired with (possible) solutions.

1. Tracking Growth

Internships move at a fast pace and with this you may forget to “stop and smell the roses”. One solution to this is setting clear goals early in the process and continually reflecting. Whether you want a more defined vision of your professional desires or to become an SEO wizard, goals + constant revision help keep growth top of mind!

When starting an internship, I recommend you write a Professional Development Plan where you plan, track and achieve your professional goals to help you grow in your career. Employers, do this with your interns to help them maximize their experience at your company!

2. Self-Doubt

Adapting to a new environment is hard and when you add self-doubt into the mix the weight feels even heavier. Doubt can come from feelings of inferiority in experience and even small tasks such as formatting an email.

As interns what we fail to realize is just that - WE ARE INTERNS. We aren’t expected to know everything but we ARE expected to learn so ask question after question after question! That’s what you’re there for!

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3. Time Management

Time management is a term you’re probably tired of hearing so that's why I like to say “Priority Management” instead! In a professional setting it is vital to have the ability to balance time between meetings and work.

Collaboration is great but work also must get done, i.e. be productive. A method I have found that helps here is structuring your day into “buckets”. For example you’ll have a meeting “bucket” and work “bucket” where you are 100% focused on that specific bucket. When attempting to go from one to another constantly throughout the day you get lost in the chaos and you’ll look back like where did the day go?? (trust me I know).

4. Enjoying The Moment

Yes, the main focus of internships are the professional growth opportunities they provide but we must remember we’re all human beings at the end of the day. So, remember to find joy in your work, take time to build relationships, and most importantly live in the moment. Yes, your next steps are vital but you can’t make the 100th step without first taking the right first step!

Thank you for reading this blog and if you found value in any way, let me know by reaching out on LinkedIn! I’m always up to connect!

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