3 Ideas for Summer Interns

Three ideas for this summer’s interns:

#1. Keep a daily journal of your work.

Write about what you’re working on. Describe how you’re bringing projects and tasks from x to y in a given timeframe. Whether you finished a project ahead of time or organized a team-building event for the office, make a note of it.

Use any of the digital journal apps out there or go old school and use a planner. Write down specific information including the scope of the project, the names and titles of those who collaborated with you, and what problem(s) you solved. This type of information ends up on your resume, or perhaps as an article like this one: bit.ly/LI-internship

Publishing it online also gets you into a habit of showing your work and leaving behind “a trail of breadcrumbs” for others to learn from. As your career progresses, say 5, 10, or 20 years, you will have chronicled all the wins and challenges and lessons along the way.

#2. Plan your work and work your plan.

Speaking of projects, an effective way to manage them is to consider the 1-Page Productivity Planner. It was created by Brendon Burchard (bit.ly/1-page-pp). It focuses your attention on 3 Ps:

Projects
• List no more than 3 key projects, one in each column
• Beneath each project, write 5 big things you must do to move the project forward

People
• People you need to reach out to today, no matter what
• People you you’re waiting on, who you need something from to move forward

Priorities
• The main things you must complete today, no matter what
• List the priorities and to-dos that must be accomplished today and DO these before getting trapped in your inbox and other people’s agendas

Whether you use Brendon’s planner or not, you’ll still need to master the 3 Ps throughout school, your internship, and your career. It’ll make everything a smidge easier.

It also exposes the power of systems, which trump goals all day long.

#3. Send thank you notes.

Save this part for the end of summer. By email, by text, by handwritten letter or card, what matters is that you close-out the internship with a thank you.

It takes minutes of your time, but leaves a lasting impression on the recipient(s). It also demonstrates that you’re mindful of others and on top of your game.

As your career picks up, you will meet a trove of incredible people - way more good ones than bad. Sending them thank you cards is a great way to face outward and think less of yourself.

Develop an attitude of gratitude. That way, you’re mindful and present to the impact - both positive and negative - your leaders, colleagues, and peers have on you.

Those are three ideas for summer interns.