The Introvert's Guide To Internships

By Elana Goodwin on April 10, 2016

This article is brought to you by Dream Careers, the largest global internship program for college students offering all-inclusive programs in 11 cities worldwide. To learn more about Dream Careers, please visit us at SummerInternships.com.

Roughly 25-50 percent of our population is made up of introverts — yet it still seems like an extrovert’s world, especially when it comes to networking and internships. While many think that introverts are very shy and extroverts are super outgoing, introversion and extroversion actually refers more to where people get their energy from and how they mentally recharge.

Introverts typically recharge by spending time alone; their energy gets zapped from being around people for long periods of time, especially when there’s a lot of people around at once. Extroverts on the other hand, get energy from being around other people and recharge by being social; their energy is drained from spending a lot of time alone.

With that in mind, here’s an introvert’s guide to surviving an internship.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Do One Social Thing Each Day. Even if it makes you feel uncomfortable, it’s important to set more extrovert-type goals for yourself so you get the most out of your internship. Commit to doing one social thing each day — for instance, instead of eating alone at your desk, grab lunch in the lunchroom or conference room where everyone else eats.

Eating lunch with others is an easy and low-key way to casually make connections and gab with your coworkers. Plus, there’s not as much pressure on you to be the most outgoing at the table and you can just jump in with a comment here and there when you have something to say. If you really need to spend your lunchtime on your own to recharge for the rest of the day, try to commit to meeting a new person at the company each day or going to Happy Hour once a week.

Talk to Your Boss or Supervisor. When you start your internship, talk to your immediate boss or supervisor and tell them that you work best and will be the most productive working alone at your desk. While your ability to do this will depend on the type of internship and the field it’s in, chances are you can and will probably be able to do this for most of your internship.

You are probably not the first introvert to work at the company, and many interns tend to be less outspoken than employees as they try to figure out where they stand and what’s appropriate to say, so it may not even be a big deal. Additionally, if you’re going to be more efficient and productive working on your own, there’s not much your supervisor will complain about as they’ll benefit.

Plan Ahead and Practice. If you’re worried about talking to people you don’t know, messing up a presentation, or something else, plan ahead and practice to take some of the pressure off and lessen your anxiety. Ask for a heads-up from your boss if there’s a possibility you’ll have to stand up in front of a bunch of people and talk. You may still make mistakes, but as an intern, that’s to be expected.

When it comes to meeting new people, see if another intern is interested in getting to know other employees as well and go around to people’s cubicles or desks together. This way, you have a buddy and the time you spend making introductions and talking is split in half as you both will jump in and chat.

Find People Like You. Given how many people in our population are introverts or have introverted tendencies, try finding your fellow introverts at your internship. Perhaps they’re other interns or maybe they’re employees — whatever the case, it’ll make your internship that much more enjoyable and comfortable for you if you have a kindred spirit with whom you can just relax and not talk with.

As an introvert, you may be quieter than other interns, but you’ve probably also got some impressive introverted traits you’re bringing to the job. For example, introverts tend to be more independent and focused; they’re passionate about their hobbies and beliefs and intent on challenging themselves to do better. They possess great listening and observational skills, which means they’ll only need things explained once before being able to complete work on their own, correctly.

So if you’re an introvert currently completing an internship or an introvert who has one lined up for the summer, keep this guide in mind to make the most of your internship, get out of your comfort zone, and know that your introversion can and may actually be an asset when it comes to being an intern.

Looking for a top internship in an exciting city? Enroll in Dream Careers and guarantee yourself an internship and a fun summer in your choice of 11 cities globally. To visit our website, please click here.

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