Get the most out of an internship

Internships offer young people reallife experience of the workplace as well as providing a way for interns to shine and show potential employers what they are capable of.

“Internships play an important role in the shaping of a young career, allowing young people to gain insights into a variety of working environments,” says Anne-Marie Pretorius, MD of Bizmod Consulting.

She advises:

Do not expect to love everything you do as an intern, and be willing to persist and get as much experience as you can;

Interns should not end up being the office dogsbody doing all the extra work no-one else has time for;

Insist on getting a formal induction process that helps you understand exactly what the company does;

Be professional as well as enthusiastic and willing to learn new things;

It can be intimidating, but ask questions if you are unsure of a task you have been assigned; and

If you are appointed a mentor, make an effort to forge a strong relationship with that person to make the intern process as successful as possible.