Use your internship

The more you define your internship, the more beneficial it will be for you. It is therefore a good idea to plan your internship and think strategically to get the most out of it.

Here you get 5 tips on how to use your internship strategically in your job search.

1. Be visible and show your results 

How you make your results and tasks visible varies from workplace to workplace. Look at what your colleagues are doing and use it as inspiration. 

Most importantly, as an intern, you need to realize that you have a short time to make a positive impact. Some interns schedule a weekly meeting with their boss or contact person, others end the internship with a presentation. Find out what suits your preferences, the tasks of the internship and the company.

2. Be part of the important tasks in an internship 

No matter what tasks you have been given during your internship, it can be a great advantage to stand out in relation to the company's core tasks. The company's core tasks.

If your work assignment during your internship is an extension of the company's core tasks, you can really put yourself and your skills into play in relation to your other colleagues and the company's needs. You'll also get a good understanding of how the company works.

If you're doing mostly 'nice-to' tasks for the company, you might be able to be curious and approachable when it comes to core operations. Ask about their way of doing things and see if you can be a 'fly on the wall' where it counts. When presenting your work with your 'nice-to' tasks, talk about how they relate to the core task. In this way, you showcase both your competencies in relation to the company's needs. In this way, you showcase your skills in relation to the company's needs, and you also show an understanding of the company's context.

3. Be aware that it is a long job interview

An internship can be seen as a long job interview where you are tested in practice. Therefore, be mindful of how you contribute in the workplace.

For example, you can consider: 

• What kind of atmosphere and culture are you helping to construct?
• How do you deal with the fact that you - against your wishes - have to leave the company?
• How do you articulate your job search alongside your internship? 
• How do you receive assignments and how do you return them?
• How do you seek out exciting assignments and projects? 
• What is it like to have lunch with you? 

Also pay attention to your dialog with your colleagues - both in professional and collegial conversations. Remember that all colleagues are potential networks for your next job.

4. Be in dialogue with your superior

It could be a good idea that you initiate dialogue with your superior, so you have a clear understanding of the expectations, and use it as basis for presenting your work.

One or two official meetings during your internship may be enough. It could also be that you have informal meetings, e.g. by having lunch with the manager.

It is of course important that your choice of strategy takes the tasks, the organisation, the people and the culture into consideration.

Take an assessment of the workplace, don't be afraid to make mistakes, and remember that you must make choices that strengthen your job search and your chances of getting your dream job.

5. Speak about dreams and goals

Don't be afraid to talk about your aspirations and goals or share your current job search with your colleagues. For example, if you dream about working in a company or with a specific field, talk about it during your lunch break. It may be that there is a colleague whose sister works exactly where you want to be.

Example from a former job seeker:

"During a lunch break whilst in my internship, I told of my colleagues that I had always dreamed of working for the Environmental Protection Agency. One of my colleagues had a sister who was employed in their HR department, and she quickly set up a meeting.

After talking to the sister, I was able to write a targeted application, so when the Danish Environmental Protection Agency opened for new job postings, I applied - and now I am employed and have my dream job."