As a young person with no experience, trying to start a professional career is not without its challenges. In a world producing even more university graduates, internships are critical, highly sought-after opportunities by which students can get a foot in the door of the professional world.

It makes sense therefore, should you be fortunate enough to secure such an opportunity, that you want to make the most of it and maximise your chances for career progression.

Read on for how to get the most out of your placement.

Make a good impression

Chances are, if you have secured an internship via an interview, then you have already done this. It is critical however that you maintain your good impression and build upon it when opportunities to do so arise. Go to work events, if you can. These are valuable and rare opportunities to not only build your image, but also break the ice with your colleagues and make valuable contacts. Show an impeccable attitude so that even if you make mistakes, your image is not as severely damaged. As long as you show eagerness and humility, your errors will mostly remain forgivable.

Set goals

Plan a few core objectives for your internship. Know what you want to get out of it. Set your objectives strategically so that you will be able to hone the skills you want to use later on in your career. Doing so will allow you to build up your experience and ability in the areas which matter most to you, and to your future employers. Develop a plan to achieve your objectives, and make your goals known to your boss, so that he or she can manage your workload and help you prioritise the outcomes you want.

Make contacts

Make friends of your co-workers; your chances of securing a job are increased dramatically by doing so. If your internship doesn't lead to a permanent role, your next best bet is on the professional contacts you make in the time you have there. Depending on the field, it may also be a wise idea to create a LinkedIn account and connect with the people you've befriended at work. This will allow you to stay in contact with them after your placement ends.

Get varied experience

If you are able to, get as much experience doing different things as possible. This is perhaps the most significant way to get the most out of an internship. The more experience you gain and the more skills you develop, the more employable you will be at the end of your placement. This is especially important if you are in a general role or if you are unsure of your future career path. Key to this is the willingness to try your hand at anything that comes your way. If your boss offers you the opportunity to work on a project you never envisaged yourself doing, do it anyway. Doing this will help you identify both the kind of work you prefer as well as where your natural skills intersect with an employer's needs.

Expect nothing

Don't get your hopes up by expecting that you will have a job at the end of your internship. To do so only opens you to disappointment. That's not to say that you won't get a job out of your placement, you very well may, but expecting that you are automatically guaranteed one makes you vulnerable and can even poison your attitude during the internship itself. Stay humble at work and maintain humble expectations.

Decide if the work is actually for you

In my opinion, the most important thing that you can get out of an internship is knowing whether or not that line of work is for you. Identifying the extent to which a profession provides you joy and fulfillment may save a lot of grief and help you plan alternative career paths if necessary. Such should be the ultimate reward of your internship; neither money nor a job, but direction.

Every internship is different, and at the end of the day, it will be up to you as an intern to determine the best ways to get the most out of your opportunity. These tips hopefully provide insight into the behaviours and attitudes required for maximised success.

Looking to get your foot in the door of the professional world? Talk to Morgan. I did. (03) 8606 0300