What to Take Away From Your Internship

This semester I’ve been interning at The Philadelphia Film Society, which has been an amazing experience for me.  As I’m finishing up my final weeks at PFS, I can’t help but think of all of the things that I’ve learned from working in a small non profit. When I was applying to internships, I struggled with trying to find out if a larger agency or a smaller agency was right for me. As it turns out, smaller is better for me. The Philadelphia Film Society is small enough to know every face but big enough that there is something new every day to conquer and new people to meet. Since reflecting on my time at PFS, I came up with a list of things to keep in mind when you’re at your internship. This list helped me when I was at work and I tried to stick to it as best as I could.

1. Ask Questions.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. When I first started interning, I was really nervous to ask questions because I didn’t want my boss to think that I didn’t know how to do things. I was hesitant to even ask simple questions. I learned the hard way that doing the work wrong because you were to scared to ask questions is not a good way to go. Your boss wants to help you! They hired you for a reason and they want you to succeed. Always ask questions when you are unsure of a certain task, it’ll pay off.

2. Be confident in your work

There were certain projects that I put a lot of work into and they turned out great! There were also projects that I was not a fan of no matter how much work I put in. Either way, you need to trust your work and be very confident in what you are submitting. The way you present your work is so important. Be proud of what you create and be confident in your work.

3. Go the extra mile

The bare minimum does not cut it. Following what your boss says to do is great, but why not go the extra mile? When you put in more work than expected, it shows that you care and you want to make a difference in what you’re creating. This doesn’t just go for work, either. Ask if anyone needs a coffee, bring in donuts, and be an overall happy person in the office. Go the extra mile, you won’t regret it.

These are just a few important things that I learned from my internship at The Philadelphia Film Society. Every internship is different, but I know that what I learned at PFS I will carry into future jobs and internships.