Bellini Center for Talent Development

Responsibilities and Tips for Your First Internship

Students who have secured your internship should keep the following responsibilities to the employer/company in mind:

  • Students are representing the USF Muma College of Business and should display professional behavior, follow the proper dress code and report to work on time.
  • Students should continue the internship for the duration that was agreed upon if more than a semester.
  • Interns should perform all tasks in a professional manner.
  • Interns must follow the personnel policies of the internship employer/company and keep sensitive information gained in the work environment confidential.
  • Students should maintain contact with the course instructor and complete all assignments listed on the internship course syllabus.

10 Tips for A First Internship:

  1. Be on time for everything – this seems basic but indicates to others that students are professionals.
  2. Be social – be likable in the office and network during an internship to build professional contacts.
  3. Find out how long the internship is – find out specific start and end dates of the internship and if they might hire an intern as a full-time employee.
  4. Interns will do some busy work – learning some administrative tasks and how those tasks help the company is important.
  5. It's okay to make mistakes – students should strive to do their best, ask for assistance when struggling, and seek feedback on how not to make the same mistake twice.
  6. Ideas are encouraged – speak up, participate in meetings, show initiative!
  7. Interns sometimes get bored â€“ not all tasks involve interns, keep communication open with supervisors to learn about other ways or projects that can help the overall team.
  8. Quality over quantity – it's not efficient to work hurriedly, stop and ask for feedback and do a thorough job.
  9. Dress code – business casual and campus casual are not the same thing!.
  10. Responsibilities differ for paid and unpaid interns – chances of job placement after a paid internship are higher than an unpaid internship; paid interns on average receive a higher salary for their first job than unpaid interns.

The Internship Showcase gives students the chance to find out what interning for top local companies is like in an informal setting. During the event, students are able to expand their network and get the inside scoop from current and former interns.