Internships can accelerate your career 5 years. And now that the economy is down and the higher paying jobs are limited, internships are becoming more valuable than ever. Why? Because if you find the right internship, you can build an amazing portfolio, make all the right connections, and start your next gig at a higher payrate. Here’s how:

Do What’s Right For You!

Most internships are mandatory so people don’t put enough energy in them. But if you keep the big picture in mind, you’ll know that an internship can be a very valuable asset to you in the long run. When you’re interviewing for a position, you not only want to please the interviewer, you also want the interviewer to assure you that this position is your desire. Therefore, before you go in for an interview you should have a list of what you want to get out of your experience. Pick the company that best fits your needs.

Get The Most Out Of It

Now that you picked where you want to intern, be sure to position yourself for the best tasks. What can you do to add to your portfolio or resume that can help your career? Keep in mind that most people are annoyed by interns and don’t think they can do anything… or do anything well. Prove them wrong. Yes, you will still have to do copying and scanning, but if you do that really well you will move up to the next task. Do that well. Move up to the next. Make copies of the things you do. And record each and every task.

Make Your List

Make a list of the names and companies you interact with on a daily basis. Start to search those people and their companies. What will be your next move? See the thing is this: you create the next move. The benefit of an internship is the access to contacts. Now that a couple companies have your interest, check and see if there are any job opportunities.

Go For Gold

Mention to your boss your interest in those people/companies and see if your boss can arrange a meeting. If you were a diligent intern, you deserve a reward. And most likely, they will reward you. Be sure to have your portfolio and resume at its best condition and available. Do not burn any bridges.