Internships
/I stared at the keypad on the phone for hours, maybe even days. Finally, I overcame my doubt, dialed the number, and called the White House. I told the White House operator that I had to do an internship for my graduate degree and wanted to explore if I could do one there. The operator was polite and understanding. She put me through to a Navy officer. (I found out that he, too, was doing an internship at the White House.) He said I should come down and talk. Soon I found myself in the Old Executive Office Building next to the White House. We talked, and I explained I was free to help for the semester. Later, he called me back and said to report to an office on K Street.
Many students do…
...internships as a part of an educational program. Most find them less than fulfilling and miss a great opportunity to connect and launch. They end up making copies and running errands.
My internship experience couldn’t have been any different. No “gofer” work or running errands. In fact, my internship successfully launched my career.
My assignment landed me with a “secret” organization in what must have been an old CIA office. It was a nondescript gray stone building across from the Capitol Hilton, three or four stories in what, in the past, had been someone's house.
Once inside, though, things changed. Soundproof tiled walls, heavy duty windows, and other security devices. I realized that the Soviet Embassy was across the street, catty-corner and to the left of the Hilton. Obviously, the building was being used for intelligence gathering.
The secret group was working on a gas-rationing program that, given the first Arab oil embargo, was potentially needed as soon as possible. These staffers were top flight executives from around the government on detail to this task force.
The program was complex. I was quickly pulled into a number of activities, meetings, and policy analysis. This included gas-rationing coupons: how to implement such a program across U.S. industries, how to avoid a black market in coupons, distribution of coupons, storage of coupons, the printing of the coupons. All of this required Treasury input, given that the coupons would be a type of currency.
I ended up working many more hours than the internship required, but I wanted to learn and devoted the hours needed to do the job.
At the end of the internship, I was asked by a member of the task force if I wanted to work for the Environmental Protection Agency. Of course, I said yes. The agency was rather new at the time, and I was fortunate to work across programs, including air, water, and noise. I impressed the staff working on the task force and was given a chance to start working before I completed my Master’s Degree.
For me, an internship was a start to my career, not just a part of my degree program. Internships are what you make of them. Here’s how to make the most of them:
Be Bold. Dive straight into what you are interested in. Do not accept being driven into some flop activity and position. Calling the White House took a lot of guts, but I did it.
Be Clear. Do not just get assigned an internship. Many educational institutions have established internships with organizations. This may or may not be right for you. Work hard at finding the right area of interest and, more importantly, the people you will be working for as a part of the internship. Find movers and shakers in the organization and not the dead wood. Do not settle for keeping someone's calendar.
Use your power. Yes, you have power in an internship. No organization or individual wants to gain a reputation of failing interns. You may have to use that card. If so, use it.
Move Quickly. If you get assigned to a dud or loser, move quickly to get that changed. Find what is cutting edge and get there. Find the best and learn from them.
Pat