Choosing a company to work for after college can be quite daunting, especially if it’s your first time being exposed to an office environment. Internships are great opportunities where you can experience what it’s like to work outside of the four corners of a classroom while being mentored by experts and established professionals.
As for me, I am a Multimedia Arts student from De La Salle-College of St. Benilde who had the great opportunity of having my internship at Artzap Studio. Here, I talk about nine lessons I learned while working as an Artzap intern, and how these lessons have helped me prepare for the real world.
- Learn how to take risks.
Before becoming an intern at Artzap, I was just a regular college student exploring potential opportunities for my future career. I rarely step out of my comfort zone, and so applying for an internship was definitely something I was hesitant about. But through the past few months that I spent working at Artzap, I quickly realized that trying something new, especially something that can benefit you in the long run, will always be worth the risk.
- Balance work and play.
Having too much of the same thing is never good for anybody, and working is no exception. As a senior college student, I’d always worry about the number of tasks on my to-do list that I have to accomplish each day, without giving myself time to rest. Working at Artzap, I’ve learned to leave work at work. This makes it much easier to balance between work hours and leisure time.
- Manage your time well.
Good time management is one of the key factors employers look for when hiring prospective employees. Before becoming an intern, I was always used to working on my own time, at my own pace. This behavior will never stand well with the company you’ll be working with. Keep in mind that you are a small gear of a large working unit and that missing deadlines will eventually cause the entire company’s downfall. Planning a schedule ahead of the work day is a good way to organize your thoughts while setting your priorities straight.
- Know what you’re getting into.
It’s no secret that the creative industry is a bustling environment of talent and skill. Being a multimedia arts student, I’m used to being an all-around and versatile worker where all my skills are being put to full use but after going through an internship, especially one where my job tasks are filtered and more specialized, I’ve found that setting yourself for a particular role and standard will allow for a more conducive workflow.
- Wants don’t necessarily equate to needs.
Designers alike know what it feels like for their work to be tossed around like a hot potato before the final approval. During my internship, I’ve also had my fair share of revisions, as do all other employees in the design industry experience. Learn to accept change, and that what you may think is ‘good enough’ for you might not necessarily be the solution your client is looking for.
- Appreciate feedback.
Working in a digital marketing agency such as Artzap, I was expected to create and produce designs for both external and internal purposes; and with these works, comments and suggestions would always follow suit. Although I would occasionally shrug these off, usually passing them off as extra work, appreciating and embracing the feedback that is directed to you should always serve as a learning curve, rather than a judgment call.
- Behave and act professionally.
For the past 4 years of my college life, I have been accustomed to behaving differently from how I act now. Being late even by the smallest amount of time, submitting projects beyond the deadline, or even gossiping between work hours will not boast a good rep towards your fellow workmates as it may have with your college buddies. Learning to adjust and act accordingly to your current work environment is the professional way to go about the workplace.
- Never be afraid to ask.
I’m a conventionally timid person and asking people, especially those in authority, has always been an insecurity of mine. Now that I’ve been exposed to a professional environment, I find that being quiet and reserved will never work, especially in this type of industry. That said, one should also learn how to ask the right questions, as your supervisors and mentors also have a lot of work on their plate.
- Communication is key.
Communication is one of the most essential skills an individual has to constantly keep improving on. Although I only worked as a graphic design intern at Artzap, I had to occasionally express my thoughts and ideas to different individuals, even if we had varying skill sets and expertise. I find that being able to relate and converse with the people you work with, even if you don’t perform the same tasks, will always come a long way both in professional and personal growth.
