Internships can be a fantastic way to develop your confidence and obtain useful experience. However, it might bring feelings of anxiety because of a limiting beliefs that you lack the necessary knowledge or experience. There are, fortunately, things you can do to improve your self-esteem during your internship and make the most of the opportunity. You may improve your self-confidence and leave a good impression on others around you by investing the time to create realistic objectives for yourself, making authentic connections, and realizing the value of feedback.
To let go of expectations before starting and during an internship is among the most crucial things to keep in mind. It’s simple to become preoccupied with thoughts of what you ought to or ought not to do, but it’s important to keep your attention on the here and now and embrace each day as it comes. You can concentrate on developing new talents and obtaining priceless experience that will assist you in your future profession as long as you don’t beat yourself up for not reaching certain expecations you have set for yourself.
During an internship, developing authentic connections with coworkers and mentors can help you to feel safe in your environment. Of course, this is easier said than done, but if you start by connecting with just one person at a time, you’ll slowly but surely feel a sense of belonging and community over-time. E.g. Start asking your coworkers non-work related questions during lunch together. Tell a story about what happened last weekend. Or say a fun fact which you might think will be interesting to share. These little glimpses of interactions will create a bond that allows both sides to feel more comfortable around each other and might set a path for unexpected friendships to bloom.
And lastly, valuing feedback. It’s one of the most valuable tools that we can use to grow and improve. It helps us understand our strengths and weaknesses so that we can focus on the areas where we need to improve. However, it’s common to feel afraid of it because hearing these words may trigger a sense of lack in value and capability. But this isn’t true – feedback is simply a way for us to gain insight into how we can do better. It’s important to set a distinct barrier between personal attacks and constructive criticism. Don’t be afraid of feedback – use it as an opportunity for growth! 🙂
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