Ask a Recruiter: Maximizing the Internship Experience

You've made it through week one – now make the rest count.

By Emma See, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner

By now, you’ve learned your way around and met the people you'll be working with this summer. The first-week nerves have faded, and you're starting to feel more comfortable in your role. This is when the real opportunity begins.

The interns who turn a summer role into a launchpad aren't necessarily the ones with the most polished resumes – they're the ones who make every week count. Here's how to do that.

Ask for Feedback Before You Need It

The learning that occurs through internships often comes because of the feedback you receive. The best interns build a feedback loop into their week.

• Ask early and often: "Is there anything I could be doing better?"

• Be specific. Instead of "How am I doing?" try "What's one thing I could improve in how I run my updates?" Specific questions get specific answers.

• Receive it well. When someone gives you honest feedback, thank them and then act on it. Nothing builds credibility faster than visibly applying what you've been told.

Recruiter tip: Asking for feedback isn't a sign of insecurity – it’s a sign of confidence. Many companies have scheduled evaluations, but the most successful professionals I know are the ones who actively seek feedback often.

Take On More Strategically

There's a window in every internship where you can raise your hand for additional work. Use it – but be smart about how.

• Finish what's on your plate first. Don't volunteer for new projects if your existing work is slipping.

• Look for problems, not just tasks. Notice what's frustrating your team, what's falling between the cracks, and what no one has time to fix. Offering to help with those things is more valuable than asking for more to do.

• Be honest about your bandwidth. Saying "I'd love to help, can we talk about priorities?" is a sign of professional judgment, not weakness. Managers would always rather hear that than watch a deadline quietly slip.

• Make your contribution visible – without making it about you. A short Friday email to your manager – "Here's what I wrapped up this week, here's what I'm picking up next" – keeps your work top of mind without feeling like self-promotion.

Recruiter tip: At Group 1001, one of our Core Values is Innovation – we expect everyone to contribute ideas, develop solutions, and find ways to continuously improve in everything we do. Something I heard early in my career that stuck with me: ask your manager, “Is there anything I can take off your plate, or anything I can do before I head out?” It sounds small, but it signals that you're paying attention to more than just your own to-do list, and it builds trust quickly.

Building Relationships: Your Most Valuable Investment

Internships are as much about people as they are about projects. You never know what opportunities will present themselves later on by forming relationships and staying in touch with colleagues.

• Introduce yourself broadly. Don't limit yourself to just your immediate team. Say hello to people in other departments, at lunch, or in common areas.

• Find a buddy or mentor. Having a go-to person for questions is invaluable.

• Schedule coffee chats. Ask colleagues for 15 minutes of their time to learn about their role and career path. Most people love to share their stories.

Recruiter tip: Networking doesn't have to feel transactional. Just be curious about people. One of our Core Values is Collaboration – the power of working together – so lean into that. A quick conversation with someone in operations, product, or HR can open your eyes, and maybe open doors, too. Ask other employees to help with a project, sit in on a meeting, attend in-person events and trainings, participate in a company-sponsored/industry webinar, and more.

Track Your Wins

You will not remember everything you did throughout the summer. By August, the specifics that make a great resume bullet or interview answer disappear.

• Keep a "wins" file. Every Friday, take five minutes to write down what you worked on, what you learned, and any wins or feedback from the week.

• Capture the metrics. Numbers stick. “Helped streamline onboarding” is forgettable. “Cut new-hire onboarding time by 30% by redesigning the orientation checklist” is interview gold.

• Save your work. Where appropriate, keep copies or screenshots of presentations, reports, and projects you contributed to. They become the foundation of a future portfolio, and they make updating your resume much easier.

Recruiter tip: When I interview candidates, the ones who can speak in specifics – names, numbers, outcomes – always stand out. That kind of detail doesn't come from memory. It comes from the habit of writing things down.

The point of an internship isn't just to add a line to your resume. It's to figure out who you are at work – what you're good at, what energizes you, and what you prefer to avoid. Pay attention to those signals. They're some of the most useful career data you'll ever collect.

Your internship is a short window, but the impression you leave can open doors long after August ends. Ask thoughtful questions, share your ideas, and keep showing up.