Table Of Content2
Copyright © 2015 by Eric Woodard
All rights reserved. Copyright under Berne Copyright Convention, Universal Copyright
Convention, and Pan American Copyright Convention. No part of this book may be reproduced,
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Published by Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.
Allworth Press ® is a registered trademark of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. ®, a Delaware corporation.
www.allworth.com
Cover design by Chris Ritchie
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.
ISBN: 978-1-62153-438-9
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62153-456-3
Printed in the United States of America
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This book is dedicated to my family, whom I love so much.
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INTERNSHIP: A learning experience guided by a mentor in the workplace,
which supports the academic or career goals of a student not employed there
professionally.
ALSO BY ERIC WOODARD
Your Last Day of School: 56 Ways You Can Be a Great Intern and Turn Your
Internship into a Job
Why Internships Are Good: The Best Education Money Can’t Buy
How Do I Find an Internship?
ALL MINE
Unless stated otherwise, all ideas and opinions expressed in this book are my own
—they don’t necessarily reflect the beliefs of any people or organizations I have
worked with or for.
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Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Some Advice about Career Advice
2. A Brief History of Internships
3. Internships Today
4. Paid or Unpaid?
5. Understand That They Don’t Teach You Everything in School
6. My Internship Story
7. Getting an Unfair Advantage
PART 1:
How to Get an Internship
8. You Know
9. But You Want to Explore
10. The Long Interview
11. When You Should Say No
12. Making Ends Meet
13. Take Refuge
14. Internship Sites
15. Unlisted Numbers
16. Career Centers
17. Semester in . . .
18. Make Your Own Way
19. Virtual Internships
20. Results in Advance
21. All-Access Pass
22. Stereotypes
23. Stand Out Like a Sore Thumb
24. Tell a Story, Be a Human
25. Video Killed the Radio Star
26. Research Bleesearch
27. Break Rules
28. Your Campaign
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29. Cover Me
30. Résumé
31. Application Matters
32. Testimonial/Reference Sheet
33. Creative Resumes and One-Sheets
34. Social Media Footprint
35. Online Portfolio
36. Recommendation Letters
37. Meet the Intern
38. Thank You
39. Because You’re Worth It
40. But I Don’t Know How to Do All That
41. You Have Nothing to Lose
42. Don’t Make Them Sorry They Chose You
PART II:
How to Thrive During Your Internship
43. Learn the Basics Before You Begin
44. Be Great on Day One
45. Don’t Get Rattled by the GLARE
46. Putting Out a Contract on Yourself
47. Reflect It
48. Learn Deliberately
49. Know the Bright Line
50. You’re the FNG
51. Tune In
52. Show Your ID
53. Shield Your Magnetic Personality
54. Find a Place to Dwell
55. Show Up and Be Present
56. Prevent, Predict, Problem-Solve
57. Manage Your Manager
58. Slay Dragons
59. Lead and Shun the Herd
60. The Last Suit You’ll Ever Wear
61. Everybody is Human
62. Stand Out in Time
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63. Keep Your Desk Insanely Neat
64. Become a Filing Ninja
65. The Mighty Pen
66. Party Like Your Career Depends on It
67. Let’s Meet
68. I Can’t Do It! She’s Breakin’ Apart!
69. Your “Back to Internship” List
70. Don’t Be Bored
71. Speak Up
72. Secret Language
73. You’ve Got Mail
74. Reach Out and Touch Someone
75. Don’t Be Sloppy
76. Walk Tall
77. The Discard Drawer
78. Start a Rolodex
79. Build a Portfolio
80. Candy Bowl
81. Be a Mime
82. Find a Niche
83. Move Your Ass
84. Responsibility Vs. Control
85. Win File
86. Don’t Think
87. How to Apologize
88. Power Phrases
89. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie
90. Top Things Most Needed in an Office
91. Read News Clips
92. Give Cards
93. Teach Other Interns
94. Don’t Give Up
95. Roadblocks
Conclusion
96. Bask in Your Inexperience
97. Defining Yourself
98. The Post-Internship Job Quest
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99. Job Boards after Your Internship
100. The Power of Starting
About the Author
Index
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Acknowledgments
T
his book includes some content from previous work but also lots of new
material. It is the culmination of wisdom and support I have been blessed to
receive for so long from so many. Without the support of numerous friends,
colleagues, and my family—this book would not be.
I am grateful to Skyhorse Publishing for finding me and working with me to
publish this book. It has been the most pleasant and wonderful surprise to work
with them on this project.
Additionally, I would very much like to thank the legions of interns I’ve had
over the years. So often, regardless of whether I was a good manager or not, their
excellent work demonstrated to me time after time how great interns can be a
force of nature when it comes to serving others and making a positive impact in
the world. Thank you, my former interns. You know who you are.
I would also like to thank First Lady/Senator/Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
for showing me what it means to be a great leader and accepting me as one of her
interns so long ago. I also want to thank all the fantastic colleagues I had the
pleasure to work with over the years in Hillaryland. It is there that I started as an
intern and learned how to be a pro. If you’re reading this and you served with me
in the White House, the Senate, or the State Department, I’m talking about you.
It goes without saying that I am also so grateful to the many fantastic people I
learn so much from every day at the Smithsonian.
This book is dedicated to my family. So much of what I know, who I am, and
what I can do is a credit to my parents who I love so much, John and Dixie
Woodard.
Massive appreciation goes to my sweet, smart, and beautiful daughter Piper,
and my indomitable, brave, amazing sons Fletch and Deacon. The only reason I
was able to work on this book with three toddlers in the house is because they are
such fantastic kids.
Last, I want to acknowledge that this book would not have been possible
without the encouragement, inspiration, advice, and love of my beautiful smart,
fearless, fantastic wife Keri. Because of her, my life is so full, and I learn so much.
I’d be her intern anytime.
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