It is definitely very easy for student entrepreneurs to get caught up with their startup during summer because they feel this is the perfect time for them to attend to the many aspects of their new businesses. And so, having a day job is not a very popular option for them. While it may seem that joining an internship is a waste of time, there are many useful things a starting entrepreneur could pick up from this endeavor.
Follow these tips so you could take full advantage of your internship:
1. Focus on the gaining experience rather than money. Focusing only on the financial benefits of having a summer job is an indication of lack of ambition. For you to earn much from an internship, you would have to work really long hours, assume more responsibilities, which both mean paying a lot of attention to how you could earn a lot of money rather than how you could take your entrepreneurial skills to the next level.
Always remember that as an entrepreneur, there remains so much you could learn about your industry, which is why you must use every opportunity to gain the experience that will help you on your startup.
2. Don’t just make friends; build a network. Internships are also a perfect opportunity to make friends, who can also become part of your business network, especially those who are more experienced than you are. Perhaps the thing that makes networking the root of business startup success is the fact that regardless of how your business looks like on paper, it will always be a human being who will spend his money to buy your product or service.
3. Spend your evenings wisely. Poor time management has always been one of the reasons business startups fail. Although it is okay to hang out with friends especially in the evening, it would still be more to your advantage if you could be as productive at night as you are in the morning.
4. Stay focused on your goals. Although not all your business goals will eventually materialize, you must not let this discourage you from keeping your eyes on them. You must accept the fact that even the most perfectly planned businesses encounter difficulties as well. All that matters is how you treat every challenge that comes your way. If you feel like losing your interest in what you’re doing, take a break and try to remember the reasons you fell in love with being an entrepreneur in the first place.
5. Seek mentorship. Having a mentor doesn’t indicate weakness on your part. In fact, this is a sign of maturity and preparedness to take the next step. By working with a business mentoring professional, you are actually preparing yourself to overcome all the challenges waiting for you.
Cecile Peterkin is a certified career and retirement coach, and a registered member of the Career Professionals of Canada and the International Coach Federation. She is also the Founder and Senior Career Strategist at Cosmic Coaching Centre, provider of career and life management services for middle managers and mid-career professionals across Canada, United States and Europe.