Top Skills Employers Seek in an Intern

Getting an internship is a great chance to test the knowledge you have learned in the classroom by applying it into real world situations. That is why, the competitiveness of the application process should come to no surprise. To be ahead of everyone else, you have to show that good grades and book-smart are not the only things you have to offer. These qualities are often referred to as soft skills. The best way to figure out what to prepare for before applying for an internship is to try to put yourself in the employer shoes. By doing that, you can start guessing what kind of qualities they are going to look for in an intern and then present yourself accordingly. Here are the top skills employers seek in an intern.

Tenacity

Failure is a part of life. It bounds to happen in some form or another no matter how much you have prepared and planned. What important is the ability to be able to bounce back from it. The same thing applies to when you are trying to solve a problem. If one way does not work, try and try again. Not giving up so easily is the mark of a tenacious person. Tenacity is one of the top skills employers seek because an employer would definitely search for someone who can admit their mistakes, learn from it, and then become better for it. It is like what people say; when you are at the bottom, the only way to go is up.   

Adaptability

In your time as an intern, your job would most likely not only consist of one specific thing but a mixture of odd jobs. You can prepare coffee for everyone in your section as you arrive at the office, analyze data for the finance department after, and then answer calls and emails from customer in the afternoon. By doing these tasks you will get a better understanding of how a company runs as a whole, even if that particular work is not something that you have an interest in personally. Being flexible will also make you accept changes that come with time easier and welcome new and fresh ideas, instead of only relying on old way of thinking.     

Teamwork

No task is too difficult with enough people. That is why the ability to work well with people that comes from all kinds of backgrounds is among the top skills employers seek for their company. This is because, working in a team does not put emphasize on the individual but on what is best for everyone. You work hard and make sacrifices for others because you know that they will do the same. With good teamwork skill, you will be able to delegate work in a fair manner, have a good professional or even personal relationship with the other team member, and assist each other to achieve the best result for everyone.

Communication

The application process for an internship usually involves submitting CV, writing an essay, and being in an interview session. Aside from verifying your credentials and getting to know you better, all of these steps are used to see how well you are able to communicate your ideas and thoughts. To be able to put your ideas into words, both in verbal and written form, and to convey your thoughts in an easy-to-understand manner is essential in any kind of business. This includes networking and building strong relationships, which are arguably the backbone of success.

The skills that you learn in an internship will prepare you for when you fully enter the workforce. You will have an edge compared to the other candidates and a wider pool of opportunities from the contact you have made on your internship. To be able to get an internships, know and practice these top skills employers seek in an intern. The experience will not disappoint you.