Transitioning from an Internship to the Workforce

You’ve had a couple of successful internships and you’re getting ready to graduate.  Congratulations!  And now, you are wondering:

How different is a ‘real’ job from an internship?

If you had a formal structured internship, a ‘real’ job won’t be much different.  You may find that more is expected of you, especially with regards to attendance, punctuality, professionalism and workload.  If you choose an internship in an industry that you are going to pursue your career in, you should be well prepared.

How do I set personal boundaries?

Here are three simple tips:

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Value yourself and your time.  It's good to do a little extra at work but you don't want to be constantly coming in early, working through lunch or staying late.  While that might seem counter-intuitive, you want to be seen as a team-player, not a workaholic.

Communicate!  Express yourself and your needs - don't expect others to know them.  This one is a little tricky because you don't want it to seem like you want others to cater to you and your needs – rather, you want to be not taken advantage of.

Be professional.  Don't be overly familiar or over share at work.  It's great to be friendly with your leaders and coworkers but save the friend part for after work.

How do I create a Work-Life Balance?

This is a tough one and one that many people struggle with (including this author).  You want to do a good job at work, you have outside commitments (school, volunteering, etc.), you have family commitments, and you want a little time for yourself.  How to balance it all?  Start by:

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1) Prioritizing: Make a list of what needs to get done that week and that day.
2) Compartmentalizing: While multi-tasking is good, separate work, school, and me-time to get the most out of all.

3) Organizing: Take a few minutes every morning and at night to organize your day and your space. Minds do better in uncluttered spaces and if you take time to set your day up, you'll have greater success.
4) Re-energizing: Take time for yourself. Whether it's going out with friends or by yourself or staying in and reading a book, it's important to take a mental break from school and work.

OK. How do I know if I did it right?

There is no one right way.  Choose the path that feels right to you.  Remember, your career, like life, is a journey.  Expect to make changes and adjustments as you progress; and if you don’t like the way it’s going, change the direction!   Congratulations again and good luck!