What to Do When You Have Downtime at Your Internship

During your internship you might find that there are moments when your tasks are complete and the workday seems to stall. This can happen even at the busiest internships, but it doesn’t mean you’re off the clock. In fact, the way in which you handle downtime can say a lot about your work ethic and drive. Here’s how to use downtime to your advantage during your internship.

Ask for More Work

Perhaps the most obvious thing to do with downtime is to simply ask for more work. Let’s say your tasks are done for the day. In this situation, you could ask your supervisor if there’s anything else you can help with.

Your manager will probably assume the interns are overloaded, so proactively offering your help can make you stand out—you might even get assigned to additional tasks that you really enjoy. Remember to be tactful in this situation, and if your supervisor seems busy, ask your fellow interns if they need help instead.

Read Up on Your Industry

A great way to spend downtime is by brushing up on your industry knowledge. This could mean catching up on recent news, blog posts, or even old company reports. Along with this, consider subscribing to industry newsletters, browsing LinkedIn, or joining relevant Facebook groups.

Like our last entry, this one requires a bit of tact. For starters, you don’t want to be scrolling on your phone if you’ve still got work to do. If you’re going to read industry news on your downtime, pay attention to the workplace culture and use your intuition. If you feel that doing so will paint you in a negative light, find something else to do or wait for a break.

Shadow, Network, or Help Other Departments

If you’ve got the time, consider stretching your legs with a little walk around the office. You could ask to shadow someone in another department, strike up conversations (work related, of course) with colleagues, or offer your assistance to other departments.

It’s also important to remember to connect with anyone you meet in your organization via LinkedIn or other social media platforms. Getting around and meeting people during your internship is a great way to get noticed, and you’ll also be building your professional network at the same time.

Optimize Your Workspace

A clean, organized workspace can do wonders for your productivity. It can be easy to fall behind on keeping things organized when you’re really busy, so use your downtime to straighten up your desk or any other areas where you find yourself doing work.

This might include reorganizing files, restocking supplies, or cleaning out your email inbox. If you feel it’s appropriate, you may also personalize your workspace with some “personal effects,” as they call them. These small efforts won’t go unnoticed, and your supervisor will see you as being diligent and thoughtful.

Track and Reflect Upon Your Progress

We’ve talked about tracking your progress at work, and this philosophy also applies to internships. Logging your daily tasks, progress, and lessons you learn will help you keep track of what you need to do, how things are going, and what you can improve on.

Getting into the habit of tracking your progress will also make the inevitable performance review much easier, since you won’t be scrambling to remember the projects you worked on, how they turned out, and what you learned from them. This documentation will also help you when it comes time to spruce up your resume and go on job interviews.

Be Proactive

If you’re finished with all your work for the day and looking for something to do, take the initiative and create a small project such as an internal newsletter or a competitor analysis. This will show that you’re eager to work and creative, which are two very good qualities for an intern to have.

Things to Watch Out For

Always remember to be professional. Don’t rush through your work so you can sit and scroll on your phone. Instead, find a constructive use for any downtime you might have if you finish your work early.

If you decide to start a small project in your downtime, make sure to check in with your manager first. This will show that you value their input, and they’ll appreciate you taking the initiative. Lastly, don’t confuse “downtime” with your allotted break, and make sure you follow the established guidelines set forth by your employer when it comes to taking breaks.

Think of downtime as another opportunity. Proactive efforts will leave a positive mark, and they might increase your chances of securing a full-time offer. In other words, making the most of those quieter moments can be the key to turning an average internship into a standout career springboard.

Rob Porter is an editor at Vault.