For the last four months I have been working at Anchor Advisors, Ltd as their marketing intern.  Part of the work I did was conducting video testimonials with past clients, develop a new marketing plan, create a book and company promo video, and start the planning for a new product offering (Shhh! It’s still secret.).

1.  There is no handholding in the real world.

The first day of my internship, I was worried about what to wear.  I asked Brad about what is the norm at the office, and I remember in that same conversation he said he dresses casual around the office, but when he meets with clients, it’s business attire.

My first assignment was conducting a video testimonial with one of their clients.  The morning of my first interview with a client, I threw on business attire because I remembered what my boss had told me when I asked about the dress code at the office.  I realized that I’m meeting with his clients and representing the company this time around, not him.  I wasn’t told to wear business attire; I just knew that I should.  It was one of the first moments I realized that I don’t have my professors telling me everything to do anymore, and I need to think for myself.  There’s no handholding in the real world.

2.  Give your boss reasons to hire you.

Another assignment I worked on was a marketing plan for the business. With online marketing constantly evolving; I wanted to find new tools and ideas to bring to the table.  I sought out one of my contacts that worked in the communications department at my past job and does a lot of social media work there.  We talked about the company and what they are currently doing, and I shared my ideas and asked him for feedback and some new suggestions.  I was so glad I did – he sharpened my ideas and gave me some new ones.  It also showed my boss that I was applying myself outside of the 9-5 by seeking out new ideas.  Even if we don’t use all the ideas, my boss appreciated my curiosity and initiative.

3.  Keep an active log of your progress.

I write everything down because sometimes my short-term memory fails me.  I wanted to make sure I got the most out of my internship, and the business got the most out of me.  By keeping a running log of what I did each day and what I worked on, kept myself in check and on task, and it really helped me see my progress throughout the day, and week-to-week.  I also noticed a difference in my productivity when I slacked keeping up with it.  It also made it easy for me to report on my progress, but most importantly, it kept me on target.

4.  Listen.

I learned so much by just listening at the office.  I saw how my boss and his business partner engaged with their clients; how they approached conversations, what businesses they were dealing with, what situations they were working with, what type of advice to give and how they gave it.  I also learned about the tools they used, little tips and tricks for productivity, more about the industry. Really there was always something to learn.  Being curious and an active listener has been one of the most valuable things about this internship.

5.  Ask questions!

Maybe this seems obvious, but the more I asked, the more I learned.  And by listening, I had more questions.  By asking questions, I got to engage with my boss and his business partner in conversations about the clients they were working on, and offer help if I knew they needed an intern, or a connection at a company where I knew someone.  This enabled me to show more value, and get gigs for some friends.

They say that curiosity killed the cat, but in this case it made my internship. Having the courage to be curious, to ask questions, listen and learn made this more valuable for me, and for my employer.

Devan Perine is a Graduate of Columbia College , and is working as Marketing Coordinator for Anchor Advisors, Ltd.

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Brad Farris is a small business advisor with Anchor Advisors, Ltd. in Chicago, Il. Since 2001 Anchor Advisors has been helping creative professional firms to grow, by helping them clarify their purpose, get the most from their people, keep their eye on key performance measures, and implement consistent processes. Brad is also the author of The Business Owner’s Champion: 6 Practices to Build your Nerve and your Business.