Two: Finished Internships

One reason I'm a little bit sad to be leaving New York is because of the incredible experinces I've had since I moved there in January. I've been splitting my time interning at Amnesty International and at the Guggenheim-- two very different places that, for me, oddly complemented each other perfectly.

It's a bittersweet time because I love both places so much-- and because it's an odd feeling to know I'll likely never be an intern again. Especially in the musuem world, completing an internship (or several) is sort of a rite of passage. It's weird to know that I'm (hopefully) all done as an intern. Next stop-- somewhere in the future, anyway-- is a real job.

I also keep pinching myself because I can't believe how lucky I am... that not only was I invited to intern at these two amazing places, but also that I was able to afford to do so. It's definitely not something I'm taking for granted.

If you're thinking about an internship in the nonprofit world, I offer two pieces of advice:

1. Apply somewhere you're passionate about. It'll make writing your application that much easier, and once you're there, it will feel as natural as breathing to seize the opportunity, take on responsibilities, and make your mark as an intern.
2. Don't discount internships at smaller, local organizations. I interned at a much smaller museum before I was at the Guggenheim, and my role was very different. There's huge differences between how institutions function based on their size, and understanding these differences can be a huge asset to have once you embark on your career.

Comments

[Mia]

I'd add an addendum to #2--I did a partial internship at a tiny local book distributor when I was going to college, and almost all us interns ended up leaving the company because one of the girls reported sexual harassment by the boss and owner of the company. So, smaller organizations are good, but make sure that the company is owned and staffed by people who actually act like professionals.

[Lola]

@Mia - Oh wow, that's horrible! :( I think that's a good additional piece of advice in any situation, though -- if you can, speak to alums of the internship program to see if it's something that's worth your time, and so you know what to expect.