To some extent, both you and the internship sponsor may be entering into this relationship on faith as much as on knowledge. The more of the latter which you can share with each other, the less of the former may be shaken as the internship progresses. Two basic questions should be at the heart of your internship plan. Understanding your goals before you begin the internship will ensure that you realize more quickly if these are not being met, and will allow you the time to work with your sponsor to adjust or reorient the internship to help you meet these goals. Knowing the sponsor's needs and intentions may help to avoid misunderstandings about your performance or the need to change dramatically the focus or description of your responsibilities during your internship.
Personal relationships are one of the most important ingredients of an internship .
Forming positive and supportive relationships, both with your supervisor and with co-workers, will be paramount to creating a good internship experience. Be sensitive to your role in the organization, how this relates to other people's roles within the structure, particularly those who are regular, permanent members of the institution. Chances are, you won't be put in a supervisory position over permanent employees, but you may still enjoy a special status or be given a type of work that, in some circumstances, could breed some resentment or jealousy. At the same time, pay attention to key cultural and social norms as you integrate yourself into this very new and different work environment. If you encounter obstacles in a relationship with your supervisor, try to address these diplomatically, be polite in seeking guidance from fellow workers, and don't hesitate to direct questions to OCS if we can be of assistance.