The key to getting the most out of an internship is identifying the goals that you want to achieve during your stay with a company. Do you hope to learn about one specialty or gain exposure to several different areas? Do you want to get your foot in the door in a particular industry or enhance your expertise in a specific software application? By organizing your wish list of accomplishments around your future career goals, you can enhance your marketability and start your new career on the right foot.

Here are a few additional tips to getting the most out of an internship:

Network with staff. Networking with others in your field allows you to make important contacts that could serve you well in the future. You never know when a contact may be in the position to weigh in on a hiring decision.

Maximize your participation. Make sure you send the message that you are interested and ready to work. Speak up in meetings and let your supervisor know when you think you can be of particular value to a project. 

Lend a helping hand. To make a positive impression, take the initiative to help others when your workload is light. The more you do, the more you can learn and add to your list of job experiences.

By projecting the right attitude and effort, you'll get the most out of your internship experience and make a valuable contribution in the process.

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ACCOUNTEMPS is a specialized temporary staffing service for accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. Accountemps provides support throughout an accounting department. Headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., Accountemps and has more than 270 offices in North America, Europe and Australia. Accountemps' Career Counselor column, a SmartPros staple for over four years, is refreshed twice a month.