Internships often seem worlds apart from what we learn in the classroom, creating a gap that can feel challenging to bridge. However, the skills and insights gained during internships are valuable assets that can enhance both your academic journey and future career. By reflecting on your experiences, finding common themes, and actively applying what you’ve learned, you can seamlessly integrate your internship into your studies and career path. Here are some practical tips to help you make the most of your internship experience and align it with your goals in biosciences.
Bridging the Gap
- Reflect on Your Experience:
- After your internship, take some time to reflect on what you did and learned. Think about the specific skills you gained and how they might be relevant to your studies or future career.
- Find Common Themes:
- Even if your internship was different from your coursework, look for common themes or skills. For example, if you developed strong organizational skills or learned how to use a particular software, these can be applicable to many aspects of biosciences.
Applying Skills to Coursework
- Projects and Assignments:
- Whenever possible, try to incorporate your practical experience into your projects and assignments. This could be by using a technique you learned during your internship or by discussing your internship experience in your reports.
- Class Discussions:
- Share your internship experiences during class discussions or presentations. This not only helps you integrate your experience but also enriches the learning environment for your classmates.
- Research Opportunities:
- If your internship involved research, see if you can continue similar research at your university. Approach professors to discuss your experience and see if there are opportunities to collaborate on related projects.
Planning Your Career Path
- Networking:
- Keep in touch with the people you met during your internship. Networking is crucial, and those connections might help you find jobs or further internships that are more closely aligned with your career goals.
- Career Goals:
- Use your internship experience to refine your career goals. If you discovered new interests or skills, think about how they might shape your future plans. Maybe your internship helped you realize you want to specialise in a particular area of biosciences.
- Skill Development:
- Identify any gaps in your knowledge or skills that you noticed during your internship. Then, take courses or workshops to fill those gaps. This will not only make you a stronger candidate for future positions but also help you perform better in your remaining coursework.
Staying Motivated
- Stay Curious:
- Keep exploring different areas of biosciences, both academically and professionally. The more you learn, the more connections you’ll be able to make between different experiences.
- Seek Guidance:
- Don’t hesitate to ask your professors or career advisors for guidance on how to better integrate your practical experiences into your academic path. They might have insights you haven’t considered.
- Stay Positive:
- Sometimes it takes a while to see how everything fits together, and that’s okay. Every experience, even if it feels unrelated, adds to your overall skill set and perspective.
So, while it might feel like your internship was a different universe, it’s all part of building a diverse and adaptable skill set. Keep looking for ways to connect the dots, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful career in biosciences! 
