Interning at a television station sounds like a dream to an aspiring broadcaster. I was incredibly fortunate that this dream was a reality for me this past summer. I learned way more than I could have ever imagined at my first internship, and would love to share some tips from my experiences with you.

Apply Early

I applied for over 15 summer internships during the second semester of my sophomore year. Taking a full course load and working long hours at the campus television station made it incredibly challenging to find the time to fill out applications and write cover letters. Many internships have very early deadlines. Looking back, I wish I would have known this so I could have applied to more over my winter break.

Be Persistent

I made a spreadsheet listing all of the internships I applied for. Knowing that there was probably a high volume of applicants, I waited a while to hear back. I found it shocking how many places never send any type of confirmation or rejection notification.

When I wasn’t hearing back from a couple of the internships I was most interested in, I began sending out follow-up emails. There were two internships in particular that I really wanted to hear back from, one was for “The Morning Blend” on TODAY’s TMJ4 and the other was at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

After sending a second follow-up email, the executive producer of “The Morning Blend” emailed me back. She said she had stopped accepting applications in February, but appreciated my eagerness and determination. An internship opportunity had opened up and she was willing to meet with me for an interview. I was beyond excited and incredibly appreciative of her time.

This showed me just how important following up and being persistent really is when applying for internships and jobs. Around the same time I heard back from “The Morning Blend,” Mira Lowe, the Senior features editor for CNN Digital and my journalism professor’s wife, spoke to my class about the importance of following up. I had just had firsthand experience with this and cannot emphasize how necessary this truly is to getting where you want to go.

Prepare and conduct research prior to your interview

Living in Wisconsin my whole life, I was pretty familiar with TODAY’s TMJ4 and “The Morning Blend.” Even though I already knew quite a bit about this station and its programming, I watched many segments online before going into my interview. I loved how this show highlighted organizations, people and events across Wisconsin. My freshman year at Marquette University Television, I had a segment where I would discuss events happening in the Milwaukee area. I wanted to bring up this connection in my interview as an example to show that I would be a strong contributor and great fit for this program.

Going into an interview with research under your belt and points to bring up will help ease your nerves. You have one shot to make a strong first impression. If you go into the interview knowing you did all you could to prepare, you will automatically be more confident.

Show your appreciation

The interviewer is usually a very busy and important individual. You should be immensely appreciative that the interviewer took time out of his or her packed schedule to meet with you. Show that this opportunity is of high importance to you and you’re not there to waste their time. Make sure to show your gratefulness verbally by saying “thank you” and by being polite. Show it in your actions by being prompt and prepared. Arrive about 10 minutes early and be ready to engage. Proceeding the interview, make sure to send a “thank you” email or letter to show how grateful you are for this opportunity.

Be the best intern you can possibly be

When you start your internship, be absorbent like a sponge. Take in everything. When your boss is explaining how to execute tasks, pay close attention. Be constantly active and engaged. You were hired for a purpose, so make sure you are always working to the best of your ability. Be that person who goes the extra mile to make sure everything is done properly and efficiently. Others will recognize your strong work ethic and will know that they can rely on you. Being on time and not calling in sick are easy ways to show your boss that they can count on you.

I remember how nervous I was going into the first day of my internship. Looking back, I had absolutely nothing to worry about. The producers, staff and hosts were so incredibly welcoming and appreciative of me. I am immeasurably thankful to them for teaching me so many valuable lessons. I can't imagine a better first internship experience. I hope that the lessons I learned will help you when you start applying, interviewing and working at your future internships.