Professionals: Full-Time Employee + Intern; how does this work?

Being a professional working full-time can be daunting as it is, add an internship on top of that and you could end up having a very exhausting schedule. With that said, having an internship could be your MOST rewarding experience yet. Not every professional has the desire or the need to become an intern, especially if you are happy and content in your current position. For those of us who need to gain experience in a field in which we are unfamiliar, it doesn't matter if you are a working professional or not - bottom line is that you need the experience. Whether you're 21 or 27, there is a knowledge gap that needs to be filled. It's only natural when thinking of an intern to imagine a college kid trying to gain experience before they hit the post grad real world. Times are changing. People are more innovative. More driven. More passionate. And desire more. Internships are no longer just for college students, now professionals are starting to get a piece of the pie. Obviously a professional brings more experience and knowledge than a junior in college, therefore one would expect for the roles and responsibilities to be different. In some instances, yes and in some no. For the sake of argument, let's just say you need to take a step back in some instances in order to move forward. If this is you, keep reading...you're probably wondering what are the logistics of attaining an internship when you're already bombarded with a 40+ hour full-time job. Well, it can be done, the key is to create a strategy for yourself and for the employer so that it's very clear in the outset of the conversation what you're looking to gain from the experience and how the company can provide the proper knowledge and experience you're seeking (of course you'd always position the conversation as what you can do for them). If done correctly, you will still have a social life, as well as enjoy learning in your area of interest.

Why do you want an Internship? Questions to ponder...
-Why do you want an internship? Is it to gain experience in a field that you do not currently work in?
-For networking purposes?
- Seeking a mentor?
- Trying to gain more in-depth experience?
- Current position not teaching you the skill set you need in order to advance in your career?
- Resume building?
- Trying to switch industries?
- What is the goal of your potential internship?
- What are your short term vs. long term goals in relation to being an intern?

TIPS for Professionals Seeking an Internship:
- Research which company will be able to fulfill your internship goal
- Network and see if you know anyone inside the company, if not, cold call or cold email
- Think things through: know your availability, flexibility, and the work load you can successfully manage
- Have a preliminary conversation before any agreement is made
- Discuss your goals, your strengths and weaknesses
- Tell the company what you want to get out of this experience and how you will benefit their company
- Settle on the following: payment or nonpayment, hours/days worked, managing supervisor, expectations, communication styles, team structure

If It Will Pay Off in the Long Run, You May Just Have to Bite the Bullet:
You know where you are and where you're trying to go. Sometimes it's best if we don't get bogged down in the details and we just do what feels right. Be careful who you tell your goals to, not everyone will understand. For many, it's often difficult to understand the concept of taking a step backward in order to move forward. Before you make any rash decisions, create a personal strategy so that you don't get stuck in reverse or neutral. It's okay for everyone to not understand, that's a clue that you have a great idea - if everyone thought like you, you wouldn't be the genius you are. Remember that!

Moral of the story:
If you are passionate about gaining experience in a particular field, then you should move forward. Don't live in the pool of regret. If you have to make copies just so you can be a fly on the wall or you have to get coffee for the boss (even though you are a boss) or if you have to work part-time even though you're tired from your full-time, just bite the bullet this one time! It will come full circle and I'm certain that you will reap the benefits of your labor in such a rewarding way.

So, to all my professionals determined to do it their own way, good luck and stay FAB!