Internships are a great way to gain real-world experience while still in undergraduate or postgraduate studies. Getting your feet wet in industries of interest can provide key opportunities for entry level positions or teach you an important lesson that your interests may lie elsewhere. Understanding what you enjoy doing is just as crucial to your career journey as understanding what you love.

CONMED is a fantastic place to discover your passion for medical device industry. In addition, the structured internship program provides exposure to many professionals in the organization that may not share the same exact role or are high-level executives. Past the structured internship programming, there are a few tips which could help you get the most out of your period with CONMED!

Tip #1: Customize your Internship:

Have candid conversations with your supervisor about what you want to get out of your time with CONMED. Whether that be expanding your horizons within your own team or touching other aspects of the business such as R&D, regulatory affairs, etc., speak with your supervisor to help create an experience that is tailored to you.

Tip #2: Reach Out:

Whether you are remote or in-person at one of the CONMED offices, reach out to other members of the organization that are not on your team. Have conversations with everyone that you can, as you never know what one chat can lead to. If you are virtual, Teams calls for 15-30 minutes can be quick ways to interact with someone one-on-one, while not taking over too much of their time. If you are in-person, a quick coffee chat or 10-minute walk outside can help you get to better understand a colleague or let them better understand you.

Tip #3: Sit in on Interesting Calls:

With supervisor permission, ask to sit in on as many interesting calls as you can. While you may not be able to contribute to the project being discussed, or understand every concept/action item being mentioned, it may be helpful to provide you with a greater overall picture of the CONMED mission. Cross-functional calls can show how your potential future role in CONMED may work with those in different business functions. You may learn about a product you were unaware CONMED had in their line. Sitting in on calls can be a great learning tool, and contribute to your success at the organization.

Tip #4: Try your Best:

Internships can be scary, and for high-achieving students like those interning with CONMED, and you may be worried about doing your best. Remember, everyone makes mistakes. Every CONMED employee had their first day at the organization, and many were even in your shoes as interns once. Try your best and take a breather when you need. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or clarification on a project. You are doing great

Interested in learning more about CONMED’s internship program? Check out our internship page, here.