21+ Internship Quotes: The Best Quotes About Interns for 2022 & Beyond

Looking for internship quotes for inspiration, choosing an intern program, or to remind you why you joined? We've got 'em for you right here.

Applying for an internship?

Or perhaps you’re trying to decide if joining an intern program is right for you?

Whatever the case may be, we’ve got some great inspiration in the form of internship quotes to help you make that choice, jump, or remind you why you started that internship in the first place.


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So, let’s get to it!

Here are more than a dozen of the best quotes for interns and internships around: 

Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.

Maya Angelou

The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.

Steve Jobs

My advice for young people is, study what you love and intern in what you want to do. And I think it’s okay to pivot as many times as you need to.

Eva Chen

Related Read: How to Get Internships in 5 Simple Steps

Be so good they can’t ignore you.

Steve Martin

My advice for future interns would be to make the most of it. Take every opportunity to learn from your bosses and people who have worked in your industry as well as doing some sightseeing!

Bre, Human Resources Intern through BUNAC program

Everyone wants to be a stylist. If you know that’s your calling, then you need to intern as much as humanly possible.

Rachel Zoe

Related Read: Best Books for College Students to Read in University

Interns are like not-cut diamonds; They have flaws, some of them are totally worthless, but once you cut them well, they can become something great one day, And that’s what I’m doing, I’m cutting diamonds…

Barney Baszuro

Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.

Oprah Winfrey

The distinction between “assistant” and intern” is a simple one: assistants are paid, interns are not. But of course interns are paid, in experience.

Joyce Carol Oates, Beasts

Doing an internship abroad is much more hands-on than anything you might learn at university. You actually get to experience the job, rather than learn about it in the classroom, and you’re presented with real responsibilities.

Hunter, Music Intern through BUNAC program

Related Read: How to Save Money in College to Afford Unpaid Internships

In 1984, Nevada Senator Paul Laxalt gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to serve as a legislative intern in his office in Washington, D.C. Coming from humble beginnings, the experience changed my life and charted me on a path of public service.

Brian Sandoval

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Get the entire team involved in identifying and evaluating project risks. Everyone looks at the project differently, and sometimes the input from the student intern can be vital.

Bruce Pittman

As an intern for Vice President Walter Mondale, I arrived the first day ready to write policy memos and change the world… but my assignment was doing an inventory of the furniture.

Amy Klobuchar

Related Read: What is an Internship, Really?

Internships are very important part of our education program, first and foremost. In setting up professional internships, not only will we be able to offer students a chance to work with industry professionals, but the students also will be able to take the theory they learn in the classroom and put it into practice here, in whichever activity they’re focused.

Craig Miller

Internships have always been important to college students, but never more than now.

Katie Riley

There is no substitute really for learning about the world of work and being in the world of work. You can do that through internships. You can do it through summer job experiences or even from volunteer jobs in your local community. Strive early to get some kind of practical work experience.

Alexis Herman

SpaceX is a flat organization. Anyone gets to talk to anyone, and the best idea wins – even if it comes from an intern.

Gwynne Shotwell

Related Read: Best Business Books to Read for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

My biggest bit of advice would be to spend some time actually helping caterers or Chefs, even if it has to be for free or as an intern of culinary externship. It helps immerse yourself in what you potentially want to do.

Giada De Laurentiis

The ideal intern is committed, creative, organized, ambitious, independent, and able to crack a smile, whether meeting a celebrity or folding socks.

Emily Weiss

Unpaid internships are worse than slavery,” Gabby said. I looked at her, unsure of what she meant. “They make us work ridiculous hours, for free, and they make us do things an employee would do. It’s a scam, and worse, they make you feel like they’re doing YOU a favor. It’s such mindfuckery.

Teresa Lo, Realities: a Collection of Short Stories

Related Read: What to Bring to an Internship Interview?

The very first thing I tell every intern on the first day is that their internship exists solely on their resume. As far as I am concerned, they are a full-time member of my team. For all the negative stereotypes about millennials, you would be astounded by how hard they work when they believe their contribution matters.

Jay Samit

And, this final one might not be among what you consider as internship quotes, sure. But, it’s one of my favorite inspiring quotes of all time, for any occasion, so I thought I’d include it here as a powerful quote for interns, as well:

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go!

Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Well, that’s all our internship quotes for now, and we hope they were as inspiring for you as they were for us! Got any internship questions, comments, or other quotes about internships to add to our list? Let us know in the comments below, and thanks for reading!

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Christian Eilers
Written By Christian Eilers
is a writer and expert on the topics of education, entrepreneurship, career advice, travel, and culture. On the Goodwall Blog, he covers topics including self-improvement, social impact, college preparation, career development, climate action, and more. Christian is originally from New York City and now resides in Kyiv, Ukraine after living in Warsaw, Poland for the past 4 years. At his desk, you're sure to find Pickwick, his Devon Rex cat, either attacking his fingers as he types or the monitor as the mouse pointer moves around.

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