If you could be any type of material, what would you choose and why? I’d want to be a sponge. No… I don’t want to be Sponge Bob Square Pants, but instead an actual sponge. 

if we go into a new situation as a sponge, we can soak up/absorb a tremendous amount of knowledge, skill, and experience; thus making the most of that opportunity, whether it is an internship, job, networking opportunity, or even a personal relationship. If we only do what is expected of us or fulfill the basic requirements, how much growth, development, and learning will take place? 

Let’s say you are about to begin a summer internship at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). You could simply go in, do the job, and make your supervisor happy; or you could use a sponge approach and really expand and enrich your experience. Consider doing these things:

• Take on additional projects outside of your team, possibly with cross-functional areas
• Conduct informational interviews with people doing the type of work that interests you; get referrals both internal and external to MDH
• Volunteer in other areas of MDH or at MDH sponsored events
• Attend training seminars or workshops; seek out resources
• Ask questions — gain clarification on areas that interest you or that you are not as familiar with
• Keep a journal of your experience — what did you do, how did you feel about it (what did you like or not like), who did you work with, etc.

Now that you’ve completed the absorption process of the experience, it is time to squeeze out the sponge. Use your new knowledge: 

In an interview: What you absorbed throughout each of your experiences can be applied to a multitude of interview questions, especially behavioral interview questions (e.g. Tell me about a time when…) and when asked about a time you went above and beyond expectations.

When networking: Whether you are networking within a larger group or in a one-on-one situation, having the ability to talk about how you made the most of your experience and the expanded network you developed is beneficial.

Working on a team project: We have all found ourselves in situations where potential conflicts or problems may exist and we remember a time we went through something similar. Draw upon your past experience in order to help you in the present.

On your résumé: Trying to recall accomplishments and the nitty-gritty details of the projects you worked on is not always easy — let your sponge come to the rescue and provide the details needed to enhance your marketability.

In personal statements: Many degree programs ask for a personal statement, one that asks you to dig deep and explain the meaning and motivation for why you are choosing to pursue this field of study. Your sponge can provide the specific stories and milestones you could use to frame your statement.

As you embark on your newest experience, remember to bring with you the one tool that will last a lifetime — your sponge!