Advice from an Intern: What I Wish was Told to me
An internship is not for the faint of heart, but anyone and everyone attending university can and should apply to one.
Internships are more than a resume builder and more than a way into the hidden job market. An internship is the best class to take (and hopefully one you paid to take) and offers great experience in both work and interpersonal growth.
My knowledge and well-roundedness as a college student comparatively left the feeling that I would do terrific as an intern. A wake-up call was ahead if preparation was there or not. It turned out amazing in the end but understanding these points would have saved a lot of heartaches.
Three points for preparation before the first day on the job:
1. You are not expected to know everything but don't go around making that known.
Have confidence in your ability and be honest in what you have not learned yet. Not a single person at the office expects you to know everything. The only expectation is that you are willing to learn and are coachable. That being said, a personal tip would be to keep close to your supervisor and take notes on questions to ask them. Leave a good impression that you are competent and learning but try to keep how much you don’t know between a limited number of people. It is okay not to know and be in the process of learning. However, from experience, keeping the outward impression that you grasp what is going on around you is always better.
i.e. Many many questions were asked to someone from a different department who did not work closely with you, but they were always helpful. Down the line, let's say they were in a hiring position at a company you wanted to work for. Their impression of you was that you were a hard worker but in over your head at the time. Keep the questions close to your supervisor, they work closely with you and have better context on your work, and want you to succeed the most.
2. Best Foot Forward... Always.
Even if this company is not a fit long term and not looking for that, leave every person you meet with a great impression.
Likely, you will be surprised by the culture of your new office as every company dynamic is different from communication styles to work attire. Some peers might be very casual or well dressed. Opt for a middle ground that is on the presentable side.
As you will be the youngest and least experienced in the office, contradict that. Being presentable and communicating well walk hand in hand.
Tip: Look through slack channels you were added to and read through, get a sense of how people in the company communicate, and try to mimic that to start.
It can be overwhelming emailing someone for the first time or creating your first deck. Go through previous Slack channels and old decks in the company drive. This can offer context of the overall communication style. Slowly when feeling more confident start to add your flair and hints of personality. Personality brightens up a day and is inviting, do not be afraid of yours.
3. Have Fun!
The company hired you for a reason. Have confidence in your abilities, and be honest in what you have not learned. Have a laugh, build relationships, and learn as much as you can.
An internship can teach many things a classroom cannot and build more relationships than a Linkedin network could dream of! Provide value and receive value from your peers. Do not waste it! Crush it!
“If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.” – Seth Godin