A deck full of tips and strategies to help interns make the most of their internship experience. From effective communication and building relationships to seeking feedback and managing your manager, this guide covers it all.
ground running! • Ask for help when you need it, but remember, there’s an art to it. • Set expectations • Feedback is a gift, don’t expect it to be handed to you • Attention to detail • Communicate effectively and document meticulously! • You’re your best advocate!
on Linkedin that have previously done your desired role. - Request for a coffee chat to find out more about the role, company culture, team specific dynamics. - For larger companies, check reddit, glassdoor - Nothing beats 1:1 coffee chat
to ask for help when you need it - But first, give yourself 2 - 30 mins to figure it out on your own (depending on complexity) - When you ask, you should have a couple of bullet points on what you have already tried. - If there’s no documentation for your issue, be a team player and create an artifact for the next person who will be in your shoes (and make sure to document that you did that!) Good reference: How to ask a good question by a former manager
idea of what good performance looks like from your supervisor - Agree on a few key items: - Rough roadmap - Communication & working styles: email? Ping? in-person? - How feedback is communicated (tone, frequency, etc) - Meeting frequency - Working hours (if different time zones) - General tips
up for review. - Keep a running log of feedback (PR comments, comments on docs) such that you avoid repeating the same mistakes over and over. - This portrays you as someone that grows and learns from your mistakes(very good!)
in a neat document, well formatted document, and share with relevant parties (especially important for people managing multiple stakeholders) - Clear up any ambiguities. Ensure that what you’ve understood from your manager’s instructions is what they intended. Repeat things back to them in your own words to ensure they agree. - Direct your comments on docs/PR’s to someone explicitly if prompt action is needed - Always have a summary of key takeaways and to do’s at the end of your doc. - Respond to comments promptly, don't let them linger - Always have meeting notes. - Your PR’s should have screenshots and any other visual that can help engineers understand your work.
for a (for profit) business. - The goal of the business is, first and foremost, to make money. - Think critically about how what you’re doing creates value to the business. Good rule of thumb! Pro tip: When asked to do something, don't ask if it's "your job", ask yourself, "Is this right for the business?" because anything that's right for the business is your job.
- Don’t make promises you can’t keep - If you notice you’re not going to meet a deadline, please COMMUNICATE! - This affects your brand Under-promise, over-deliver!
with on Linkedin, never know when that connection will come in handy. - Attend company events. You might not have access to this self selected pool of smart individuals ever again.
to keep track of your assignments, deadlines, and commitments. - At the beginning of each week (or day), review your tasks and prioritize them based on urgency, importance, and the effort required. - Break down larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks and set realistic deadlines for each step. - Build in buffer time for unexpected delays or emergencies that may arise. - Learn to say "no" or negotiate deadlines when you have too much on your plate. It's better to underpromise and overdeliver than to take on more than you can handle. - Take regular breaks!
of the internship, for you, is to learn as much as you can. - Don’t shy away from taking up taking up different tasks, but be smart about it. - Set some goals about: - Tools you want to learn - # coffee chats you want to have with co-workers / higher ups
a doc with a well laid out goal and agenda to ensure productive discussions. - Make sure you can receive desktop calendar notifications to ensure no pings/notifications go unanswered. - When scheduling, suggest meeting times by checking attendees' calendars– always keep yours up to date! - Learn keyboard shortcuts to boost productivity - Research attendees on LinkedIn before meetings so you can ask thoughtful questions - Set meeting defaults to allow invitees to edit
and Team Player - Cultivate appreciation, empathy, and positivity within your team. - Be known for recognizing good work and providing constructive feedback. - Avoid negativity; strive to support and uplift team members, especially those struggling. - Show Grace Under Fire - Maintain composure under stress, focusing on solutions rather than problems. - Act as a stabilizing force within the team, leading by example during challenging times.
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