Internship Kickoff Kevin Tusiime

Intro ● E5 Scholar @ UofR (Tuition-free 5th yr) ● From Kampala, Uganda ● Internships @ Hi! I’m Kevin

Main tips ● Prepare in advance so you hit the 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!

Main tips ● Think in terms of the business interest ● Be reliable ● Your manager is your biggest ally ● Make friends, network ● Time management ● The main thing to do at the internship is to learn!

Prepare in advance - Add a dozen or so people 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

Ask for help often, but smartly! - DO NOT HESITATE 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

Set expectations during your 1:1 - Try to get an 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

Feedback is a gift - Be very proactive in asking for feedback. - This ensures you’re always meeting and exceeding expectations and helps you grow!

Attention to detail - Double check everything before bringing it 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!)

Communicate Effectively and Document meticulously - Write down your thoughts 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.

You’re your best advocate - Document everything to log your accomplishments for evaluations. - As a rule of thumb, if it’s not documented, it didn’t happen. So keep a work journal!

Think in terms of business interest - You are working 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.

Be reliable - Deliver things when you say you will - 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!

Your manager is your biggest ally - Don’t fight with them. - Remember they are on your team. - This is as much a growing experience for them as it is for you.

Make friends, network! - Add whoever you have a 1:1 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.

Time management - Use a task management tool or calendar 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!

Your main goal is to learn! - The main goal 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

Feel free to keep in touch :)

Appendix

Misc Hacks - When sending out a meeting invite, attach 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

Leadership, being a team player - Be a People Person 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.