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Internship Kickoff Kevin Tusiime

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

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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!

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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

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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!)

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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

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Feel free to keep in touch :)

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Appendix

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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

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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.