What Makes a Great Intern? 16 Lessons to Take With You
1. Don’t take project/work feedback personally. See it as a way to develop your thinking and learn how to approach the next meeting/project with that. Take time to reflect if you feel it went south. Be constructive.
2. Schedule meetings with team members to learn from them. BUT, assume everyone is super busy and overloaded, so make sure it is a good use of their time. Do some research on who they are (Linkedin is your friend!), think about their role/team/brand and have a list of specific questions you want to ask them.
3. Have a notebook and take it to every meeting and take notes. It helps keep track of your ideas and also supports active listening.
4. Keep your documents organized. You’ll have to share them/export the important ones at the end. Don’t let that become a nightmare!
5. Even if your office has remote flexibility, go into the office in-person Monday-Thursday. Be there when everyone else is. The small conversations can be the most helpful and also show that you are involved.
6. Ask for feedback on your work. Be okay with being wrong.
7. See if there is anything that you can help with outside of your project. Chances are, someone would be happy to offload a task, and you learn more that way. Win-win.
8. Conversely, don’t be afraid to set boundaries. Sometimes other departments/teams will see you as someone with time to give, and they might ask you to do more work outside of your role. Be clear on what your role is and your project, and then assess if their request is aligned or not (and check with your manager of course). Saying no politely with a reason is okay.
9. Set an email signature that’s in the standard format for your company.
10. Have lunch with team members.
11. Respond to emails and messages in a timely manner.
12. Say “thank you.” Acknowledge the help that others have given you.
13. Lift other team members up in meetings. Yes, you are the lowest on the totem pole, but you are still a valuable part of the team and can recognize value in others. It is good to spotlight how others have contributed to your work and helped you get to given outcomes.
14. Get good sleep. You want to be fully present and prepared each day.
15. Have a plan for offboarding. Create a document or place to link resources and next steps to whoever will be managing your project once you leave.
16. Enjoy it. You’re not expected to know everything, but you are expected to be curious.
Our students have been busy! Explore the exciting internships and the experiences that shaped their summer. Discover more here.
Interested in pursuing a business degree? Learn more about the unique programs Goizueta has to offer.
