5 things to know when starting an internship
It will take some time to get everything set up
In my first week at Cisco I didn’t even write a line of code. I had to have my laptop ordered, my credentials verified, and access to various tools approved. That being said, instead of sitting idle and chilling out on Reddit I decided to make better use of my time. I brought books on software engineering to work and quietly read while taking notes on anything that I thought might help me when I did have to start work. Make use of every moment at work and your managers and co-workers will really take notice.
Show up early, stay late.
There’s nothing wrong with putting in your 8 hours and going home, but adding that extra mustard will really go a long way in showing your company that you are serious about what you do. Find ways to drop subtle hints about putting in extra time. In a stand up say something like “Yesterday I finished up the bug fix by 5 PM and then stayed to work on the test for it”. There’s no need to brag or make a big deal about it, simply talk about it as if it was business as usual or something you just do to get the job done.
Your attitude and communication matter just as much as your work output
It’s hard, maybe impossible to quantify the impact your attitude and communication have on others, but I have seen first hand that it makes all the difference. All the developers in the office can code and produce work, but it’s the ones that have the best attitudes and communication skills that get the recognition, the promotions, and the admiration of their peers. Go in with a can-do attitude, a growth mindset, and the knowledge that failures are a necessary part of learning. And make sure to communicate your thoughts and ideas. No one will know how smart you are unless you are able to communicate it to them.
Take time to build your network
It’s not what you know, it’s WHO you know. This goes hand in hand with communication. Talk to your co-workers, on a genuine level. Find out why they are in their career, what they love about the position, what they hate, what they would have done differently on their journey. Even if you don’t get an offer to join the company, you will begin to build your professional network which will serve you well years after you graduate. Be human. Remember, People get people jobs.
You learn something from every job
You may feel like the specific internship you landed has nothing to do with your future plans and goals, and you may be right. But the thing to remember here is you do learn something from every job. Go into your internship with a Growth mindset. Go in with the idea and attitude that you WILL learn something from this position. Maybe you are on customer support. You could see your time wasted on listening to angry customers rant. Or, you could view it as a chance to brush up on conflict resolution skills. Periodically throughout your internship, take a moment to reflect on the things you have learned and any skills you may have gained from your experience.