Internship Success Tips
Below are the top 10 internship success tips from the Ross MBA BBSA Class of 2007. The list was created by compiling feedback and advice from our individual members. We hope that you find this information helpful!
INTERNSHIP SUCCESS TOP 10 LIST
10. Go to ALL formal internship events and any informal events that you can. Your commitment to the internship and your interest in the company will be partially judged based on whether you make the internship social events a priority.
9. Find a mentor. Make sure you have a more senior “go-to” person in the company that you can bounce project ideas off of and ask for suggestions on how to do your best throughout the internship.
8. NEVER, EVER, present a negative attitude about the internship with anyone you work with. It WILL get back to people that make decisions even if you just think you’re having a casual conversation.
7. Meet with your manager weekly. Don’t give him/her an excuse to think that you’re not on top of your projects. Use this time to manage your boss’s expectations. If you’re getting the sense that your workload may be more than you can handle during 10 or 12 weeks, start to indicate that early so there are no surprises later.
6. Build a good working relationship with your direct manager and make sure that your manager’s boss knows who you are. These are the people that will have the most influence in your full time offer decision making process. They MUST have a good opinion of you and your work.
5. Ask for feedback – make sure you know where you stand throughout the summer. Whether or not your company requires it, make sure to have a sit down performance review with your manager mid-summer. Also make sure you’re getting a sense for your manager’s level of satisfaction with your performance during your weekly meetings.
4. Revise your final project presentation early. Run your project presentation by your manager and anyone else with an interest in your project at least a week before the final presentation. You want to make sure you have plenty of time to incorporate their feedback and to set their expectations about the direction your project is going.
3. Ask questions and ask for help when you need it! No one expects you to know everything. Ask your manager, people in other functions in the company, other interns, the BBSA - anyone that may be able to help. Leverage your networks to get the information you need. Do recognize a limit however. Asking questions to bring together all of the relevant data and come to a great conclusion will be respected. Getting so much help that other people are basically doing your project for you will not.
2. Understand the expectations early. Everything from your expected work hours to the preferred communication style to appropriate work attire to the format of your final projects should be very clear to you by the end of your first week. Fall short on these minor things and the company may feel you’re not the right “fit” at the end of the summer.
1. Network! Schedule as many lunch/coffee meet and greets as possible while still maintaining focus on your projects. Target Ross alums and senior level people at your company. Get on their calendars early in the summer and be proactive about introducing yourself. Even if the company does not end up being the best fit for you, relationships you build over the summer can help you later in your career.
INTERNSHIP SUCCESS TOP 10 LIST
10. Go to ALL formal internship events and any informal events that you can. Your commitment to the internship and your interest in the company will be partially judged based on whether you make the internship social events a priority.
9. Find a mentor. Make sure you have a more senior “go-to” person in the company that you can bounce project ideas off of and ask for suggestions on how to do your best throughout the internship.
8. NEVER, EVER, present a negative attitude about the internship with anyone you work with. It WILL get back to people that make decisions even if you just think you’re having a casual conversation.
7. Meet with your manager weekly. Don’t give him/her an excuse to think that you’re not on top of your projects. Use this time to manage your boss’s expectations. If you’re getting the sense that your workload may be more than you can handle during 10 or 12 weeks, start to indicate that early so there are no surprises later.
6. Build a good working relationship with your direct manager and make sure that your manager’s boss knows who you are. These are the people that will have the most influence in your full time offer decision making process. They MUST have a good opinion of you and your work.
5. Ask for feedback – make sure you know where you stand throughout the summer. Whether or not your company requires it, make sure to have a sit down performance review with your manager mid-summer. Also make sure you’re getting a sense for your manager’s level of satisfaction with your performance during your weekly meetings.
4. Revise your final project presentation early. Run your project presentation by your manager and anyone else with an interest in your project at least a week before the final presentation. You want to make sure you have plenty of time to incorporate their feedback and to set their expectations about the direction your project is going.
3. Ask questions and ask for help when you need it! No one expects you to know everything. Ask your manager, people in other functions in the company, other interns, the BBSA - anyone that may be able to help. Leverage your networks to get the information you need. Do recognize a limit however. Asking questions to bring together all of the relevant data and come to a great conclusion will be respected. Getting so much help that other people are basically doing your project for you will not.
2. Understand the expectations early. Everything from your expected work hours to the preferred communication style to appropriate work attire to the format of your final projects should be very clear to you by the end of your first week. Fall short on these minor things and the company may feel you’re not the right “fit” at the end of the summer.
1. Network! Schedule as many lunch/coffee meet and greets as possible while still maintaining focus on your projects. Target Ross alums and senior level people at your company. Get on their calendars early in the summer and be proactive about introducing yourself. Even if the company does not end up being the best fit for you, relationships you build over the summer can help you later in your career.
posted by rossbbsa at 10:59 PM
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