Congratulations on securing an internship or work experience! These confined timescale opportunities give you great exposure to the work environment. Yet, given the limited time, there is only so much that can be achieved. So, these are my top tips to focus on :
- Have some goals. It’s great to have a couple of targets to aim for. These could be technical or non-technical. Some examples include getting exposure to a commonly used tool in your desired field or actively taking part in a process.
- Build working relationships and networks. Regardless of your intent to work at the company in the future, get to know the people around you. Knowing people around you will automatically make you feel more comfortable. They may also be a great contact to have in the future.
- Prepare yourself. It’s okay to come as you are, but it may also help you to try to understand more about what your role may demand of you. Whether that be understanding theoretical concepts or getting your commute down. These things will build your confidence and make you feel more prepared to thrive.
- Explore. There will be so many people around you, talk to them and understand their roles. This is a great opportunity to understand all the of roles working in collaboration with you. It may help you collaborate with those in your team and may even ignite a new interest.
- Take personal notes. You will be learning a lot and you will likely want to reflect on all this after you have left. Making detailed notes can capture the knowledge you’ve gained and the lessons learnt.
- Leave on a good note. Say your goodbyes. Write a message to the people in your team, expressing your sincere gratitude.
Most importantly, enjoy it!
This article was written by Tosin Sonubi. Stay tuned for further zine posts from Tosin, featuring tips for applying for awards and a list of awards.
