Transforming STEM Careers | Career Strategist & Speaker Specializing in Job Crafting, Networking, and Leadership in High-Tech
You were once an intern. What did your manager do during your internship that was critical to your success? What do you wish your manager or mentor had said or done to make you more successful in the role? What were you grateful for? What do you wish had been different? What would you go back and tell yourself before you began your internship? #internships #lessonslearned #managinginterns #internshipsuccess
When I was an intern, one of the best pieces of feedback I got in my exit interview was not to struggle with a problem, but to reach out early to the team I was on or even peers from other teams and let their strengths and experience help move me past a block caused by lack of familiarity.
He put me in charge of a project. He gave me clear perimeters of what the outcome should be but he didn't tell me how to get there. He answered all my questions and gave me suggestions when I asked for it but it was my project to drive and he made me do it. It was incredibly empowering and gave me a lot of confidence!
I was not an intern but I was a naive first-generation college graduate with no network or support system so I'd say I'm grateful for all those who stepped up to mentor me, champion me, and connect me with others with whom I could build a better network.
I got this as a feedback in the middle of my internship. Its ok to reach out for help, than sitting with a problem for too long. Everybody is here to support and help our growth.
eLearning Instructional Designer/Developer
3moI wasn't an intern, but it was my first job as a programmer. And unlike my co-workers, I hadn't majored in CS, but just taken a few courses and somehow talked my way into the job. My boss told me one day that I tended to get "stopped." He'd ask me to do something, and I wasn't sure what to do, and didn't make much progress. He told me it was ok to make false starts. I could tell him that I tried solution A and solution B and they didn't work, and I was working on solution C. But I had to be making some progress. It is the best advice I've ever received. I started writing test programs to see how my ideas might work. I stopped being intimidated by my colleagues and started asking them for advice. Instead of thinking I was stupid for needing advice, they thought I was smart since I'd come to them. Every interesting and challenging project since I've made false starts or asked advice and learned a ton.