As we kick off the summer, although many are thinking about getting some much-needed vitamin D and their summer vacation plans, many college students are heading out to internships, and the graduates of the class of 2022 are starting their first full-time positions. It can be an overwhelming time for many. Whether you are still in college or have graduated, some of these questions are likely circling in your head: How do I ensure I get a full-time offer after this internship? Will my co-workers like me? There’s so much I don’t know about this field. How am I going to learn everything I need to do a good job? Try not to get yourself worked up too much; we’ve all been there. You got the job because you are a smart and capable asset to that company, and if you apply the tips outlined below, you will surely find success this summer 2022 and beyond.
1. Work on both your technical and soft skills
My first tip to reach success in your new position this summer is to actively work on developing new skills and improving upon them. We all know the importance of honing our technical skills, especially during the first few weeks and months on a job. When I first started working as a wind engineer who studied electrical engineering in college, I knew I had a lot of technical knowledge and skills to acquire. Unbeknownst to me however was the important role soft skills like communication would play in my success. Being able to effectively describe your work and methodology is crucial when sharing results with colleagues and upper management. Communicating expectations and timelines with others are imperative to avoid conflict. Other soft skills such as teamwork, a strong work ethic, and critical thinking are ones that you should constantly work to improve upon to ensure that you reach your goals and new heights.
2. Ask questions
When you start a new job, there is always a learning curve. If your experience is anything like mine, you will learn 95% of what you need to do your work properly on the job, so ask questions! If you are shy about asking them in a large group setting (which you shouldn’t be because all of your questions are valid), write them down and ask someone on your team later on. No matter what, make sure to clear up any doubts you have, as this will directly affect your ability to do your job.
3. Set boundaries and expectations
One of, if not THE greatest lesson I’ve learned since starting as a full-time employee, is how to set boundaries and expectations with co-workers and clients. When I first started, I never put my foot down when co-workers requested deliverables on ridiculously tight timelines. I wanted to prove myself, so I accepted. However, this not only brought on a lot of stress, but I also made mistakes and didn’t put forth my best work because I was trying to do it so quickly. My manager is the one who told me to set boundaries and expectations, and to speak up against these unrealistic timelines. Explain to the person requesting the work all the steps you must take to complete it, and what the standard delivery timeline is. The best way to prove yourself at a job is to work hard and deliver your best quality of work, so set your boundaries and protect your peace.
4. Have a list of goals and a set plan to achieve them
When it comes to work and even life in general, not being goal-oriented can greatly hinder your growth and success. Yes, your manager may have a set of goals for you to achieve in the next month, 6 months, or year, but you must set goals of your own if you are to truly be successful. If this is an internship, did you accept this position because it aligns with your field of study and you want to see if you truly like it? As a full-time employee, are you trying to develop a specific technical or soft skill your first few months on the job? Are you there to watch the leaders of your industry in action to learn from them and improve your own leadership skills? Where do you want to be in the next year? Answer these questions and define specific, testable, attainable, and relevant (STAR) goals for yourself. Once you’ve established these goals, create a detailed plan to achieve them. Whether you set up meetings with some of the leaders at your company to learn about their leadership techniques or take an optional course to sharpen some of your skills, actively work towards your goals on a daily basis and watch how quickly you make progress.
5. Manage your time and prioritize effectively
College is a great place to learn how to manage your time, but in the workforce, the stakes are higher. Understanding how to use the time you have to do the work that will provide the most value is crucial. I suggest when you get into work in the morning, only answer urgent emails, and then start with the hardest and most time consuming task of the day. Once that is done, you can answer your remaining emails and continue down your list of tasks. I know firsthand how tough prioritizing projects can be when you are in charge of multiple. At my job, I am the engineer on several projects, and the various teams on each project from environmental to development are always asking questions and requesting deliverables for these projects. In the beginning, when I had multiple requests at once, I struggled to decide what to start with. What helped me figure it out was understanding the company’s strategy as a whole. We had certain projects that higher management saw as a priority, either because of time constraints, or because they had a serious client interested in buying it. Understanding higher management’s view on my projects enabled me to prioritize my work and focus on the projects that were more likely to bring the company success.
6. Add value and innovate
What will set you apart from other interns or new hires is adding value to your team as soon as possible. Listen to and observe your team. Try to decipher why they hired you. Do they need help refining any of their processes? Do some of the tools they use need updating? Is there new and innovative technology they could benefit from but are too busy to research and test out? Find out exactly what their biggest pain points are and try to lessen those burdens. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and innovate!
7. Build your network across the organization
Knowing people at different levels and in different departments at your company can be greatly beneficial to your career development. It will not only enable you to better understand how the company works as a whole, but can also open doors to other positions and departments if they are of interest to you. My advice is to introduce yourself to as many people as you can. If you notice a co-worker in the kitchen or café waiting for their afternoon boost to brew, strike up a conversation and learn a bit about them. You can also look through a list of the different employees in the different departments and reach out to anyone with a job description that seems interesting to you. Actively seek out connections with people at every level of your organization.
8. Seek mentors
Mentors are invaluable to your professional and personal development. They can open so many doors for you and say your name in rooms you’ve never even stepped into. As a result of building your network and seeking to make genuine connections with people at your company, mentorship opportunities will surface. You don’t want to outright ask someone to be your mentor because it makes it seem like you just want to take from them and not give. Instead, try to build relationships with specific people who inspire you and are doing well professionally. Set up recurring meetings to learn more about what they do and how they got to where they are. Ask questions and take a genuine interest in them. You’ll notice that organic mentorship relationships will grow from those connections.
9. Set up informal review meetings with your manager
Constructive feedback is imperative to your growth. You simply cannot improve if you don’t know what you are doing wrong, which is why I encourage you to set up some form of informal review with your manager every couple of weeks to get their take on what you are doing well and what you could do better. Be open to their feedback and apply the advice that they give you.
10. Display enthusiasm and a positive attitude
My last tip is to be the type of person other people like to be around. In general, people want to be around nice, positive, and enthusiastic people; and the same is true in the workforce. Be kind to others, and willing to help your co-workers. Show enthusiasm and passion not just for the work, but for the company as a whole. Join social groups and try to be an active employee. It will show that you care about the company, its people, and its culture.
I hope that you apply the tips outlined here and continuously strive for success this summer. Be confident in your abilities and look for every opportunity to learn and grow. Let’s all crush some goals, all summer!
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