How to Navigate and Excel in a New Internship: Practical Advice for Success

Starting an internship can be both exciting and a bit overwhelming. Here are some key pieces of advice for new interns to help them thrive in their new roles.

Be Proactive

Don’t wait for tasks to be assigned. Look for ways to contribute and take initiative. If you finish a task, ask for more work or offer to help colleagues. Proactivity shows that you’re dedicated and eager to learn, making you a valuable member of the team.

Avoid Procrastination

Begin by understanding the tasks you are given. Break them down into smaller steps and set realistic deadlines for yourself. This will help you manage your time effectively and meet expectations smoothly. Procrastination can lead to rushed work and potential mistakes, which are detrimental in a professional environment.

Avoid Overthinking and Perfectionism

Perfection is an unattainable goal, and striving for it can hinder progress. Instead, focus on delivering high-quality work efficiently. Understand the expectations and deliver within those bounds while continuously improving. Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them and keep moving forward.

Ask Questions

Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you’re unsure about something. It shows you’re engaged and eager to learn. Most people appreciate when interns seek clarification. Your curiosity can lead to deeper understanding and better performance. Moreover, it can foster a positive relationship with your mentors and peers.

Network

Build relationships with your colleagues. Take the time to introduce yourself, attend social events, and connect with others in your field. Networking can open doors for future opportunities and help you gather valuable insights and advice. Relationships built through networking can also provide emotional support during challenging periods.

Stay Organized

Keep track of your tasks, deadlines, and meetings. Use tools like calendars or task management apps to stay on top of your responsibilities. Organization ensures that you don’t miss crucial deadlines and that you can allocate your time efficiently. Being organized can also help you manage stress and ensure that you are making the most of your time.

Seek Feedback

Regularly ask for feedback on your work. This can help you identify areas for improvement and show your supervisors that you’re committed to growth. Constructive feedback is a gift; it allows you to learn and refine your skills. Ask for specific examples of what you can do to improve and implement their suggestions whenever possible.

Observe and Learn

Pay attention to the workplace culture and the dynamics between team members. Observe how experienced professionals communicate and handle challenges. This can provide you with valuable insights into industry best practices and help you adapt to the culture more effectively. Learning from others can also boost your confidence and make you a more well-rounded professional.

Be Professional

Dress appropriately, be punctual, and maintain a positive attitude. Professionalism can leave a lasting impression and make you a respected member of the team. Adhering to professional standards demonstrates your commitment to the company and your role.

Document Your Work

Keep a record of your accomplishments and projects. This will be useful for updating your resume and discussing your experience in future interviews. Documentation not only helps you keep track of your progress but also provides tangible evidence of your contributions to the company.

Stay Open-Minded

Be open to different tasks and experiences, even if they’re not what you initially expected. Each task can provide valuable learning opportunities. Embrace new challenges and view them as chances to grow and develop your skills.

Reflect on Your Experience

Regularly take time to reflect on what you’re learning and how it aligns with your career goals. This can help you make the most of your internship and ensure that you are moving in the right direction. Reflection can also help you identify areas where you need to improve and set goals for your future.

Final Thoughts

Remember, internships are a valuable opportunity to learn and grow. Make the most of your time by applying these tips and always striving for excellence.

Also, take some time to reflect on my own journey during my internship at Amazon. My second-year summer break marked my first real exposure to production code, and I had already dedicated significant time to mastering data structures and algorithms, even crafting complex structures like segment trees independently.

Entering Amazon with confidence, my goal was to turn my internship into a full-time position. However, the reality of professional coding quickly set in. Amazon, like any other company, emphasized code reviews, where experienced developers assess code quality and adherence to team guidelines. I submitted a simple API and faced my first rejection due to coding style. The second rejection came the same day, focusing on reducing the number of files in the review. Finally, when my code was deemed review-worthy, I received a barrage of comments: poor variable naming, misplaced content, incorrect bean creation, insufficient test cases, lack of pass by reference, inconsistent constants, incorrect log usage, redundant or missing logs, constructor-based injection, and missing or redundant JavaDoc, and countless suggestions for code restructuring.

It took me 12 revisions to get my first review accepted. My confidence plummeted, but my mentor shared his own experience of receiving 36 revisions during his internship, offering a reassuring perspective. Over time, I improved, and my advice to fellow interns or future interns is to embrace reviews as opportunities for growth. Remember, reviewers aim to elevate your coding standards, so take their feedback constructively. Additionally, avoid repeating the same mistakes in subsequent reviews, as demonstrating growth by reducing the number of revisions is essential. Remember that feedback is a chance to learn and grow, and every coder evolves through feedback and experience.

Keywords

internship advice, internship tips, navigating a new internship