What Should One Do During A Summer Internship?

Here are all the knick-knacks of making the most of your summer internship!

These insights are shared by SHAMA CHALKE, TAS SUMMERS BATCH 2018.
Stay tuned for more.

#COOLSUMMERINTERNSHIPS

SEEK VALUE ALIGNMENT
Every organisation and every team has its own internal value system, The smoothest way to align yourself in any organisation is to find a commonality between your own personal values - and those of the company.

During summers when you join an organisation for two months - you’re expected to give it your best shot. However, you get very little time to find your place within the structure.
I personally give importance to finding an alignment with the organisations’ goals and values. I believe it can help you associate faster and better with the company. It also helps you become emotionally ready to give a stellar performance.

DON'T FAKE IT
In B-school, we all have some set of notions about how one should conduct themselves during a summer internship. Power dressing, networking, crisp communication, being in the manager’s good books - we are primed to follow all of these. But in the pursuit of following what we think will work, we may miss out on being appreciated because of our individuality and its subsequent perks.

It may sound like a real cliché, but your best bet is to be authentic. You should certainly adhere to the general norms of professionalism but without foregoing the various aspects of your own identity. That is what will help make a real impact.

BRING IN YOUR OWN PERSPECTIVE
You may most certainly feel overwhelmed by the size and complexity of any organization that you join. There may also be a tiny voice in your head asking you what you can, as a student, contribute whilst working with moguls of the industry.

But remember, your biggest asset with which you can contribute (apart from your functional knowledge and skills) is your fresh perspective. People who have spent a considerable amount of time in the system would appreciate your ability to look at things freshly. You may be able to notice some things that their seasoned eyes miss. A tip I can give here is to take permission from your manager to shadow her or him during some meetings or to join any brainstorming sessions of your team. You should always try to find some informal time with your manager and present your insights which can make a positive impact on the organization.

GO BEYOND THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION
What is a summer internship really about? A PPO, duh!
If you treat your summer internship as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, beyond the contours of your project - you may be able to get much more than a PPO from it. You can certainly learn about the sector, industry or the organization in general. You have the opportunity to have first-hand interactions with the leadership of the organization or even external stakeholders.

Learning agility is a highly valued attribute in many organizations. Your colleagues are a treasure trove of tacit knowledge and life experiences. Do not hesitate to build a rapport and ask questions that you keep shoving at the back of your mind – ‘Is work-life balance really possible?’, ‘How can one stay in one organization for 10-15 years?’, ‘What are the things that lead to success in your organization?’.

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
The ability to showcase your project work - in a way that delivers the requirement of the specific audience - can be game-changing. You can speak to your peers or the stakeholders themselves to understand these requirements and portray your findings or recommendations in a manner that appeals to these needs. This will ensure that your project becomes live and actionable even after you leave. You may also consider creating a handover document for your work before you leave.

#tassummers2021 #TAS2021 #TAS #settleformore