I had also applied for internships Off-Campus but hardly expected anything out of them. This is why when I received this offer letter, I was even happier! This made me realise the importance of searching for an internship outside the Campus. No one will spoon feed the companies to you. So if you want the company of your choice, you need to strive for it yourself. So never forget to apply for internships and jobs off-campus as well. You will have to apply for at least a hundred posts, and yet you might get very few responses. But don’t stop searching as you never know where you might strike gold.
Key: Apply for internships off campus as well.
Then came this day, when I finally got the joining letter in my hand. Packing up all my stuff, I reached Mumbai. Hunting for a room, both affordable and near the office was very cumbersome. The rooms were tiny, so small that I could not imagine a single person moving around in that space, let alone 3. For a moment I thought maybe the people jump from one table to another table then on one bed to finally reach their bed, MAYBE! The roads were no different, like a sea of vehicles. Standing on one end, I could not see the other end of the traffic. The movies never exaggerate: There is no space to walk in Mumbai! With a lot of hardship, I did find a room, thanks to an acquaintance who knew Mumbai really well. So, search for someone who knows the city really well. It would always help.
Key: Search for someone who knows the city really well.
Coming to the corporate. It was a small team of 8 people + 1 intern(me). On the very first day, I was very clear that no strict rules were governing the place. Everyone was so casual that it took me some time to understand the hierarchy. I was welcomed and explained the working of the company and other related jargons. The very first (and many other) assignments given to me was some research work. I opened google, and within 10- 20 minutes came up with the required information(Mistake!). When I presented it to the senior, there was a series of cross-questioning that left me aghast! This went on for at least 10 minutes, followed by an explanation for another 10. Research cannot be taken lightly. It is the key to all your solutions
Key: Research is the key to your solutions.
Similarly, I learned many other things the hard way. Summing Up, some of them are:
Research is the key to your solution.
As I already told you, research is the key to all your solutions. Knowing your area of work inside out is like laying the foundation. The building of your career cannot stand without it. Only a well-learned person can suggest the excellent solutions that are required. So be diligent in your research, don’t just copy paste it from google.
Research only a key to the solution, not the solution itself.
Once you are through with your battleground, you need to strategise the complete plan that will lead you to the victory. Keep your mind open to all the points and join these points very carefully to draft the framework that you require. Only a sharp and keen mind can think of a brilliant idea.
Keep your presentations precise and concise.
No matter how mundane (at least for me), preparing power point presentations will be an unavoidable part of your internships. It should always be to the point and not verbose. A lengthy ppt might also make the viewer fall asleep, so be really careful about this. No matter how good your idea is, if you cannot present it well, it’s of no use. Moreover, there will always be cross questions about what you present, so be prepared. Providing the source of the data is almost as essential as the data itself, so never forget this.
Pester your Mentor a lot!
Yes! Be shameless and pester them whenever you need help. Almost everyone in a corporate is indulged in their own work. Even if they are the most helpful people, they won’t be able to help you until you ask them. So talk to them, interact a lot. If you a get a really cool mentor (like me), they might also share their personal experiences and give you advice about non-corporate things as well!
P.S.: This doesn’t mean not letting your mentors do their own work.
Make it a habit to note.
Whenever getting a brief or a review, make it a habit to write down everything that you listen. I have seen even the senior-most people giving importance to this while in meetings, and later reviewing those points. You are not a memory card, so don’t be overconfident about your memory. Just write it down!
Corporates are not robotic workshops!
Lastly, all the people working there are humans. All of them have their share of feelings and perseverance. So don’t shy away from keeping that human touch at your workplace. Laugh with your colleagues, go out on lunch, bitch about your roommate to them! They will be cool with it. The best part of my internship was the last day where there were a cake and a gift especially for me, a person they knew only for 2 months! See! The human touch is what I cherish the most!
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