What To Expect During An Engineering Internship

Sharing some lessons from my internship journey 👋 To everyone starting or currently in an internship – congratulations! It's a fantastic opportunity for growth. Reflecting on my own experience, I wanted to share a few things that genuinely helped me build connections and make the most of my time. These are just lessons I learned, and every experience is unique, but hopefully, some of these resonate: Connect Widely : Don't just stick to your immediate team. Try to connect with people across different departments. Ask your manager for suggestions on who might be good to chat with. When you connect, be genuinely curious! Ask them about their journey, what they work on, and how they find the company. Share a bit about your project and what you're learning. Crucially, ask for their insights: "How can I make the most of my time here?" or "If you were in my shoes, what would you do differently?" Listen carefully and jot down any suggestions – they're gold. Building these genuine connections is incredibly rewarding. Master Your Manager Check-ins & Be Proactive : Regular check-ins (weekly is often ideal) are key. But try to shift the focus from just listing tasks you completed. Frame it around impact and alignment: "I worked on X, which contributes to Y high-level goal. I believe this approach will help us achieve Z. Are we aligned on this?" Be proactive: show your planned next steps rather than waiting for them to assign them. Preparing for these meetings (thinking about potential questions you might be asked) shows you're thinking ahead. Set a clear goal for your internship and break it down into smaller, weekly deliverables. Share this plan and your progress regularly with your manager. Also, keep track of and mention any help you provided or tasks you took on outside your main project – it shows initiative. Embrace Curiosity & Don't Be Afraid to Ask: Interns are often valued for bringing fresh perspectives. Don't hesitate to share your ideas respectfully. And it's always okay to ask questions if you don't understand something. Phrases like "Could you explain that like I have no prior context?" or simply saying "I'm not quite following, could we revisit that?" are perfectly fine. If it's difficult to ask in a large meeting due to time, schedule a quick follow-up with the person later. Showing that you want to understand is much better than pretending you do! Explore Your New Location (If You Move!) : If your internship takes you to a new city or state, make the most of it! Explore locally and, if possible, nearby regions. It's a great chance to experience new places and take a mental break. (When I interned at Whirlpool, I got to see Michigan, Chicago, and even Canada!). These experiences add so much to your overall internship memory. These were just a few things that personally helped me. Every internship is different, but a foundation of genuine connection, clear communication, proactivity, and curiosity goes a long way.

Tech internships are heating up this summer, and it’s not just the weather. In these 12 weeks, interns can turn hot prospects into cool jobs. Reflecting on my internship stint from the summer of 2020, sharing my insights to help students swing from intern to full-timer before the graduation caps fly. ✨Establish success criteria and aim higher In my first week as an intern, I aligned with my manager on S.M.A.R.T goals for my project, which really spelled out what I was aiming for. After I hit those targets in the first month, I was all about upping the ante with more challenging tasks to demonstrate initiative and build credibility. Remember, going above and beyond can really make you stand out as an intern. ✨Share your career ambitions with candor From day one, I openly communicated my long-term career aspirations with my manager, which fostered a supportive partnership. This transparency enabled them to tailor assignments that were not only relevant but also instrumental in advancing my career goals. Remember, speaking up is key because if you don’t share, others won’t be aware. ✨Network with peers and leaders I made it a priority to schedule regular one-on-ones with my team, soaking up their advice and learning from their experiences. These chats were a great way to get their perspectives on work passions and what makes them stay on the team/company. Plus, I grabbed every chance to connect with the PMs and leaders I admired. These conversations gave me deeper grasp of the company’s direction, culture, and opportunities, all of which helped me figure out if it’s the right place for me. ✨Contribute to the culture I didn’t just stick to my assigned projects but also engaged in cultural and learning events. I shared my unique perspectives and volunteered to help with team morale events. Getting to know my colleagues beyond work helped me build real connections that lasted way beyond my internship. Culture eats strategy for breakfast and if you make a mark on the company culture, you’ll leave a lasting impression that won’t be forgotten. ✨Build skills by leveraging company resources As an intern, I capitalized on the company’s exclusive learning resources to bridge skill gaps and enhance my capabilities. I independently sought out and utilized these materials to upskill, embracing the continuous learning process that internships ideally support. ✨Keep it real and cultivate meaningful connections Maintaining connections with the people you meet during your internship can be more valuable than the internship itself. I’ve made a conscious effort to keep in touch with my colleagues post-internship, a practice I uphold to this day. The relationships built are paramount, regardless of a full-time offer. #jobsearch #internships #productmanagement

Your First Day as an Intern: What to Expect? Starting an internship can be both exciting and daunting. To help you prepare, here's what you can expect and some tips to make the most of your first day: 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 🔍 Be ready for onboarding processes like signing paperwork, getting your ID badge, and setting up accounts/access. 🏢 Your company will likely have an orientation or training introducing you to the company culture, values, policies, dress code, and expectations for interns. ❓ Ask questions to understand your specific role, responsibilities, and the team/project you'll be working on. 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁  💻 You'll need to set up your computer/workstation with the required operating system, IDEs, browsers, and other development tools used by the company. 🔑 Get access and introductions to any code repositories, databases, servers, or other systems you'll be using. 🛠️ Learn about the technical stack, coding standards, and processes for building, deploying, and managing code. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 👋 Introduce yourself to your manager, mentor, and other team members you'll be working with. 📅 Attend team meetings or events to start getting integrated with the development processes and culture. 🤝 Network and build relationships with other interns and employees - this can help with getting hired full-time later. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 ❓ Don't hesitate to ask questions - as an intern, you are expected to be learning. 🎯 Focus on understanding the company's products/services and the role your team plays. 💡 Once set up, you may start getting involved in coding tasks, code reviews, commits, etc. under guidance. 👍 Maintain a positive attitude, be open to feedback, and prioritize learning. The key is to be proactive in getting set up, ask questions freely, build relationships, and prioritize learning as much as possible from this invaluable internship experience.

I am only four weeks away from the end of my Software Engineering internship at Bloomberg 😨 It has been a wonderful time, to say the least, and I have been able to learn so much from my time here at Bloomberg. Here are some of the top things that I think people should go into internships knowing that I wish I knew. - Things are always changing, try not to get comfortable with familiarity. If you want to stay working with stuff you are comfortable with, you will never grow! Try to always embrace change with open arms. - You are NOT expected to know everything coming into your internship. This is a learning experience, so don't go crazy self-studying before you start. - Know the difference between good stuck and bad stuck. Good stuck is when you are stuck on a problem but are making progress little by little. Bad stuck is when you are stuck on a problem for > 30 minutes and have tried numerous solutions, you should reach out if you get to this stage. - Never be afraid to ask questions! You are here to learn, and your team members are here to help you grow! -Build relationships! Networking is key. Take the time to get to know your colleagues and other interns. These connections can be valuable for your career down the road. - Be proactive, don't wait for tasks to come to you. Show initiative and actively seek out new work. - Take care of yourself. It's easy to get caught up in work, but don't forget to take breaks and manage your stress. A healthy work-life balance is crucial for your long-term success. If you want to learn more about what I do at Bloomberg, I will be doing an Instagram takeover for Code for All QC this Thursday! Make sure to follow here if you'd like to tune in and ask questions: https://lnkd.in/exG-2qSh

🚀 Starting Your Summer Internship? Here’s How to Maximize It and Increase Your Chances of a Return Offer (Part 2) 5️⃣ Remember: Your Internship is an Extended Interview. From day one, you're not just being evaluated on your technical contributions - you're also being assessed on how well you fit within the team and company culture. Every meeting, stand-up, and PR review gives your colleagues and manager more insight into what it would be like to work with you full-time. Meanwhile, the company is observing: ⭐ How you respond to feedback ⭐ How you collaborate under pressure ⭐ How independently you can work as you ramp up ⭐ Whether you take initiative beyond the minimum At the same time, you should be evaluating them too - is this a place you could see yourself growing long-term? 6️⃣ Network beyond your team. One of the best parts of an internship is the access you have. Reach out to other interns, full-time employees, and even senior engineers. You don’t need a formal reason - just curiosity. ☕ Book virtual or in-person coffee chats - ask about their career journey, what they love about their role, and any advice they’d give their past self. 🍕 Attend lunch-and-learns or intern happy hours. The people you meet now may become future colleagues, mentors, or even referral sources. The relationships you build matter as much as the work you do. 7️⃣ Treat the return offer like a byproduct, not the finish line. Yes - a return offer is important. But don’t let it overshadow your learning. Focus on the process: being consistent, curious, and collaborative. 🚩 When you treat each day as a chance to build real skills and relationships, the return offer tends to follow naturally. Even if it doesn’t, you’ll leave with experience, growth, and a clearer sense of what you want next. ✨ Final Thoughts You don’t need to know everything. What matters most is how you grow, how you collaborate, and how you carry yourself when you don’t know the answer. So be kind, be curious, and be bold. This summer could be the beginning of something big.