What do you do if you need guidance during your internship?

Firstly, talk to your senior colleagues in that profession. Either a senior associate working in the same company to interpret and explain some of the areas you are having difficulties with. Also, If you need guidance during your internship, then you need mentorship. Speak to anyone you admire in that profession and seek their mentorship.

Finding a mentor during your internship: → Identify a Mentor: Look for someone whose career path and work ethic inspire you. → Approach Respectfully: Express your desire for guidance and how you admire their work. → Value Their Insights: A good mentor offers invaluable advice and networking opportunities within the company. → Seek Feedback: Be proactive in asking for feedback to demonstrate your willingness to learn and improve. → Show Eagerness: Demonstrate your eagerness to grow professionally and take initiative. A mentor can significantly enhance your internship experience by providing guidance and insights.

Communicate, communicate, communicate. If you're struggling or perhaps prefer regular guidance, speak up and inform your manager. It's their job to ensure you receive the support you need to achieve the goals assigned to you in your position. Don't hesitate to involve HR as well. Depending on what specifically you're seeking guidance for, you can seek additional support elsewhere, whether it's within the company or through a mentor. There are plenty of mentorship programs available within different associations. Get clarity on your wants, needs, and goals, and seek mentors who are aligned with you.

Most interns do not do it. Being proactive will make you stand out from the crowd. It is an opportunity to show your genuine interest in learning more and doing more above and beyond the tasks assigned to you.

Get a mentor or many mentors if possible. Learning from people who have done the job, know how to navigate the organisation, and have experience and scars will accelerate your learning and most important, will help you develop your career.

Carry a notebook with you wherever you go, especially to meetings, projects, or events. The initial action is to jot down any element that puzzles you, be it an acronym, a concept, or the underlying intentions or context of a discussion. Following this, undertake personal research to gain a preliminary understanding. Once you've explored the topic on your own, consult experts for further clarification, explanation, or to deepen your understanding. This approach not only shows your willingness to learn but also highlights your proactive attitude. It encourages subject matter experts (SMEs) to share their knowledge, seeing your efforts to comprehend the material independently.

Start by gauging how open people are, remembering that mentoring mentality matters more than skillset-- in fact, outsiders often have fresh perspectives. Find those in other organizations willing to do a "professional interview", which is almost always win/win and welcomed by thoughtful pros. Finally, self-mentoring is always valuable: step a little outside of your situation, do some research, and evaluate, as a stranger might, what you could learn and improve to reach clear goals.

Embracing feedback for professional growth during an internship: → Welcome All Feedback: View both positive feedback and constructive criticism as opportunities for growth. → Keep an Open Mind: It's crucial for understanding different perspectives and areas for improvement. → Reflect on Feedback: Think about how you can apply it to enhance your skills and work habits. → Seek Clarification: If feedback is unclear, don’t hesitate to ask for more details to fully understand it. → Use as a Roadmap: Let feedback guide your professional development during and beyond your internship. Adopting this approach can significantly benefit your career, starting with your internship.

Your network will be the best gift you can get during your internship. Unfortunately, we are often too young to realize the power of networking when we do an internship. Meet as many people as possible and keep in touch.

If you need guidance during your internship, proactively seek support from experienced professionals, schedule regular check-ins with supervisors or mentors, and actively seek feedback to improve your performance. Take initiative in seeking learning opportunities, building relationships, setting goals, and demonstrating a proactive attitude to maximize your internship experience and professional growth.

Take initiative in seeking out learning opportunities, volunteering for projects, and contributing to team efforts. Proactively engaging with your work and colleagues can enhance your internship experience and leave a positive impression on others

I think all of these above options are crucial. I also found when working on super busy buying departments as an intern, that sometimes just doing the practical tasks that nobody had time to think about or ask me to do really helped. The department became more organised, the teams were happy, and then they were in a positive headspace to take my (many many) questions