Top Five Things I Learned from my Internship in Spain

Summer 2019 was by far my most important, and thrilling one yet. After a year of exploring my options in college, not only did I have to utilize this time to figure out what I wanted to do next, but also to find something engaging and exciting to talk about in the upcoming recruiting season.

So, without a doubt in my mind, I applied for a program and traveled to Madrid to work for the National Institute of Public Administration (aka INAP). I was a part of the social networking team at INAP, which essentially required me to find ways in which the platform could've been improved. I learned a lot of things, both philosophical and technical, during my month-long stay in Madrid.

So, without further ado, here are the top five things I learned from my Summer 2019 internship.

1. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You will naturally feel quite intimidated on your first day at your internship. Should I ask this? Is this a stupid question? What will my co-workers think of me? - Are some common thoughts that comes to one's mind. I had the same feeling on my first day, but then it occurred to me that there's a big chance that people around me are probably thinking on the same line. So, the best remedy for this indecisiveness is to not keep any regrets, step up, be confident, and ask your questions. Make sure you fully understand what is expected of you, and always ask questions to clarify the task you've been given. Investing those extra few minutes in understanding your responsibilities, will save you hours from correcting your task later.
2. Be adaptable. One of the main things that I learned from this consulting experience is that your plan is situational. New information about your client will always come up that will affect your project, and you have to be prepared to shape your strategy according to it. Some of my colleagues were still redefining their goals even when they were halfway through the project since they found new areas of improvement in their respective departments.
3. Put in the extra effort. It is a great way to stand out as an employee/intern. It's not just about putting in those extra hours; it's about providing something valuable to your client. It could be anything from doing more in-depth research on a competitor to finding out a solution to an unidentified problem. Either way, going the extra mile makes your client happy, your superiors happy and in turn, you'll be happy! It also makes you focal in the eyes of your client; thus, you gain a more significant position in your firm.
4. Nothing is personal in the workplace. While some people will disagree with this, I have a different take on this matter. When you are working with a myriad of personalities, they are bound to clash sometime or the other. Ever so often you might get into a deadlock, or you might not like the tone of their voice, or maybe they might not give you enough credit for your work - do not take any of this personally. One might not necessarily support the actions of the opposite party; however, one should not take things personally in order to safeguard their mental and emotional stability. With that being said, you should always reach out to these individuals and voice your concerns about their behavior. Communication is the key to a healthy work environment.
5. Have fun and enjoy the little moments. One of my favorite quotes of all time is, "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them." This quote perfectly reflects my feelings about the internship as I am writing this article at present. It has been over two months since I came back from Spain, but not a day goes by when I don't think about my experience there. Make sure you put your egos aside and invest some time in building relationships, and appreciating those little moments because you are going to miss them and all you will have are some good memories to cherish for a lifetime!

Signing off, all I would want to say is that make sure to build a symbiotic relationship with the firm you're interning at, and also build a rapport so that you can come back any time to work again. Let me know what are some things you took back from your summer internship in the comments below.