You've finished your internship..what now?

It's a sad day when the interns go away. Their joy. Their laughter. Their youth. Their better fashion sense. In light of their last day with Steampunk, a few tips for them to takeaway after a great summer with our 2024 intern class:

1)??????? You won’t have all the answers.

I worked at a very small company doing lots of various jobs but ultimately, I was just trying to “fake it ‘til I made it.” When I had the opportunity to join a global software company, I thought to myself, “This will be great because they will know all the things I don’t and it will be so much easier!” Well, that wasn’t quite the case. Working with incredibly smart people? Yes. Having the Secret Guide to Success that I was looking for? Not exactly. No one has all the right answers to the test. We’re all trying to figure it out but having the right people in the room to ensure you’re prepared is key. Even better, the people that are willing to collaborate, help and even fail with you will take you further.

2)??????? Find your people.

There’s a strong cadre of women I’ve met during my career that live largely in a text thread on my phone that provide guidance, laughs and support through all things life and work. But I’ve also learned to to surround myself with people at work that are also willing to support, partner and listen when needed. Your people are everything. Let me say that again, YOUR PEOPLE ARE EVERYTHING. It’s not just your co-workers, it’s managers, senior leaders, partners, family. Pay attention to how all the people around you engage and interact, if you see a red flag, follow your gut. The people make the organization – not the other way around.

3)??????? Evaluate what matters most to you.

Your core values are your inherent north star. Take time to figure out what those are and find roles, companies or markets that align to those. Are you driven and want something fast-paced? Or do you value time to yourself to work at your own speed? Whatever it is, there’s a myriad of jobs but finding the one most aligned to you is what will set you up for a rewarding career.

4)??????? Be ready to pivot.

If you do this right, your job should not be linear. You should start to see new opportunities to grow or change within your role/company. Be prepared to seize these, even if you think that you may not be ready. Speak up about your goals. Let others know where you want to head. And when you see there may be a path to it, chase it in any direction necessary. This may mean networking outside of your team. Building relationships or consensus internally to do something different. Being flexible will make you unique and help you learn and refine new skills. Jobs are rarely a perfectly straight line so prepare to turn into the curves.

5)??????? Stay patient – the right role will come.

Settling may seem like a good idea at first, and sometimes it’s necessary to get your foot in the door, but don’t rush into the wrong role and certainly don’t become complacent if you have to take a job that is less than ideal. While this time of life seems stressful as you try to differentiate from your peers, take some time to also relax and trust the process. You have the rest of your life to anxiously commute to work, take time to enjoy where you are at the onset of a huge adventure. And know, as you gear up to join us in the marketplace, many of us are both excited to see where you will go, and envious that you get the opportunity to build something new.

Congratulations on finishing a great program. Come back and visit us soon!