No one tells you this, but the hardest part of starting a new internship is not the work but rather the “what if's.” What if your manager sucks? what if you don't make any friends? What if you're not good enough to get the job done? At the end of the day, many of the internship worries and anxieties is out of your control, but what is within your control is the preparation you do before, during and after the internship. To ensure you have the best shot at making this internship worth it, here is an internship checklist I wish someone had given to me before starting mine:
🔍 Before the internship starts
- “stalk” LinkedIn: search “incoming X intern @Y” → DM incoming interns & create group chats
- grab virtual coffee with interns you vibe with
- stressed about housing?? ask your recruiter for help or relocation $$$
- plan out how you'll get to work (hotel shuttle, intern friend w/ car, public transportation)
🌟 During the internship
- hang with your manager: lunch, coffee, etc. Get to know them as a human being
- find mentors who'll be real with you about the work culture and your work
- stressed about housing?? ask your recruiter for help or relocation $$$
- be the “ideas person”: join hackathons or organize one with interns
- be the “glue”: plan intern brunches, museum trips, beach days
- bonus round: shoot your shot 🎯ask a VP or exec for a quick coffee chat 👀
📬 After the internship
- write a heartfelt thank-you note to anyone who made your summer ✨
- follow up with your recruiter + manager about return offers
- connect w/ coworkers + interns on LinkedIn to build your network
- ask for recommendation letters early! Don't wait till application season
- keep in touch with intern friends. Mock interview together, send each other job leads, be each other's hype team 🫶
Remember, the relationships you build, the learnings you document and the way you make others feel around you is the secret formula to having a great summer internship. Even if your internship turns out to be imperfect, you can craft it to be better by talking to your manager, advocating for yourself, taking ownership of your projects, and staying in close contact with other interns. Now you're off to crafting the internship of your dreams ✨