Halftime status

I've officially reached the halfway point of my internship. These past seven weeks have been a whirlwind of new experiences, challenges, and valuable insights. In this reflection, I'll share two key takeaways and give you a sneak peek into what's coming next, from e-commerce strategy to company projects. If you're an intern (or planning to be one), stick around for some pro tips. If you're a company considering hiring interns, I've got a few insights for you, too.

Reflecting on my learnings

After 105+ cups of coffee (yes, I have counted), I've reached a milestone in my internship. 7 out of 14 weeks have flown by. You might have read about what I've been up to in my previous articles, but I wanted to summarise two quick general takeaways.

Since the first weeks have involved a lot of preparation and planning, I have realised the importance of thorough planning before starting a project. Workflows, responsibilities, dependencies, milestones, goals, check-ins, etc. If you don't establish this beforehand, starting a new project can become time-consuming, reduce efficiency, and lead to misalignment among colleagues.

Another thing I've realised is how important it is to keep up with trends. The digital world, in general, and trends, in particular, revolve rapidly, and if you're not keeping up, you are likely to fall far behind your competitors. To stay ahead, it's crucial to follow industry leaders, engage with relevant content on platforms like LinkedIn, and explore resources such as blogs, podcasts, and newsletters.

What's next?

In the upcoming weeks, I will continue working on my e-commerce project and start to develop a promotion plan for the site. Structure, frequency, and content must be decided before launching, which I look forward to!

In addition, I have a couple of smaller projects for Zooma. My mentor and I are working on Zooma's corporate site, which needs an update. We are exchanging images and financials and updating Zooma values and offerings.

We are also starting a project to improve our welcome package for new Zooma clients.
When I have time, I also take new photos in the office to use in articles, on the site, and in PowerPoint presentations. Next week, we are moving to a new office, which will be fun to shoot.

Lastly, a new Zooma intern will join us in mid-March, and I will participate in welcoming her and introduce her to life as a Zooma intern. I'm looking forward to sharing the experience!

Pro tips from one intern to another

If I could give you only one tip, it would be never to hesitate to speak up about your needs, desires, or concerns. As in all kinds of relationships, no one can read your thoughts. Let them know what you are thinking because that will make your experience much more valuable for you and the company at which you intern. I am simply taking for granted that the employer wants to listen.

If you feel uncomfortable speaking up in a way that can feel a bit confrontational, ask about adding 15 minutes to your and your supervisor's calendar weekly or biweekly for check-in to create a forum where you feel more comfortable expressing your thoughts.

My second tip is to be nice to yourself. It's easy to become self-critical, but you are supposed to be a beginner; that's why you do the internship—to learn and improve. I need to remind myself of that every day.

My last tip is to be curious. Research topics that arise during your days, whether about a specific topic or a tool the company uses. Always take notes, no matter what meeting or assignment you're doing. There is usually a high stream of information every day, and if you're anything like me, not everything will stick right away.

Tips for businesses

If you work at a company that wants to hire interns, I have a few tips for you. First, please ensure you have the time and resources to care for the intern and coordinate with your colleagues. If you don't, it will burden your employees and be a bad experience for the intern, which could result in negative word-of-mouth marketing for your brand. After our first internship, I was stunned to hear many bad stories from classmates.

Another tip is to go ahead and plan the onboarding in detail and well beforehand. The first days, even weeks, can be stressful and greatly contrast student life. Proper onboarding will provide confidence in taking ownership and make it easier for the intern to contribute and bring business value.

I suggest you take the time to respond to students who apply. I've been relatively lucky, but many businesses don't reply to applications, and waiting for answers that never come can be frustrating. If you don't have the time, create a pre-written email and have it ready to send. If you have many applicants and no time, send an automated email and inform them that you will not respond unless the applicant is invited to an interview.

Happy Friday!