Still fresh off my last final exam of the semester, I began my new internship. Beer on tap in the kitchen? Pinball in the conference room? Super Smash Bros. in the break room? Check to all three—yep, I’m working at a startup. While many of my peers are trading in tennis shoes for tailored suits on Wall Street or flocking to behemoth, name-brand firms, I know they’re just not in on the secret that working at a startup is the most valuable experience to have in college.
Though larger companies may have greater name-recognition, a swanky name alone does not make a resume. At a larger company, you may work on a single project all summer, in a sub-division of a sub-group. While you may get to know your small slice of the pie inside and out, your true impact on the company is, realistically, small. At a startup, this kind of hierarchy doesn’t exist. You’ll be thrown into dozens of projects that need staff, and your potential for impact is only limited by how much you want it—and chase it. Is trial by fire your thing? Well, then, you’re in the right place.
Startups may be characterized by flat organizational structures and a lack of formalized rules or dress code, but that doesn’t mean an internship at a startup is a free-for-all. With great freedom comes great responsibility—especially at early-stage companies, where interns are often just as crucial as full-time staff. Chances are, if you’re a rising senior, you’re hoping for that full-time offer. But how do you stand out from a throng of eager newcomers in only 10 weeks? What can you do with your time that sets you apart as a valuable asset? Now that you’ve got your foot in the door, how do you keep it there?
From one intern to another, check out these five directives on how to kill it at your summer internship. Who knows, your startup may blow up, and you’re going want in on that IPO.
Embrace the Culture (Respectfully)
Go ahead, drink the Kool-Aid. But don’t finish the keg. While all-day ping-pong tournaments might seem like a good idea, just remember you’re not a full-time hire yet. As an intern, you should take advantage of the fun perks of being a part of the company, but take it slow in your first few weeks. Adopt a work hard, play hard mantra—in that order. Work hard now, so you can play hard later.
You’ll want to prove your worth before taking liberties. Show up in business casual on your first day, even if most of the other employees are in jeans and sneakers. The more the full-time employees get to know you and realize what an asset you are, the more you’ll be invited to partake in the fun parts of the company. If you’re a rock-star intern, this shouldn’t take long.
Make Connections
Find a mentor quickly, and learn as much as you can from them. At a startup, this mentor can even be the founder.
“We were allowed to go on coffee dates with anyone in the company to asks questions about anything from design, to real estate, to business development,” says Madeleine Smith, a former intern at Warby Parker about her experience.
A startup is not a place to be shy. If you speak up and network, you may find yourself with invaluable contacts for your future career. Startups tend to hire like-minded, motivated individuals, so chances are you’ll have something in common to chat about. If an employee you’ve been dying to chat up seems crazy busy, ask them to lunch—on you.
Ask Questions, Ask for Feedback
Find yourself sitting idle? Ask for more work. Not sure how to finish a project? Ask for help. Everybody loves a proactive intern. Since it’s a startup, the company may not have much of a formal internship program, but the beauty in this is that you can define your own role.
“Be a jack of all trades and do everything you can—volunteer to wear different hats,” says Sacha Demos, a current WeWork intern.
Take on as many projects and gain as much real-world experience as you can. Your resume will thank you.
But beware: there’s a fine line between being proactive and obnoxious. If you need a new project, send your boss an email so she can get to it on her own time, even if she’s sitting nearby. The last thing you want to be doing is tapping your boss on the shoulder every 20 minutes. Every few weeks, it’s a great idea to ask for some feedback from your boss. Work hard to improve on what he or she says, so you’re always adding more value to the company.
Pitch Your Ideas
“My biggest accomplishment while interning at Panoramic Power was probably presenting my proposal directly to the founders and hearing positive feedback and constructive criticism right off the bat,” says Ben Pleat, former intern at the Israeli startup.
If you see an area that can be improved within the company, speak up. Because startups move at such a quick pace, there’s a huge focus on continuous improvement, and a constant stream of original ideas is invaluable.
Don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. Sometimes, a fresh pair of eyes on a problem is exactly what a startup needs. Often, pitches will lead to ownership of your own project. At my last startup, I pitched, implemented, and carried through to completion a new framework for email marketing that shot up client responses. I can still look back and know that they’re carrying out my system today. And if they’re not, it’s because another intern stepped up and thought of something even better.
Befriend Your Fellow Interns
This is probably one of the most important pieces of advice I can give. Not only will this make your summer a heck of a lot more fun, but your colleagues today might become valuable contacts tomorrow. Some of the most useful contacts to have are those that move on to work at different companies. If you keep in touch with your intern friends throughout your college experience, you’ll build an extensive professional network even before you graduate.
So go ahead—socialize, have fun, and go to happy hour! At the end of the day, people like to work with the people that they already enjoy hanging out with. Collaborate with your fellow interns on projects, and help each other succeed. Hopefully, by the end of the summer, you’ll not only have a full-time offer, but a few built-in best friends.
Photo credit: Lauren Kallen