by Ebony Wiley
RCEL Leadership Initiatives
Just a few weeks ago, college students all over the country were thinking about spring break, finals, and summer internships. The world as we know it has changed tremendously over the last month, with many moving to remote working and learning. With the recent explosion of people affected by the COVID-19 virus, and the measures implemented to stop further spread, we have to rethink the way we approach working.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. When the situation settles down, we will be back to normal day-to-day activities, like work and school. Below are a few points on preparing for your summer internship, even while the health of our country is ever-changing.
As you prepare for your summer experience, consider a few points:
- Reach out to your hiring manager asking how the company is fairing during these difficult times, and confirming your interest in joining the company in the summer.
- Connect with the company on social media to keep in tune with what they are communicating to their employees and stakeholders.
- Understand your online persona. Are your social media accounts private? Consider making your accounts private, and consider the information you have shared, and the implications of connecting with coworkers.
- Work with a mentor to develop your elevator speech, email, and in person communication style, as well as do’s and don’ts of workplace communication.
- Reach out to the local alumni group of your university – if you can’t find one, reach out to the Rice Engineering Alumni for connections. A simple message like “Hi, my name is Ebony Wiley. I am a sophomore chemical engineering major at your alma mater. I will be doing an internship at X company. I would like to connect with alum while in town….” goes a long way to creating a professional network, and even a support system.
- Research the industry and the company where you plan to intern. Have questions ready on how what you are doing in your assignment benefit the company, and what specific metrics are impacted.
- When it’s time to start your internship, arrive early to get settled in. The summer is short, and you don’t want to be taking days off for moving logistics.
The most important thing for you to do is show up the first day ready to learn and to deliver on your assigned projects. However, people’s impression of you will already be established via email, phone calls, and social presence. Take this time to manage your digital image, and connect with your future manager and coworkers as we all work to evolve with this changing world.
If you have any questions or would like some assistance getting prepared, Ebony Wiley, RCEL Leadership Initiatives Leader, can be reached at ebony.wiley@rice.edu.
Presented by RCEL faculty, the RCEL Tip Tuesday Series addresses a variety of topics applicable to young engineering leaders, and encourages them to learn more and improve.