Do's and Don’ts

No matter where your summer experience takes you, you can benefit from these useful tips and hints. They may seem simple, but your colleagues will notice if you aren’t acting on them.

The Do's

• Be eager for a challenge
• Be yourself
• Be open-minded
• Be on time
• Know the dress code
• Observe and ask thoughtful questions
• Treat everyone you meet with respect and professionalism
• Understand that everyone makes mistakes
• Carry a notebook with you at all times
• Pay attention to the details
• Be proactive
• Show energy and interest
• Set goals for yourself

The Don’ts

• Let a bad day get you down
• Take on more than you can handle
• Pretend to know something you don’t
• Have nothing to do
• Ask everyone the same questions
• Take yourself too seriously
• Talk negatively about co-workers
• Focus all of your attention on senior management
• Bring your personal life into the office
• Surf the web all day
• Spend working hours on social networking sites or texting friends
  

Advice from Goldman Sachs Leaders

We asked program champions and intern managers across the firm what it takes to turn a good student into a great intern. Here’s what you need to know to make a lasting impression.

What’s the best advice you can give a summer intern?  

• Compile a list of goals you plan to accomplish so that you can make the most of your time.
• A summer internship can be one of the most exciting, fast moving experiences of your career. It’s also a very short time to begin to learn about all of the opportunities available to you. Take every chance to gain as much exposure to professionals as you can. Carry a notebook at all times! 

What do you think is the most important core quality an intern could have?

• Arrive prepared for the day, armed with new questions.
• Add value wherever and whenever you can.
• Always have a positive attitude in approaching your work and overall experience.

What are some classic mistakes that interns should avoid?

• Ignoring junior members of the team - they are key in the hiring process and can give the most relevant insights into the role and who you should meet.
• Being narrow minded in terms of what you want to do. Not everyone can be a trader or a banker and not everyone is suited to it. Be open minded and listen to advisors and mentors.
• Not taking up offers of people's time. If someone asks you to join him or her for lunch, you should go. It is a precious opportunity.

In a competitive market, how can an intern differentiate him or herself from peers?

• Do not be afraid to ask questions. The more you engage the many resources you have, the more you will learn about this business. Firms are looking for the intern who can best succeed in a permanent role.
• Take the initiative to expand your understanding of the business. This will highlight your commitment to the firm.
• Know where you stand. Make sure you are progressing within your team, networking with other individuals and focusing on delivering excellent work.

What should an intern do to prove that he/she is capable of becoming a full-time hire?

• Try to step into the role of a full time hire. Demonstrate that you can perform the responsibilities that you want to be hired for.
• Have emotional stamina. It's a tough job with many ups and downs and longer hours than you’re probably used to.
• Be a sponge.
• Embrace challenges.

How can an intern turn his/her summer experience into a job offer?

• Don't compare yourself to others. We are looking for different people for different roles.
• Ask for feedback early and often. Find out the things you are doing well and keep doing them throughout the summer. Learn your areas of weakness and work towards improving yourself. At the end of the summer be able to show how you have developed as a professional.
• Prior experience or knowledge in economics is not essential or required. Remember that you were offered this summer internship for a reason - your potential to learn.
• Keep up your enthusiasm and momentum throughout the summer. Some interns start well and then burn out. Others are slow starters and then shine at the end.
• Get to know a lot of people early on but have some direction by the mid point of the program so that you are not perceived as being uninterested.

What’s the most important lesson/piece of advice an intern should take away with him/her?

• You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
• The people you meet and work with over the summer will fall into one of three categories: managers, peers or subordinates. Manage every conversation you have and always manage your actions accordingly.
• An internship is a learning experience, so make sure you have done your best to learn all that you can.

Network Like a Pro

Your ability to network effectively could help you land a full-time job offer at the end of the summer. You may not realize this, but the people you meet and interact with throughout the summer may have input in the hiring decision and whether or not you land the full-time job offer.

Here’s some advice to help you make the most of meeting new people.

Keys to Networking

Know when to talk and when it is OK just to listen

• Find ways to add value to a conversation – take the time to learn about the people you are speaking with.
• Connect with professionals – just like during the interview process, find similarities or common interests with people you meet; try to leave them with a good impression of yourself.

Make it a point to meet new people

• Try to avoid the temptation of only talking to those you know - branch out!
• Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to those you haven’t met yet.
• Never assume everyone knows your name and who you are.

Social events are not parties, they are work functions

• Remember you are socializing with your colleagues, not your friends.
• Just because you’re not in the office, doesn’t mean you’re not at work.
• It is not necessary to drink alcohol just because it’s served at the event.
  

Networking opportunities

Attend company sponsored social events and team outings

• Be well prepared to talk about your internship experience and what you’ve learned so far.
• Take the time to ask your colleagues good questions about their experiences at the firm.
• Ask colleagues to introduce you to others in attendance.

Be proactive and spend time getting to know people

• Seek out professionals and school alumni to learn more about them and their businesses.
• A professional’s time is valuable so be sure to use it wisely.
• Lunch dates or coffee breaks are great opportunities to interact with colleagues or school alumni.
• Be sure to do your research on the person you’re meeting with and have specific questions in mind.
• Be sure to follow-up with people you meet, thanking them for their time. If appropriate, schedule an additional meeting.
  

Land the Offer

To turn your internship into a full-time career we recommend taking these steps.

Leverage key players, like recruiters, alumni and mentors

Recruiters
Chances are you interacted with a recruiter to land your summer internship. Now let them advise you even further! Use your recruiter to help facilitate networking opportunities and to make contacts within your business. Recruiters can be a strong resource to discuss any issues or successes. Engage your recruiter in discussions regarding the hiring process as it relates to internal mobility and the full-time job offer.

Your school alumni
Find out if anyone at the firm graduated from your school. Alumni are often a great support system and resource to learn about other areas of the firm. They can also get you involved in conversations with other alumni who are willing to help steer you in the right direction.

Mentors
Mentors are a great resource for career advice and should be used as a neutral sounding board. Mentors are not people you directly report to or work with on a daily basis. It is your responsibility to be proactive in keeping in touch with your mentor. A mentor/buddy is a great person to ask those questions you’re not sure of addressing with your manager or colleague.

If your firm doesn’t have a formal mentor program, establish an informal relationship with someone at work whom you admire. Try to find someone whose role is one you think you’d like to have in the future.

Take feedback and performance reviews seriously

• Ask for informal feedback when you complete a project or task.
• Be open to all feedback – positive or negative.
• During your feedback sessions take notes and listen carefully.
• Acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses.
• Try not to take it personally or get defensive.
• Ask how you can change a negative into a positive.
• Work with your manager to outline concrete steps you can take towards your development.
• If your summer program does not have a formal feedback process, make sure that you ask professionals around you how you are doing.
• Remember - even the most senior people in an organization get reviewed, and have areas of development.
• At the end of your summer revisit these steps and see what has been achieved.

Explore full-time opportunities
Your internship is the chance to get your feet wet, learn about the business and determine if you can see yourself doing the work full-time. At the end of the summer, make sure you’re accepting a full-time position for the right reasons.

Consider the offer
Take the time to make an educated decision. It’s a huge step in your career and you want to make sure it’s right for you. Tell your employer and recruiter when they will hear back from you. If applicable, be aware of your school’s career center offer policy. Always be honest and up front with employers about timing issues and most importantly, don’t burn bridges. You never know what role the employer will play later on in your career.

Pat yourself on the back
No matter what path you decide to take after this summer, your internship experience is something that will surely benefit you down the road. Be sure to add your achievements, experiences and successes to your resume and use what you learned to reach your next goal.