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My first internship was a disaster.

It was at a boutique brand consultancy.

I didn’t know what I was doing. Got yelled at…multiple times. And didn’t end up gaining any domain knowledge.

But you know what I’m grateful for? Mistakes.

These mistakes have helped lead me to some of my biggest career and biz-building wins.

So today, I want to pay it forward. Here’s what I wish I had known before diving into my first internship. 5 bullets, no caps, all gold.

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But FIRST

If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you missed from previous weeks:

📈 WTF this rock sold for $1M? Top jobs in the 21st century ​Read More →​

🎨 No Elon Needed. Winning Biz Model for Teens ​Read More​ →​

📘 Extracurricular that landed him in Stanford ​Read More​ →​

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5 internship mistakes to avoid like the plague

1. Lack Curiosity

Mentorship can be really, really powerful. But it’s also REALLY hard to come by.

I mean, the top priority of employers is growing their business, pleasing shareholders, not spoon-feeding interns knowledge.

At the end of the day, no one is responsible for your learning except yourself.

So here’s what I’d do now if I was in a brand new field:

Get Curious. Ask “Why” often.

How does a process fit in with the bigger picture? Why do we use this template? What is the purpose of this formula?

Leverage the time you have with industry experts, pick their brains, get their templates/processes. Watch the growth.

“ Get Curious. Ask “Why” often.

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2. Not Doing Homework

I have this magical tool that is so powerful it can do almost anything for you with one click. Want me to share? It’s called ChatGPT. (Hehe sarcasm apparent?)

Before asking your manager or colleague for help, use it.

I’ve received the dreaded “Do you know how to do anything?” in my first job, why?

Interns are hired to add value to the table, so you got to show effort of actually wanting to work, not just bothering employer or the person you want something from.

So, instead of asking “how do you do this?”

Try “I’ve tried x,y,z it’s still not yielding result, any ideas on what other methods I can try?”

Prove your worth by doing the homework, not your ability to pester.

“ Prove your worth by doing the homework, not your ability to pester.

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3. Ambiguous Statements

As a researcher at a think tank once told me, “Managers often don’t know what they want; they only know what they don’t like.” So if you don’t give others something to react to, you’re gonna get ghosted.

At our summer cohort, we often work with high profile founders who have insanely tight schedules.

To ensure we receive replies, our message must be clear and convey urgency. For this reason, I’ve built an entire table that translates ambiguous statements to unambiguous ones.

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4. Not Getting Heard

Let’s say you’re like me and you are incredibly shy so it’s challenging to get the message across. The good news is you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to craft a compelling presentation.

Below is the cheat sheet I use:

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5. No Value Alignment

Ask yourself this “What do I stand for?”

Now look at the company you work for, what values do they hold? AND are they aligned with yours?

For example, in my first internship, I was consulting for an alcohol brand but as you guys know me – I stand for sustainability and healthy living.

Clearly, not a great fit. And it has undeniably affected my motivation.

If so, what are you willing to do about it? Whether it is quitting, pushing for change, or raising your voice.

You by working for your company are helping to build that kingdom, make sure you believe in what you are building. Your life force is going into it, is there any more powerful force?

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PS. Broadening your horizon to purposeful opportunities- from circular economy to fintech for good, that is the mission of OCE. We run a summer cohort for ambitious youth (high school and undergrads) to work directly with world-class founders while learning from Silicon Valley leaders. ​ OCE Summer Cohort ​ You can also explore purposeful opportunities through our Impact Internship Opportunities Database. ​ Get Curious.

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Lena

​https://www.openclassroomexperience.com/​