On Thursday, May 28, we held a virtual Coffee Connect for the 2020 Xterns. The group chatted and shared their favorite morning drinks, most of them not being coffee. The students also summed up their feelings on their summer and internships in gifs. 

During the event, TechPoint’s Talent team gave the Xterns tips to stand out during their internships. We thought that others could use that knowledge as well.

Show up and Impress 

  • Be on time to every meeting. 1 minute is late! Utilize push and calendar notifications to keep yourself prompt.
  • Create your own professional environment. With many interns and employees currently working from home, it is important to create a productive space with little background noise and distractions. 
  • Make eye contact. Whether it is through a camera or in person it’s important to show that you are paying attention. Nod and smile when it is appropriate.
  • Be responsive. It’s important to be available over email and messaging. However, leave time for yourself and others to respond.

Be an excellent communicator

  • Prepare, prepare, prepare. We all know that technology has a mind of its own but it’s important to think about technical aspects or requirements to get the job done. It is also helpful to clarify what is expected of you and your job duties. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
  • Set weekly goals. Each Monday, make a list of goals you would like to accomplish to help you stay motivated and on track. What do you want to tackle for the week? Communicate these weekly goals to your manager so that everyone is on the same page.
  • Utilize free productivity tools. Tools like Asana or Trello can help you prioritize tasks. The company you are working for probably has their own tool of choice. Be sure to watch the tutorials for the tool and ask questions. Here are 15 best apps for college students that may help.

Receive and implement feedback

  • Ask for feedback. Have an open conversation with your manager on ways to improve (or keep rocking) your work performance. This will help make sure you are meeting expectations.
  • Write down feedback. Put your feedback in a place where you can see it everyday so that it is top of mind.

In conclusion, being reliable and a great communicator are things all interns and employees should be known for at their workplaces. Do you have any other tips to impress? We would love to hear them; tag us on social media @TechPointIND.