Page 91 - Carlson School GBCC Career Guide

LAUNCH YOUR CAREER
Success in Your First Job (continued) 4 WORK HARD.
Now.
The first several months on the job are the time to work hard and smart. This doesn’t necessarily mean being the last person in the office, but it does mean knowing when to stay, knowing who should be aware of any extra work, and knowing how to utilize your time.
5 KEEP PRIORITIES in check
While you are working hard and smart and ensuring the right people take notice, make sure that you are also prioritizing your health and happiness.
• Setting early expectations that you will work all hours of
the night can backfire. If you set the precedent that you are always the last one in the office and you will answer emails all weekend, people will grow to expect this, and it will be hard to get out of that cycle.
• Create a brand now that shows you work hard AND you take care of yourself. Ensure you have time for exercise and personal priorities so you don’t burnout and you can maintain your drive at work. This will be increasingly important as you take on management roles and lead others. You want to show a good example of someone who prioritizes health and has appropriate boundaries.
Success In Your Internship
All of the rules stated above apply to internship success, so think about how you can balance these three crucial pieces to the internship.
PROJECT • NETWORK • PRESENCE Project:
Most graduate-level internships require you to complete
a fairly defined project and present your idea and recommendations to senior leadership. The project is likely a priority for the company, but not a top priority, and it is a way for them to get work done through you, all while evaluating how you would fare as a full-time employee. Ensure you have regular meetings with your supervisor
to ensure you are on track and that you understand the overall objectives. It’s important to have these regular meetings early on so you can stay on top of the project and shift or adjust work plans if necessary.
Network:
Success in your projects is crucial, but so is building your network. Set up regular coffee meetings or lunches with teammates. Ask your supervisor early on who you should be connecting with. Ensure people know who you are, and that you have established relationships at the organization. Typically, full-time offers are given to the interns that deliver a great project and presentation AND who people know and advocate for.
Presence:
Be early, stay late, be curious, and be professional. You want to not only create a strong network and do good work, but you also want to build a brand of someone
who is professional, works hard and smart, and who is a collaborator and team player. As you start your internship, think about the type of presence you want to have and who you want to be known for. Bring your best self to the role each day.
89 Carlson School of Management