Just wrapped up my internship at TD Securities. Here are 6 of my key takeaways:
🖋️ Take notes and share them:
Unlike at school, where all information is readily available across slideshows, lectures, and assignments, I was surprised to learn that a lot of information only exists in employees' minds (oftentimes the most valuable ones, which makes it difficult to get). Do yourself a favor and write down info as you learn it so you don't ask the same questions twice. Then share it so others can also benefit!
🗣️ Keep others up to date:
At least once a week, shoot a concise update to anyone tangentially involved with the project you are working on. Include what has been done, what is to be done, and any blockers that you are facing (and what you are doing about it). Everyone, but particularly the business folks, appreciates knowing what's going on in the background.
🇺🇸 You have a lot of freedom:
There are lots of problems to be solved, and it is primarily up to you to prioritize them. The autonomy was unexpected but much appreciated.
📉 Tech debt is real:
It's hard to understand how critical good practice is without experiencing the consequences of poor practice. But know that it's a reality of being in an industry setting, and while in development, you have the opportunity (and responsibility) to fight against adding debt.
🗝 Context is key:
This should have been obvious, but the business context in which you are developing plays a far larger role in your day-to-day experience than I initially gave it credit for.
👨⚖️ Red tape is real:
In enterprises as large as TD, everything is a process that needs to be approved. Unfortunately, that means that things move more slowly.
Hope this was as useful for you as it is for me.
Taco Bell Foundation Live Más Scholar at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs and Information Studies School. Vice President Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at Alpha Chi Omega.
2moThank you for the best summer internship ever!!