I had the good fortune of having an intern on my team this summer. Not only that, but two other summer interns were using the test facilities that I manage quite a lot so I got to know all three. They all had a great time over the summer and their enthusiasm was infectious. A few things to note: If you’re an intern: · Ask a lot of questions. · Meet as many people as you can and learn something about them. · Keep busy - ask for more to do. It can be difficult to have that perfect project that starts exactly when you arrive and can be finished right before you leave. You might be working on many smaller things or helping on a couple of big things - roll with it. If you have an intern on your team: · Make sure your intern is bragging to the other interns about the cool stuff they are doing. · When the boring things come around, make sure they know they are not being punished. · Just like everyone else - they have to “eat their vegetables” - paperwork/slow processes, etc. · If you can simplify a process (safely and with integrity) to get them going quicker, do it · Ask yourself why the process shouldn’t be shorter - and then change it.
Eric Geib
1y
Hopefully you taught them about the Haas Coefficient!
Dave Harrold
1y
Very wise, useful, and insightful advice Bill !
Engineering Leader | Model-Based Engineering | Analysis and Mechanical Design
1yWell said, Bill! I'd add "Be humble" to the first list. To paraphrase a former secretary of defense: "There are things you know that you know. There are things you know that you don't know. But there are also things you don't know that you don't know."