This past summer, I had the opportunity to intern with IBM as a Solution Sales Intern in the Summit Program. With interests in Sales and Human Resources, I was fortunate enough to be placed on the Talent and Transformation — Workday Practice team for the summer. The Summit Program is an 11-week internship program that teaches interns about consultative sales strategies through hands-on experiences. Originally, this internship was supposed to take place in IBM’s Cambridge, MA office, however, it was adapted to an online format due to COVID-19. As a first-generation college student in my family, I was beyond grateful to have gotten an internship, especially with one that has as rich a history as IBM, and I wanted to share my biggest takeaways from my online internship experience.
- Ask questions! As an intern, you aren’t expected to know everything, so don’t be afraid to ask questions! No question is too “stupid” so don’t hesitate to ask for further clarification. It shows that you are actively engaging in the work that you are doing.
- Leverage your “intern” status and get on people’s calendars A simple email introducing yourself and asking for a 15-minute introductory meeting can open a window of new opportunities! I’ve been able to work on a few assignments outside of my direct landing team because I was made those connections with others early on.
- Ask to participate in different projects! There are a billion and one things going on at once, so don’t be afraid to offer your assistance for a project or ask for work to do. Find areas where you can add value and make yourself an essential member of the team. As a Marketing major, I’ve been able to help create and design client presentations with my previous experience with advertising for on-campus clubs!
- Take advantage of the available learning opportunities At IBM, there are a countless number of learning opportunities through learning modules and webinars. This summer, I’ve learned about Agile, Design Thinking, Cognitive Services, Cognitive HR, and more through available learning modules. Furthermore, I was able to participate in webinars surrounding diversity and inclusion during Pride Month and around the Black Lives Matter movement. These opportunities not only allow you to further expand your knowledge but also learn more about the company’s culture.
- Do not underestimate your abilities I’m still guilty of doing this, but I’ve gotten a lot better! My manager once told me, “Your expectations are an extension of your beliefs.” It’s so important to have a positive outlook on whatever you do; you are fully capable of doing what you set your mind to, you just need to have the right attitude!
- Practice, practice, practice for presentations! For my Summit Program internship, we had to do a Practice Sales Call and a Stand and Deliver Presentation. I cannot stress how important it is to practice — a great performance is a result of great planning and preparation! Utilize those in your network to help you practice and ask them to give honest feedback. Personally, my host manager and another teammate went through the full-time Summit Program, so they were BEYOND helpful in giving me insights and feedback based on their previous experiences.
- Set short term and long term goals. This is not only applicable for this internship but in life as well. Where do see yourself in 5 years? How are you going to get there? Have a plan for how you are going to achieve those goals that you’ve set yourself. Set SMART Goals or Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely goals for yourself. The weekly goals that I set for myself have all been contributing to my long term goals for my internship. You aren’t going to achieve your goals right away, it takes time!
- Have fun! As cliche as this sounds, last summer has taught me to make the best of any situation. Although my internship was not what I originally expected, I’ve had such a great time connecting with my peers and team through “water cooler” calls, stand up meetings, and Slack messaging.
