Interested in a Buckeye internship? Well, you’ve come to the right place. The 2021 interns have brainstormed their top ten tips on not only being but thriving as a Buckeye Interactive intern. Representing all different areas of focus (Development, Web Design, Human Resources, User Experience, and Content Strategy), these tips are great for anyone considering an internship with Buckeye.
Set goals
Set goals to give your day-to-day and project work an objective to reach for. Don’t be afraid to share with the Buckeye team what you want out of your experience, even if it is along the way. That’s the whole point of an internship!
Become familiar
There will be multiple opportunities to learn during your internship. Becoming familiar with the Buckeye process will prepare you to contribute to projects and will be applicable to your future profession. Also, becoming familiar with projects will give you background on work Buckeye has done in the past, as well as the work they are currently doing.
#slackit
When in doubt, Slack it. Literally. At Buckeye, we heavily rely on Slack for communication. So if you have a question or helpful information, send it in an open channel rather than a direct message. This may answer or inform other team members.
Meet the team
Meeting the team is a must, especially with a virtual company. Getting to know your co-workers will optimize team collaboration and impact the projects you work on. Block off 30 minutes on everyone’s calendar (we call them 121 Pairings). And don’t worry, the team loves and anticipates these. Also, take advantage of group outings. Participating in the monthly virtual happy hour is a great place to start!
Shadow and be shadowed
One benefit of interning at Buckeye is the guarantee of hands-on experience. While there will be chances for you to watch our team at work, you will also get a turn to share your screen and give a task a try.
Always say yes when an opportunity arises
Always say yes when an opportunity arises. Agree to do it and give it your best shot, even if you don’t know exactly how to do it. You never know–you may master a new concept or best practice. Regardless, you’ll learn along the way. And that’s what an internship is all about, right?
Take initiative
Take initiative by looking at potential tasks you can be a part of. With Initiative being a core value, the team loves when an intern steps up to the plate.
Expand your knowledge
Be open to other areas of the business (Content, UX, Web Design, Development, and Business Development). A lot of hard work is invested into our projects from all types of positions within the company. Being aware of how various departments work together will help you to understand all that goes into a final product. Who knows, you may even learn a new tool or shortcut.
Don’t be afraid
Fear will only set you back. So, request to join a meeting that will benefit you. Provide feedback. Ask for help on a hard task. Speak up if you have an idea. Learn something new. You’ve got this!
Enjoy your time here
Enjoy your time at Buckeye Interactive. Be a part of as much as you can because your time here will go by fast. More than likely, you’ll be involved with work that greatly impacts our clients and the communities around them, so enjoy it. In the end, you will walk away with a greater understanding of the technology industry and knowledge of life after college.
