I have had a lot of success and impact working with student interns and these are the expectations I have provided to many students on what they can expect from me and what I expect from them. If you are looking to apply for a student intern position with me, this gives you a guide as to the culture that I aim to provide.
What you can expect from myself when I am mentoring you as a student:
- I will be patient with you and help build your skills, regardless of your level
- I will try to place you in a project that is tailored to your interests and abilities
- I will give you a safe environment in which to make mistakes and improve
- I will help you be a better all-around professional, including helping you with soft skills like talking with clients, requirements gathering, speaking in front of your peers, how to apply for jobs and job interviews
- I will help you understand the nuances of the high-level problem as a priority
- I will help you to understand tools that are available and when best to use them
- I will encourage you when you are doing well and guide you in areas to improve
- I will encourage you to be a part of our team and community
- I am aware of bias against women, disability (including those with social or communication difficulties) and race and take this into account when providing opportunities for students
What I expect of you as a student:
- You will abide by our Code of Conduct at all times
- You will always do your best and work on continuously improving yourself
- You will be upfront with me if something impacts your wellbeing, your learning ability, or your productivity
- You will be willing to ask “background” questions in team meetings or with team members to help you understand the high-level nuances of the problem
- You will provide me with suggestions on how I can do things better
- You will be willing to disagree with me and be willing to compromise with me
- You will help your fellow students as best you can, within reason
- You will be able to google simple examples and background information
- You will document work in our project management system (when appropriate) and keep it up to date