Want to make the most out of your summer internship at Avanade? Here are key takeaways from past interns just like you. Basically, don’t be afraid to ask for help (everyone truly wants to help you), make time to speak with team members you look up to (there is no such thing as a dumb question), pay attention (you never know what you are going to miss) and above all, be yourself!

Never be afraid to ask for help.
You don’t know everything, and you never will. However, as a team, there is no problem that Avanade cannot solve. Everyone in our organization is always willing to offer support if they can. Growth is an important part of our culture, and it truly shows when you need help solving a problem. Admitting what you don’t know is the first step to learning something new!

• Zachary Gardner, Data Engineering and Analytics Intern, Summer 2018, now Advanced Analytics Analyst at Avanade

Schedule time with the leaders at Avanade.
Set aside time with project leads, directors, executives, etc. to learn more about what they do for Avanade and hear their story of how they got to where they are. This gives you a great chance to learn about the different roles Avanade, get advice on your career from different perspectives, and help them put a face to a name (and help you stand out more!). The first few times I scheduled a meeting with someone, I was a little nervous that I was wasting their time, but everyone I met with was so passionate about their work and more than happy to talk with me. So get over the little speed bump of hitting “send” and learn some great things about the company and its people!

• Rachel Imhof, Data Analytics intern, Summer 2017, now Data Analyst at Avanade

Be present.
Engagement and in-person events are incredibly important. Being present at the office has already opened doors to opportunities, helped me understand the organization as a whole and most importantly given me a sense of community with my colleagues. Avanade holds events all the time to help everyone in the office get to know each other better, and it was definitely helpful as an intern to be able to form a connection with the full-time employees.

• Timothy Den Ouden, Data Analytics Intern, Summer 2018, now Advanced Analytics Analyst at Avanade

Don’t be afraid to ask for more work or new challenges.
If you aren’t doing exactly what you love or you want to be challenged with a different technology, reach out to someone to try and find you a new project to help on. During your time at Avanade, you should try to soak up as much knowledge as you possibly can and learn as much as possible. Use your resources. Ask a co-worker if you could shadow them for a day or see what they’re working on. Odds are, they’ll be more than happy to show you.

• Grace Finnick, Software Engineering Intern, Summer 2018, now Software Engineering Analyst at Avanade

Take this opportunity, run with it and turn it into even more opportunities for yourself.
This is your time to not only make an impression on a potential future full-time employer, but it’s also a chance for you to practice your networking chops, build relationships and, above all, put your talents to work in an environment that’s ready to help foster your growth. Take this from me – it’s completely wild that I’ve been able to develop and nurture so many ideas and opportunities: from an innovation contest submission that exceled into final rounds, to becoming engrained in our global I&D initiatives and discovering a passion for inclusion, and even pushing the limits on what our internal culture is and will become in the near future. The opportunities I’ve had have greatly impacted my own view of what I can do and create, thriving in what I love and the impact that I can ultimately have on those around me. It’s only strengthened that fire I’ve always had.
That being said, I wasn’t handed those opportunities outright. I created them – from that single, initial opportunity I was given to show what I had and what I could do. It applies to work, life, really everything you’ll want to excel in: Take every moment you get and turn it into your next big idea.

• Christopher Mostello, User Experience Intern, Spring 2016, now Experience Design Consultant and Prism ERG Global Lead at Avanade