You are Your Best Advocate: Learning to Navigate the Corporate World as an Intern

The butterflies I felt as I was riding the elevator to my interview were like the ones I felt on a first date. In hindsight, a first interview is very similar to a first date, except it’s for a professional connection as opposed to a personal one. Once I wrapped up my interviews and got back on the elevator, I knew SAP Concur was the one. 

This internship is my first experience in a corporate setting and I’m glad that managers and teammates make the effort to welcome me into this space. This has helped me feel more at ease, and it lets me focus my energy to present my best self at work. My journey from searching for an opportunity to becoming the Global iXp Team Intern is full of lessons:

My goal is to tell interns' stories through social media. 

Lesson One: Communicate goals with everyone.

When I first began looking for internship opportunities almost a year ago, I had no real way to go about it. As a business administration major, I knew that I wanted any experience within corporate, but I had no inkling of what that would look like. Additionally, I never started a conversation telling others what I wanted – I usually began by asking them what they had to offer. After many fruitless months, and perhaps out of desperation and impatience, any conversation I had about my future began with the proud exclamation that I was actively looking for an internship. This seems like an easy step, but I had to learn to do this, instead of worrying that I’d seem overeager. Looking back, I recognize that I was not getting what I wanted because I did not communicate exactly what I was looking for. Even now, I must remind myself to be forward and vocal about my goals as I continuously develop in my position.

• Takeaway: Have a clear goal and communicate it consistently

Lesson Two: Be honest about the expectations and goals I have of my internship.

I knew I wanted experience in a corporate setting, so I would be able to make better, more informed decisions once I begin looking for full-time roles after graduation. In my first interview, I can still remember stating: “I want to know what a company like SAP has to offer, and whether it would be a good fit for me in the future.” I wanted to challenge myself by continuously developing and building new skills in an environment I was unfamiliar with. As part of the iXp team, my goals are to communicate and share the experiences my fellow interns have throughout the summer by sharing their stories on social media and ensuring their experiences are positive and worthwhile. It’s my willingness to convey my needs that guides my manager to give me the advice I need to meet my goals.

• Takeaway: Make goals that are relevant to you and your development

Lesson Three: I learned to advocate for myself.

This is the hardest lesson I’ve had to learn from the time I was searching for an internship to when I started at SAP. It is easy for me to be honest about what I want but communicating it and making it a priority for others is not natural to me. I first learned to communicate my goals and to be honest and open about them. Now, how do I make my team invested in my growth as well? Building strong bonds with my team members which allow us to share our backgrounds and growth from one another. I now feel more comfortable asking for help when I need it and asking for advice on what my next steps as an intern are.

• Takeaway: Build strong bonds with your team and communicate your goals so they are also invested in your growth

The butterflies I get on the elevator now are a symbol of the excitement and anticipation I get when I start the day. Professionally, I am better equipped to communicate my expectations to my colleagues and my manager as I continue to move on into new roles. At last, I know what makes a good match.