Tips for Interning Within a New Field
by Juliana Law (Summer 2016)
This summer I interned at Women In International Security, a global non-profit organization that works towards advancing women in the peace and security field. As a finance major, I had no idea what this industry was before getting in. There was nervousness, insecurity, unease and doubt when I joined the unfamiliar field, and here I would like to share with you some of my tips for successfully navigating an internship in a new industry:
- Do your best to be prepared
It is true that you know nothing about the industry, so instead of waiting around to be told what to do, take the initiative to read more about the industry. There are many useful resource online that helps entry-level candidates to better understand their industry, so investing time in researching about the company and its sector can be very helpful in helping you be better prepared for your first day. Gaining more knowledge can relief some of that stress and anxiety too!
- Be present
Because you do not have any background knowledge about the industry, it is your responsibility to be an active listener and learner at the job. When your supervisor or colleagues are talking about issues related to the company or industry, be attentive and learn as much as you can from their conversations. Try to add your opinion too, that can help demonstrate your ability to process new information and forming your own view. The research that you had done before beginning the internship will also help you with brining interesting perspective to the table.
- Utilize your resources before crying for help
Although people know that you do not have any background knowledge about the field, but it is almost expected that you will do your own due diligence before asking for help. Even when you cannot find the answer you need from the internet, it helps make a good impression if you can show your own research when you ask for help from your supervisors or seniors. For example, instead of asking “where can I find data about the female population in national security?”, which you may be able to easily “Google up”, you should say “I have looked at databases and government websites for data about female population in national security but there is not enough information. May I ask do you have other suggested resource that I should look at?” My supervisor said that she appreciated my resourcefulness at the job and that I am able to try to find solutions on my own.
View from Capitol Hill
- Be curious and ask questions
Be prepared to be genuinely curious about the field. Treat the experience as a chance to learn about a new sector that you might never be able to cross path with if not for the internship opportunity. That interest and curiosity will guide you to ask questions naturally, and when you genuinely want to learn something, your questions will sound authentic and less pretentious. And never refrain from asking questions, especially ones about general practice or culture about the new industry, because there is literally no stupid question when you are sincere and have a good attitude to learn.
- Say yes and take initiative
Never say never, even when you don’t know what you are signing up for. When your supervisors ask you to work on projects, they are very likely to have accessed your ability and trust that you have the ability to tackle the problem set. So give it a try, and worry about the logistics of completing the task only after you’ve said yes. Although taking up unfamiliar projects can be scary, looking back you will find that those experiences are very rewarding, if not the most satisfying. Besides, the point of internship is to learn new things, and if you will not learn much without being challenged.
- Don’t just follow the book, be creative
Your opinion as an outsider may be more valuable than you know. Often times industry insiders feel that they are running out of creativity on improving their work, but as an outsider, your opinion may be that injection of fresh idea that they need. When you see practices that may not be as effective, express that opinion. By doing so you may get an explanation of the reason behind existing rules, or you may help the company improve by discovering a loophole that everyone has overlooked. Or sometimes the shortcoming may be a result of limited time and resources, and as the additional assistance of the team, you can find ways to improve that during your time there. I learned that my organization did not have a Wikipedia page when I was doing my research about the company. When I joined the team, I took the initiative to create one. Taking up unique projects like these can give you the chance to leave some of your work behind, and it will help you make lasting impression by creating something new.
- Don’t be afraid to admit that you don’t know everything
Because that is the truth. Clarifying and acknowledging your lack of knowledge gives you grounds for making small errors and for asking questions. Letting people know your inexperience will also open more discussions and motivate people around you to teach you without feeling awkward for miscalculating your knowledge. It is okay to emphasize that you are a student and are willing to learn, this transparency allows your colleagues to correctly assess your ability so as to give you the right tasks and reduce false predictions.
Before my internship, I was not confident that I would be able to contribute much to my organization. But now I can say that this internship gave me valuable exposure to a very exclusive field and helped strengthened skills that will be beneficial to me in my future professional endeavor. So my last tip is to not be afraid of taking risks, because the reward is priceless.
Embrace D.C. because it can surprise you in many ways!
Juliana Law is a rising senior at Questrom School of Business studying Finance. During summer 2016, she interned at Women In International Security, a global non-profit that advances women’s leadership in the peace and securities fields.
