After joining a top company after getting help from someone on Grapevine, here's my advice. Thanks @Devgyan btw.
- Slow and accurate is better than fast and shitty.
Whenever you get a task, add a small buffer for how long it will take you to do it. Then add some buffer for review and other assignments you will get. Reviewing any written documentation or even just Slack notes is crucial because your work will speak for itself. There are ways to improve your accuracy (take a walk after 90 minute working session), but the idea is to set the standard for the quality of work you provide your supervisor and colleagues.
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Visibility and approachability matters
Taking initiative and seeing if other colleagues or supervisors need work, or seeing if they have 15-20 minutes run you through their current assignment task helps with networking. This will help you stand out. I'm not sure how common this is in Tech but I've always stood out by just being curious about the company ecosystem and understanding the different workflows and stuff that gets done by my peers and colleagues. This can also bring on opportunities to you.
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Consistency is better than Intensity
It doesn't matter as much if you pull an all-nighter one night if it leads to you calling in sick the next day. With the corporate world, the most important factor is simply showing up day in and day out. You'll have good days, great days and some really sh*t days as well. Life happens, you get sick, or get bad news, or don't get enough sleep. In those moments, more than anything, just showing up and doing the work is important.
- Be Coachable
One thing to remember is to come into the office with humility. It's natural for many interns to be somewhat egotistic, it's only natural after spending near endless hours getting into a good company, but the folks you work with have more experience in the execution of the work, and if they're taking the time to teach you or show you something, make sure to be coachable and open-minded.
As for what NOT to do... I'd say showing up bored, distracted, or entitled will pretty much do it. Karma is a bitch.