When you’re between semesters during summer, an internship can provide a great way to spend your time. I always believed internships were simple:
➡️ Go to the office
➡️ Do your assigned work
➡️ Leave when the tenure ends
But when I joined a research internship—while most of my peers were doing structured, hands-on work—I realized I was not prepared. Research work felt different. It was open-ended, unstructured, and often left me feeling like I was floating without a clear direction.
Now, with thousands of B-School students stepping into their summer internships, I thought of sharing some honest and practical lessons I’ve learned. Summer internship is more than just a requirement—it's where you apply what you’ve learned and grow into the professional you're becoming.
Here are the top issues I faced—and how you can tackle them head-on:
1. Your manager/guide is always busy.
They have their own targets. You’re a short-term intern—they need to focus on sustaining long-term goals.
How to deal with it:
Clarify core expectations in your first meeting.
Get to know the entire team—names, roles. (Don't miss the Orientation).
Schedule a weekly sync (expect reschedules).
Sit close to your guide —observe their work patterns.
Have a brief 15-minute chats with each team member in the start. Understand the team, their impact, and their stakeholders. This helps you know who to reach out to when.
2. Where do I even begin with market research?
This is often your key deliverable. Thankfully, my faculty mentor was a great support system. They helped me identify and shape my initial research topic—something that made a huge difference in those uncertain early days.
Action plan:
First of all, leverage the initial days—most companies give you time to settle in. Use it wisely.
Study the company, the vertical/industry you're working in, and understand its current landscape.
Take notes. Ask questions. Reach out to your guide and team members. They are there to help you—so don’t hesitate.
Once you're oriented, study the competition —it gives you structure and helps define what data you need.
3. Don’t expect handholding.
Most guides won’t give you step-by-step instructions.
Be proactive:
Drive every meeting with a progress slide/notes and a list of potential solutions.
Ask for feedback regularly—once they see your dedication, they’ll support you.
Use library to its best. I found multiple books, magazine "and even few past interns research paper" but they were not related to my topic, but it can help you structure yours.
Employees, coffee chats, lunch breaks and co intern - engage and make most of it.
4. Don’t wait till the last week to make your presentation.
This is a common trap.
Pro tip:
Build internal advocates
Involve your team, fellow interns.
Show how their insights helped shape your work.
Build 1-2 slides/notes daily. It helps you track your story and gives you a strong head start before the final review.
Internships can be overwhelming—but they’re also incredibly rewarding. You’ll grow in ways you didn’t expect. You’ll stumble, learn, and emerge sharper.
✅ Take initiative
✅ Build relationships
✅ Ask smart questions
✅ Be prepared, but stay open
If you’re stepping into your summer internship soon—all the best! And if any of the above resonated with you or helped you reflect, feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments or share this with someone who needs to hear it.
Comments
Post a Comment