What are the most important skills (business/technical) and people that you have discovered in your internship? Is there a skill that you didn’t have before but realize that you absolutely need? Is there a person that you discovered that you definitely want on your side (besides your boss of course)?
Hello everyone!
During my internship experience, which transitioned into a full-time role, I discovered how important adaptability and self-directed problem-solving are in a small organization where I had to wear many hats. In addition to office associates responsibilities, I also became responsible for IT-related tasks such as troubleshooting hardware, managing connectivity issues, and setting up systems like Zoho Desk and integrating it with Zoho CRM. One of the most valuable skills I developed was learning how to find answers independently through researching and experimentation, especially when documentation or online resources are limited.
A skill I did not initially have but now realize is essential is asking clarifying questions early instead of making assumptions. I learned this after assuming a document was not required without confirming, which created unnecessary extra work, though it was ultimately fixable. This experience taught me to ask questions upfront often can save time and prevent avoidable issues. In terms of people, I found that colleagues at a similar level or role are more approachable and understanding of the challenges of learning a new system. One teammate in particular made a strong impact by walking me through tools hands-on and encouraging me to try things myself, which greatly helped my learning.
During my internship, I discovered that the most important business skill is learning to clarify the “why” behind a task, rather than just executing it. While I am proficient in data storytelling and can use tools like Tableau to turn raw numbers into actionable insights, I didn’t realize I absolutely needed the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences. It wasn’t until I struggled to explain a backend process to the PM team that I realized that clear communication is just as critical as technical execution.
Beyond my supervisor, the person I definitely want on my side is the capital team supervisor who serves as the team’s “institutional knowledge” keeper. She knows the history behind every project, client, and process, and having her guidance saved me from countless pitfalls and showed me the power of deep organizational memory.
I discovered that the most important skills to have weren’t my technical skills, but rather my soft skills or people skills, Being able to follow up after appointments or after making a fix, making sure the person is okay, and that the fix worked for them or that it’s still working for them, that they know how to use it. I found that many people will not tell me if something didn’t work for them, but they’d inform the managers, who would then inquire as to why I didn’t ask them about it. It was quite an interesting paradigm that still isn’t logical to me, but it’s still one of the more important skills to have at the job.
As for people to have on my side, it wouldn’t be my explicit supervisor, but rather the senior IT engineer / CTO. Thankfully, it wasn’t hard to have him on my side. It was as simple as doing what I was supposed to do when I was supposed to do it. That relationship proved and proves to be continuously beneficial.