You will probably be doing a 101 things outside your job requirements, but that is part of the fun
I was fortunate enough to have interned with two very different startups: a successful hardware start-up in Hong Kong and an early-stage startup in Singapore. Despite the different environments, I have learnt a lot from these two companies.
Here are four lessons I took to heart interning at two startups.
Being a founder is tough, really tough
I have had the privilege of working under many different founders, and I came to one simple conclusion. If you want to begin your own startup, be prepared to work hard, I mean very hard. It is quite possibly one of the most difficult jobs in today’s rapidly changing economy.
Being a Founder is not as cool as the media makes it look. They are fighting fires and fixing problems daily and trust me, the problems never end. A common trait I noticed is that every Founder is so determined that their idea is the best that they are willing to work long hours for zero salary, in search of that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Network, network, network!
Regardless of where you work, be it corporate, government or start-ups, you will soon begin to realise that one skill trumps all others: networking. Networking was easily the most important skill that I picked up during my internships. Working directly under the founders gave me a chance to meet successful entrepreneurs, high-net worth individuals and successful corporate executives.
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As an intern, I was in the thick of the action, showcasing and selling different products and services to various clients, attending conferences, after-parties, panel discussions and being part of high-level board meetings. Imagine that – an intern getting a chance to sit in an executive board meeting and being asked to give feedback on the direction the company should go in.
A flat organisational structure has its advantages
The value of a flat-team structure cannot be discounted. Being able to sit opposite the CEO and beside the COO is one of the greatest learning experiences for any intern. You can communicate any problems directly to them and gain mentorship and advice on a daily basis.
I was fortunate enough to be personally mentored by successful professionals and entrepreneurs. All of them were very open to new ideas to improve the business and most importantly, they took it seriously, evaluated it and even implemented some of my suggestions. This made me, as an intern, feel like I was an integral part of the business and that I was contributing to the success of the company, which was important to me.
You have to be a self-starter
As an intern with a startup, I quickly realised that I was not going to be told what to do. The Founders will teach you the processes and methods only once. After that, you are expected to figure everything else out on your own.
This is because the Founders simply have no time to guide you. They are always open to questions, but as an intern, I was expected to find my way around many problems on my own. Apart from that, you will be expected to go above and beyond your job scope.
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A quick note here: Your job scope is quite possibly the most useless piece of information on your table. You will probably be doing a 101 things outside your job requirements, but that is part of the fun.
Despite everything mentioned above, good or bad, I truly enjoyed both experiences as I felt I added value to the company and most importantly, they gave me a sense of purpose and direction.
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