Our incredible partner, Momentum Recruitment, ran a bootcamp on how to make the most out of your first job in tech. 

 

Momentum is one of the leading Recruitment Consultancies in Aotearoa. Their talented technology recruiters, Bruce Batters, Chelsea Wallace and Lee-Anne Thomson, who specialise in various technology roles, shared their insights and discussed strategies for acing an internship or graduate placement.

How to be a valuable team member. 

• Form a solid relationship with your manager by anticipating what they might need before they ask for it.

• Remember to leave your phone in your pocket; it's noticeable in an office situation when you're on your phone or not working. 

• Once you think you've completed your assigned tasks for the day, ask if there's anything else that you can help with. 

• Search for training or other material that you can look for online, like podcasts, for example. Most workplaces have a local training portal that you can access.

 

The best references we've got have been people who jump in and start the work and give it their all. Companies appreciate people who put their hand up to help, even if it's outside the scope of your role and say, "Oh, I can do that, or I'll give that a go, sure." Aim to be a helpful, positive individual. Help others; they'll want to help you in return by answering your questions and finding information about your core work. Be that positive individual, and it shows up in the references.

It doesn't matter if you don't have the whole skillset they're looking for; the main non-negotiable is attitude and aptitude. If you have the right attitude, are hungry to learn, good-natured, keen and engaged, that will trump someone with experience. The right attitude will pay off when opportunities open up for you, whether within the current organisation or in future roles. So approach your internship with that keenness and hungriness, and you'll get value out of the next 3 months.

 

How to navigate social media. 

Concentrating on work and staying off personal social media is essential.

Keep off social media - catch up with your buddies on your various platforms at lunchtime or after hours. If you've got to do social media for your role, keep it strictly business. You want to be the person that focuses on their tasks.

If you're at a company event and want to take photos for social media, be very mindful of who else is in those photos before posting them. You can take pictures at events that might be relevant to your career development but check with your mentor to ensure that they are suitable to share. 

Social media presence is essential in handling yourself and the rest of the world around you. LinkedIn is a great professional tool. If you're going to Meet Up events, it's great to make a shout out to the hosts or sponsors in your post, including what key takeaways you gained from the event.

 

Get the most out of your summer role.

Coming into an organisation, you can see aspects of the business with a fresh set of eyes. You'll observe things that seniors within the company or role might overlook. 

If you have an issue or idea but want a sounding board, ask your mentor for help and get their feedback on how to approach the problem.

Think about what you're there for and what you can learn. Do you want to add to your skillset or the organisation? What you can give back, and if you have a goal, keep that mindset throughout your internship. You'll go away thinking, "Great, I got some valuable experiences from my summer internship, and I can take that on to where I go next". 

Take this opportunity to get a good reference, which needs to be positive. New Zealand has a robust culture, 90% of the organisations we work for require 2 referees, and they usually want one from your most recent place of work. You may meet someone from 3 different departments, and those 3 employees could become character references; you'll want to leave on good terms with them to get a good reference. 

See if there's someone you'd like to shadow or sit with different people within the organisation; buddy up with people that have varied skill sets. Discover what they do daily and how that contributes to your understanding of how the organisation's wider team or IT branch operates.

Forming those relationships and making some good connections is crucial.

It's a small market; people talk, people know each other, and making a name for yourself now will carry you up the ladder. Get involved in the office social scene, and find out if there are social clubs like weekly lunches or after-work drinks.  Make those connections early on, even if it's personal; you never know where that person might end up. You could be employed by where they're working next and in years to come - they could be a future manager or colleague. 

Be authentic as well. You don't need to bend over backwards for others. If you disagree with something, raise it correctly, and follow the proper process, respecting yourself and others.

 

Do's and don'ts at the office Christmas party.

Depending on the organisation, there may or may not be alcohol involved.

Know your limits. Have a good time, but be mindful - you're also there to create a good reputation for yourself. Don't be overconfident and start a conversation on salary, promotions, or anything else. Save that conversation for the New Year. 

Go to Meet Up events.

Hiring managers also go to Meet Ups, so it's an excellent opportunity to meet people from other organisations, get out of your comfort zone and build confidence.

Ask for and receive feedback. 

Initially, it's tough when you receive feedback or criticism, so be prepared for difficult feedback. Think about it as an opportunity to learn and grow, use it to excel, and view it on the flip side. Ask yourself, what can I learn from this? Don't be afraid to ask questions!

Regular catch-ups with your mentor will allow you to understand your strengths and areas for positive development and growth. When you take feedback on board and grow from it, you will be seen as a valuable employee and receive more responsibility within the company. 

Receive feedback well. Avoid leaving your role with a reputation of being unable to take constructive feedback. This could taint your references and become a roadblock to your career development. On reality TV, contestants who don't use feedback to their advantage, rarely succeed. So this is your personal reality TV show!

 

Advice for shy, introverted graduates and interns.

If you're introverted, you may feel out of your comfort zone when asking for help from your mentor or teammates. Don't be afraid to ask for help - it's something you must do for your career development and is the best way to learn. Your value and contribution are equal to the person who's very chatty around the lunch table. 

 

Over-confident?

Confidence is good. Overconfidence is in the danger zone; if it's misplaced. Realise that you are there to learn; you are coming in with a clean slate, and your teammates will help you fill your slate. Be respectful - your supervisors and teammates are knowledgeable, and you're there to gain their knowledge.

 

It's okay to make mistakes.

You will make mistakes whether you're shy or confident and just starting.

If you're assertive enough, own up to your mistakes. It won't be well received if you try and sweep your mistakes under the rug. 

People generally respond to mistakes made with, "Yeah, okay, that happened. What can we do to get around it?". Take a step back and remind yourself, "That's just learning", and you will use that to grow in the future.

Come up with those solutions as well; to show you're proactive. 

 

It's okay to ask questions.

There are no silly questions. Ask any question that pops up; that's the only way you'll learn when trying to understand a new environment or company. 

Choose your timing wisely, read the room and ask yourself, "Is this the right time to ask this question? Is someone going to be able to answer that question, or should I ask my mentor?" Your instinct will tell you if that's the right thing to do. And if you're uncomfortable, chat with your mentor or the manager. There's no harm in sending an email saying, "I'm anxious about this. Can we chat?".

Ensure you take breaks.

It's great to show that you're an engaged, hard worker. But take breaks. Be mindful of time management, and take some time for yourself. Make sure to switch off at the end of each day. Downtime and worktime are equally important.

 

Focus on Deep Work.

Learn how to manage your time and do deep work, we recommend reading Deep Work by Cal Newport, Rules for Success in a Distracted World. 

Deep work is when you shut out everything else and concentrate on a task or project. Focusing can be challenging, particularly if you're in an office where there's chatting, laughing, and jokes, so it's easy to get distracted.

This working method is super handy to keep your brain switched on to what you're doing and teach you ways of managing your thoughts.

 

The most common mistake a junior employee makes; Not being 100% engaged. 

A client in a tech startup employed 12 interns, and one candidate received a full-time offer but wanted part-time hours to keep their bakery job. To which the HR Consultant responded:

"Look, this is a great opportunity for you to be hired at the end of this internship because they've on-hired the previous interns."

The candidate turned down the role because they didn't want to risk losing the bakery job, even though they could move it to the weekend. That name will now stick with them as someone who turned down a full-time role. 

The lesson is to give this opportunity 100%, take things on board, be receptive, and put your hand up to contribute.