Internships

Your manager may be a lot of things but they are not a mind reader! 🔮 A manager wears many hats - coach, mentor, expert - but one thing they aren’t is a mind reader. Even the best leaders can’t support you if they don’t know what you need. That’s where your role comes in. Taking ownership of your #career means speaking up about your goals, challenges, and expectations. When you communicate your needs clearly, you’re not just advocating for yourself but you’re also preventing misunderstandings, resolving conflicts before they escalate, and creating a smoother, more productive collaboration with your #team. This is also the first step towards creating a career #strategy: it sets you up for long-term success by ensuring you’re actively shaping your own #growth, rather than waiting for things to change. "This all sounds great, Christina, but where do I even start?" The good news is that this approach doesn't have to be complicated to be impactful. Here's how you can get started: ✔️ Do some reflection before you voice your needs: You can't achieve your goal if you don't know what you're aiming for. ✔ Initiate the conversation: Don’t wait for annual reviews - bring it up in your next 1:1 with your manager. ✔ Come with solutions, not just problems: If something isn’t working, suggest a path forward. Instead of "I'm not happy with the work assigned to me", try "I would be more productive and motivated if I could work more on X" ✔ Be clear and specific: Instead of “I want more opportunities,” try “I’d like to manage this next project on my own to build my strategic skills.” ✔ Connect your ask to business goals: Show how your growth benefits the team and company. For managers, having a team who openly communicates their needs is a strategic advantage. When your team is clear about what they need to thrive, you spend less time guessing and more time guiding. Instead of feeling like you’re constantly putting out fires, you can focus on steering them toward success with a clear action plan. Here's how you can support this approach: ✔ Balance needs with business priorities: If an employee requests a change, evaluate how it aligns with team goals. If adjustments are needed, collaborate on a realistic solution instead of dismissing the ask. ✔ Guide, don’t just approve or deny: Instead of a simple “yes” or “no,” help shape the request into an actionable plan. If an employee wants leadership experience, for example, you might assign them a project lead role before moving them into a formal leadership position. ✔ Follow through: Acknowledging requests is just step one. Track progress, check in regularly, and show that you take their needs seriously. When employees communicate their needs and managers respond with openness, the entire #work environment improves. Collaboration becomes smoother, conflicts are resolved before they escalate, and career growth becomes intentional rather than left to chance. #linkedinnewseurope

You have something... delicate that you need to talk with your manager about... Maybe it's addressing their communication style that's affecting your work, discussing a promised promotion that hasn't materialized, or bringing up a concern about team dynamics. Whatever it is, you know it needs to be said, but you're dreading the conversation 😬 (been there, done that!) Here's how to approach delicate conversations with your manager: ✅ Choose your timing strategically Rather than grabbing a few minutes in between meetings, ask for dedicated time to speak with them: "I'd like to discuss something important with you. When would be a good time for a 20-30 minute conversation?" ✅ Lead with your intention Start with why you're bringing this up and why it matters: "I'm coming to you because I value our working relationship and want to address this directly rather than let it fester." ✅ Use "I" statements and focus on impact Instead of "You never give clear feedback," try "I've been struggling to understand expectations and would benefit from more specific guidance on (x)." Center your experience rather than dictating theirs. ✅ Come solution-oriented (real ones know this is my big go-to!) Think through potential solutions beforehand. "Here's what I'm experiencing, and here are a couple of approaches I think might help..." or "After giving my current role some thoughtful consideration, I've mapped out a reasonable path toward promotion in the next six months." ✅ Stay calm and collected, even though it may be difficult Take deep breaths and speak clearly. If you feel yourself getting heated or losing control, it's okay to say, "I need a moment to collect my thoughts." Remember, you are your biggest advocate! ✅ Follow up appropriately Send a brief email summarizing what you discussed and any next steps: "Thank you for taking the time to discuss (x). As discussed, I'll..." I know it's TOUGH to have difficult conversations. I've been there several times. It'll all be over soon, and no matter what the outcome of the conversation is, it doesn't define your worth!

If your job search strategy is “apply and pray”, it’s time to wake up. You’ve got the polished résumé. Your tracker is even color-coded. But if nobody knows you, nobody hires you. Welcome to Part 2 of this no-fluff series on how to actually land that job/internship quickly, the smart way. Let’s talk networking, not the awkward, copy-paste DM kind. I’m talking warm, strategic, “this-person-stays-in-my-head” networking. Here’s how the ones getting callbacks are doing it: ➤ Go where the energy is. Stop hiding behind applications. → One event a week. That’s it. Virtual or physical just show up. Tech talks. Product meetups. Twitter Spaces. Anything. Because you can't get seen if you’re never in the room. ➤ Ask that question. You don’t need to be the loudest. Just be thoughtful. → “What’s one mistake interns make when starting out?” → “How can someone without traditional experience break in?” That question puts your name in lights. And opens doors for real convos after. ➤ Talk to speakers. Sponsors. Panelists. Not to beg(very important because they can see if you will be a liability or an asset) but to build. “Hey [Name], I loved your take on X. I’m working on Y and your insight helped me rethink Z. Mind glancing at my résumé for 2 mins?” (I should add that some of you are doing this to me already 😂) That 2-minute ask has started careers. And the follow-up? That’s where the relationship begins. ➤ Start showing up online. → Follow 5 people in your dream industry → Engage with their content (thoughtfully) → DM after a few days: “Been learning a lot from your posts. I’m hoping to break into [industry], could I ask a quick question?” That’s a warm DM. And warm gets answered. ➤ Make your name hard to forget. → Post weekly (your journey, insights, challenges) → Comment daily (meaningful, not spammy) → DM with purpose, not desperation → Attend events like it’s your part-time job You don’t need magic. You need memory. And memory comes from consistency. TL;DR: Stop job hunting like everyone else. Start job building — with strategy, visibility, and genuine connection. So before Friday ends and vibes take over, do one thing from this list today. → Drop a comment with your favorite tip. → Share this with someone who needs it. → Or better, go network smart. Because the job isn’t just on LinkedIn. It’s in the minds of the people you’re not talking to, YET.

6 Steps To A Promotion-Worthy Relationship With Your Manager: 1. Understand Their Goals Great relationships are a two way street. They also start with adding value to the other person first. Block 60 minutes to think about: What your manager's top 3 goals are for this quarter How their manager might be judging them Where they feel confident vs. not in relation to those goals. 2. Communicate (The Good & The Bad) Open, regular communication is the way to a manager's heart. When you score a win? Share it with your manager. That will help raise your stock. When you make a mistake? Share it with your manager. That will help build trust. 3. Be Proactive (And Take Action!) Managers are busy with their own problems. Start or end each week with a quick email including: 3 major goals you're working towards 3 actions you took to further those goals Any issues or questions you need support with This shows your manager that you're on top of your work. 4. Request (And Be Open To) Feedback You don't need to act on 100% of the feedback you receive. But if a manager is sharing it, it's important to them. When you get feedback, recap it in an email. Share specific, tangible plans for how you'll act on it. When you get a win that relates to the feedback? Share that too. 5. Understand And Adapt To Their Work Style Even if it's not aligned with your own. Pay attention to the little things - language, affect, perspective. Try to mirror that in your own actions and communications with them. When a manager feels like you’re working with them vs. against them, things are a lot easier. 6. Voice Your Appreciation Set a quarterly reminder to email your manager and thank them for: One thing they helped you achieve One thing they helped you overcome Additionally, work to be a voice of support in public forums (team meetings, etc). Everyone likes to feel valued and recognized for the work they do. This is an easy win!

If you are currently on an internship or about to wrap one up, this is for you. Internships and co-ops shape more than your résumé; they shape how you think, work, and build relationships that last a lifetime.  Here are a few lessons that shaped my journey and could help you, too: 🔹 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Every organization values those who create impact. Don’t just complete tasks. Look for problems to solve, no matter how small. During one of my past co-op roles, I worked on a project where our brainstormed ideas helped save billions in future projected costs. That came from paying attention, contributing, and working with a multidisciplinary team with 10,000+ years of combined experience across local and global projects. 🔹 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 Study the values, culture, and policies of your workplace. The more you understand what drives the organization, the easier it becomes to align your contribution with real impact. 🔹 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐀𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 & 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 Some of the most important doors in my career were opened by relationships I built during internships. Your next mentor, advisor, or sponsor may not come through a qualification, but through a genuine connection. Up till today, I still get calls from my past supervisors I once worked with, to consult on problems I helped solve as an intern. 🔹 𝐁𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝 & 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐮𝐭 Confidence is noticed. Share your ideas, volunteer for challenges, and leave a footprint of contribution. What people remember is the impact you created, not the hours you spent. 🔹 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 Before your internship ends, have deliberate conversations with your manager, supervisor, or team lead. Ask for feedback on your performance, seek mentorship opportunities, and request recommendation letters. These will serve as bridges for the next phase of your career. Here are a few sample questions you can ask: 💡 What did I do well? 💡 What could I have done differently? 💡 Would you be open to mentoring me beyond this role? 💡 Could I request a recommendation letter for future opportunities? These conversations are priceless; they provide clarity, open doors, and create connections that last far beyond the internship. At the end of the day, one truth remains: you cannot rush or substitute experience. Every day on the job is shaping the professional you are becoming. So to every intern reading this: be intentional, be courageous, and leave your footprint. 👉 Who’s the one intern in your circle that needs this reminder today? Share this with them.

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫: Dealing with a #micromanager can be challenging, but there are several #strategies that can be employed to navigate the situation. ✅ Understand their communication style: Pay attention to how your micro manager prefers to communicate and adapt to their style. Some may prefer detailed written updates, while others may prefer face-to-face meetings or quick status reports. Adjust your #communication approach to match their preferences. ✅ Show empathy and respect: Demonstrate #empathy towards your micro manager's concerns and pressures. Acknowledge their expertise and experience, and be respectful in your interactions. Avoid being confrontational or defensive. ✅ Seek their guidance: Involve your micro manager in decision-making processes and seek their guidance or input on important matters. Show that you value their expertise and trust their judgment. ✅ Be proactive in sharing information: Keep your micro manager informed about your progress, achievements, and any challenges you may be facing. Share relevant information, such as completed tasks, milestones, or potential risks. By being transparent and #proactive, you can build trust. ✅ Find common ground: Identify shared interests or #goals with your micro manager. It could be a project, or a professional development opportunity. By focusing on common objectives, you can establish a foundation for collaboration and rapport. ✅ Deliver high-quality work: Strive for #excellence in your work and consistently deliver high-quality results. Be thorough, detail-oriented, and take ownership of your responsibilities. ✅ Seek feedback and act on it: Request #feedback from your micro manager regularly and demonstrate your willingness to learn and improve. Act on their suggestions and incorporate their input into your work. This shows that you value their #perspective. ✅ Communicate your needs: In a respectful and constructive manner, express your need for #autonomy and trust to your micro manager. Share how having more freedom to execute tasks can lead to increased #productivity and #jobsatisfaction. ✅ Be reliable and accountable: Meet deadlines, fulfill commitments, and take responsibility for your actions. It helps build trust and #confidence. Be accountable for your work and address any mistakes or setbacks promptly. ✅ Foster a positive work environment: Contribute to a positive work atmosphere by being supportive of your #micromanager and your colleagues. Offer assistance when needed, share credit for accomplishments, and maintain a professional and friendly demeanor. A positive and collaborative environment can help improve the overall dynamics with your micro manager. Building #rapport takes time, and it requires consistent effort from both sides. Be patient and #persistent in your approach, and focus on establishing a foundation of #trust and open communication.

Summer 2025 interns: Follow this piece of advice to make your internship life easier in the long run. I promise you'll thank me! If you haven't done so already, starting today...document your summer experience as you go. It doesn't matter how you do it. A laptop document, a phone app, a good ol' fashioned planner/notebook. What matters is writing all the information down as you’re producing it or taking it in, rather than trying to reflect an entire summer in August or September. 1. Keep track of what you do. Your duties & responsibilities, your accomplishments, etc. Pay attention to quantifiable details. For example, if you create social media content - how many posts, how much increased engagement (numbers or percentages). Logging these details now will make updating your resume and LinkedIn profile easier at summer's end. 2. Take notes during career conversations. Bring a notebook to every meeting, with questions prepared and enough room to write down answers and the additional information you learn. Being able to reference these specific topics in the followup thank you email (sent 24-48 hours after your meeting) adds a personal touch. Additionally, you’re going to learn a lot from many different people that you’ll want to easily reference in the future. 3. Write down "the nuggets." Tidbits you hear during a staff meeting, presentation, career conversation, or anywhere. A nugget is anything that makes you think, pause, ponder, reflect, engage or even just laugh. One of my colleagues writes on her iPhone Notes app any phrases she hears that resonate with her, whether shared by someone in conversation or offered in a presentation. Great example of nuggets! 3. Snap pics and videos. Visual documents are as helpful as written ones. If you’re assisting in putting together an event, take pics before, during and after the program. Is your internship taking place in a different city or country? Capture sites outside of the office, too! 4. Share your experience. LinkedIn is perfect for doing so. I love seeing students celebrating their internships throughout the summer with stories and accompanying photos. Others put together a website or portfolio that they can share with an audience. So don’t delay, start your internship tracking today.  You’re welcome! 🙂

We're now roughly halfway through summer internship season For many interns, the first few weeks will have flown by. The good news? You still have plenty of time to influence how you're remembered. Having worked alongside summer internship programmes for many years, I've rarely seen a return offer decided by one standout presentation or one exceptional piece of analysis. More often, it's the accumulation of small behaviours over several weeks that leaves the biggest impression. Most managers don't expect interns to know everything. What they're really looking for is whether you're someone they can imagine working with full-time. So here are a few points worth remembering: 𝐀𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐧𝐨𝐰. Don't wait until your final review. The earlier you ask, the more time you have to act on it. 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞. Receiving feedback isn't impressive. Demonstrating visible improvement is. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬. The best interns aren't always the ones with all the answers, but they're often the ones asking the best questions. 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞. Speak to people outside your immediate team. Learn about different desks, career paths and perspectives. The relationships you build now can last long after your internship ends. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞'𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫. Volunteer to help, follow through on what you say you'll do, and be someone others enjoy working with. Small actions build trust. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬. Record your projects, challenges, feedback and successes. It'll make future interviews and applications much easier when you have real examples to draw upon. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞. Take an interest in what's happening across the markets and your industry beyond your day-to-day work. It leads to better conversations and demonstrates genuine enthusiasm. Remember, most return offers are earned through dozens of small interactions that gradually build confidence, trust and a reputation that people want to work with. Finish as strongly as you started - you got this! 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 ♻️ 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯. 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 Anthony Cheung 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.

To every AUS - College of Engineering student starting their internship this summer, congratulations, and welcome to one of the most valuable experiences of your academic journey. Here's how to make every single day count: 🤝 Network intentionally Don't wait to be introduced. Introduce yourself. Colleagues, your manager's peers, the team down the hall, every conversation is a door. Send a LinkedIn connection request after a good chat. The relationships you build this summer will outlast the internship itself. 🏢 Visit departments beyond your own Your role sits in one team, but the company runs on many. Ask to shadow someone in operations, strategy, or a field department for even half a day. You'll understand how your work fits the bigger picture and discover paths you hadn't considered. 🧭 Treat it as career exploration An internship isn't just a résumé line. Ask yourself: Do I enjoy this type of work? This industry? This environment? Even realizing what you don't want is incredibly valuable at this stage. 📋 Track your work and your wins from day one Keep a running log of what you worked on, delivered, and learned. Better yet, note the impact: "reduced processing time by 20%", "contributed to a report used by 3 departments." These specifics will make your CV and future interviews far stronger. ✋ Ask questions and take initiative The smartest thing you can do is ask good questions early. No one expects you to know everything. But once you find your footing, look for gaps. Volunteer for extra tasks. Suggest a small improvement. Initiative is what turns an internship into a return offer. 🎯 Set your own goals Beyond the tasks assigned, decide on 2–3 things you personally want to learn or achieve by the end. It keeps you focused and gives you something meaningful to reflect on. 🤲 Find a mentor Identify one person you admire at the company and ask for a 15-minute coffee chat. A mentor connection made during an internship can shape your entire career trajectory. 📅 Reflect every Friday Take 10 minutes at the end of each week to jot down what went well, what was hard, and what you'd do differently. It's the simplest habit that accelerates growth the fastest. 💼 Show up as a professional, not just a student Be punctual. Meet your deadlines. Follow through on every commitment. Reputation builds fast in a workplace and it travels. You chose engineering to build things that matter. This summer, build your foundation. Good luck and make it count. 💪 #AUS #AmericanUniversityOfSharjah #EngineeringInterns #Internship2026 #CollegeOfEngineering #CareerDevelopment #UAE #EngineeringCareer #ClassOf2026

Last year, a mentee confided in me about her struggles with 1-on-1s feeling awkward: She felt like a kid in the principal's office. 🤔 How could she make these interactions more natural and open? My mother was a university professor, and it gave me a unique perspective growing up. To me, teachers weren't authority figures, but rather just normal adults with whom I could connect and learn. I suggested my mentee undertake a similar shift in perspective: 👯 See Your Manager as a Person First: View them not as a superior but as an equal. This mindset change can transform the dynamic of your interactions. A 1-on-1 isn't just about solving problems, it's also about connecting and growing trust. 👋 Engage on a Personal Level: Express genuine interest in their life. Really observe if they're tired or energetic or happy or sad and ask them about it. Engage in conversations beyond work tasks. Managers, often in isolating positions, often appreciate this human connection. 🌏 Share Your World: Letting them glimpse into your personal life, within professional boundaries, humanises you. It's about being seen as a complete person, not just an employee. ❤️ Show Appreciation: This should go for everyone, but I've long said and maintained that we should all compliment each other more. You like praise from your manager, right? Then you should also give praise back! Notice and say something when they do a good job in a meeting, or when a resource they share is particularly helpful to you. This approach is especially effective in the tech industry. When you're seen as more than just a technical colleague, people are naturally more inclined to assist and less likely to judge. "Kindness is catching": when you show kindness and understanding and an interest in those around you, you will find that begins to reflect back onto you. Remember, effective communication is about engaging on the same level and creating mutual respect and trust. From this foundation, it is far easier to expand technical collaboration. The update? Last week she shared that the advice had worked, and that everything was feeling much smoother and more collaborative. She didn't feel like a kid in the principal's office any more. What do you think? What do you (either as manager or employee) like to do to ease the way in 1-on-1s? #techcommunity #techcareer #communicationskills