The time has come for my internship to end and the reflection on my journey of an intern at Agile Search is long overdue.
3 months of wonderful learning experience have flown by and I didn’t even notice it was over. Well, only the internship part as I am proud to now call myself a Digital Recruiter and Event Organizer at Agile Search! Who could have known that this 3- month experience would have turned my life upside down?
This internship has not only been a stamp in my diploma, but a step in career growth that provided me with a clear vision of what I want to focus my future career on.
It’s hard to put everything I have learnt from this internship on paper but here I have 4 essential professional lessons from being an HR and Networking Events intern at Agile Search in Helsinki!
Head Hunting is Sometimes Intimidating But Fun
When you work in a company that offers headhunting as one of the main services, it can sometimes be intimidating to pick up the phone and start calling strangers. Everyone has a different story, situation and mood and it can affect you as well.
However, I noticed when you are friendly and show them you care, people become more responsive and at the end you just have a great conversation even if it doesn’t lead anywhere further. I have experienced a few negative comments and unpleasant talks but those are just creating balance in your life and spice up the game!
Supportive Management Will Give You Freedom to Make Your Own Decisions
When I joined Agile Search and had no idea what Lean Methodology is and I didn’t really know that a company can operate other than in a standard boss-employees structure. Here, I have learnt that supportive management will guide you through the process without suffocating your ideas.
I am sure when I have an idea I can implement it or it will at least be heard. Everyone has a voice in Agile Search and it is so empowering to come to work knowing you are valued.
You Can Implement Your Personal Experience at Work
I’ve been working with YouTube and other social media as a hobby on the side for a couple of years and that was as much as I knew about marketing apart from a couple of university courses I’ve taken.
How surprised I was to be able to use what I knew to start 2 YouTube channels for the company and become a part of the marketing team! It allowed me to share and implement the knowledge I had, broaden it and use it for professional purposes at work. This provided me an opportunity to practically continue my hobby while at work and extend my learning but also contribute with my skills.
You’re New and Inexperienced But Someone Wants to Hear Your Opinion
Maybe it is due to my cultural background that I thought because I am inexperienced in some fields, when I meet with representatives from different companies, I will be more of a shadow. However, at least in Finland, people are very open and interested to hear your opinion and this is a great opportunity to learn from them!
In order to do that you shouldn’t be afraid to go to events and meet with others even if at first it feels like you will have nothing to talk about with others. You can start with the events Agile Search organizes in Helsinki! Join our Meetup group to stay up to date on coming events!
I hope this will inspire some of you to be interns somewhere or at least finally change the stereotype of horrible internships because if you do it at a company you like, it will be so worth it!