Table of contents
Open Table of contents
🎯 1. Stop Waiting. Start Initiating.
No one owes you mentorship. But if you observe and engage, you’ll find opportunities to help.
- Ask questions like:
“Can I shadow this process?"
"Is there a document I can improve?"
"I noticed a manual task — may I try automating it?”
Most supervisors will appreciate initiative over passiveness.
📖 2. Document Everything You Learn
Start a personal internship log:
- Write what you observed today
- Note unfamiliar tools or terms (Google them later)
- Draft “problem > solution” notes for any task you help with
This becomes a goldmine for:
- Your report
- Your portfolio
- Interview stories
Bonus: It sharpens your writing and critical thinking.
🛠 3. Build or Suggest a Real Project
Even if it’s internal, suggest something like:
- A dashboard for attendance
- A cleaned-up SOP (standard operating procedure)
- A Notion workspace to track tasks
Or even:
- A redesign of their website (mockup only)
- A guide for the next batch of interns
Execution > title. Do something that leaves a mark.
🗣 4. Connect with Everyone
You’re not just there to “work” — you’re there to build social capital.
- Follow team members on LinkedIn
- Ask how they got into the company
- Request feedback after a task
Sometimes the person who saw your work ethic is the person who’ll refer you in future.
🔄 5. Turn Internship Work Into Public Proof
- Write a blog post:
“How I Helped Automate a Manual Task During My SIWES” - Post a thread on Twitter about a skill you learned
- Share a screenshot of a feature or tool you explored
This builds credibility online — and makes it easy for people to say “you’re the kind of person I’d hire.”
💡 Final Take
SIWES isn’t just a formality. It’s a low-risk, high-reward launchpad — if you treat it like one.
Here’s the playbook:
✅ Initiate tasks
✅ Document everything
✅ Suggest mini-projects
✅ Build relationships
✅ Post your learnings publicly
Even if your internship feels “dry,” you control how useful it becomes.
And when the next opportunity shows up, you’ll have proof — not just paperwork.
Got questions about how to stand out during your internship?
DM me @ZoomaLens or drop a comment!