Rishi Dhawan: The importance of feedback during your internship experiences
It is always important to know what you need to work on, but I also found it just as helpful to understand what I was doing right. Those conversations about what is going well highlight your strengths, things you should continue to build on and keep practicing. If you only focus on what you’re not doing as well, you can end up neglecting the areas where you already add value. The goal is to improve weaknesses while continuing to develop your strengths.
It’s also important to treat these sessions as conversations, not just one-sided feedback. Engage with your manager or mentor. Ask how they overcame challenges or what they did to develop certain skills. Ask who you should talk to in order to strengthen specific areas. This not only helps you improve faster, but also allows you to learn from their experiences in a more meaningful way.
Another key point is that feedback should not only come during midpoint or final meetings. You should consistently ask for it after each project or assignment so you know what to work on from week one. The earlier you start seeking feedback, the quicker you can adjust and grow throughout your internship. Be sure to ask not just your manager or mentor, but also others you work with, as everyone brings a different perspective.
Lastly, never be afraid to ask for feedback. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but it can only help you. The more proactive you are about seeking it, the more you’ll get out of your internship experience.