Why MBAs Need to Utilise their Summer Internships

The biggest mistake interns make is seeking too much direction about what they should be doing and how, says Weeks. “Most companies give MBA interns ‘big hairy problems’ to work on — problems companies need to solve, but don’t have the time themselves to do. So students can also run into problems when they try to solve everything in one summer.”

She adds, “The best course of action is to break down these problems into various parts and do a great job of solving part of the problem.”

However, MBAs who don’t connect well with their managers can also struggle to perform well and may be less likely to get a full-time job offer, says Cornell’s Saunders-Cheatham. “Students should set expectations early with their manager and meet regularly: weekly.”

It’s also important to connect with executives, co-workers and other interns, as well as participate in all social events and executive speaker sessions.

Saunders-Cheatham says, “Students should go above and beyond what is expected. Their response to questions should go beyond the scope of the projects and provide creative, data-driven analysis to support their recommendations. As interns, look for opportunities to provide a solution to problems, even problems that the company may not have identified yet.”

If something does go wrong during your summer internship, it’s important to diagnose what’s happening as quickly and objectively as possible, according Sheryle Dirks, associate dean for career management at Duke Fuqua.

She says, “Identify who within the organization can provide reliable feedback and seek out that input. Be open to ways you can improve your performance, especially if you’re working in a function or industry that is new to you.”

Weeks, at the Darden school, adds, “The first thing an MBA should do [when an internship goes badly] is to call their career center for support. It’s also helpful to talk with your school’s alumni within the company because they can be great sources of information and support.”

While internships can be turned around, thorough preparation can ensure MBAs avoid making big mistakes in the first place.

At Fuqua, a series of workshops designed to make the most of an internship is held on technical skills in popular roles and advice about on-the job networking and expectations.

The school periodically sends out reminders with best practices, to help interns stay on track. Careers advisers are also made available for check-in calls if students want to talk through their personal situation in more detail.  

With preparation, networking and fast diagnosis, MBAs can avoid internship blunders. But messing up may not be such a bad thing after all.

According to Darden’s Weeks, most of her MBAs secure full-time jobs after internships, but some discover that they aren’t as interested as they thought in a particular company or industry and they seek other full-time opportunities in their second year.

She says, “Some of our students are also career switchers, so having the summer internship to try a new job allows them to get to know that company and the work they do, to see if it’s a good fit. The summer internship is a great and unique opportunity to ‘try something on for size’.”