PS#086: It doesn’t have to be over…
We’re nearing the end of the summer.
If you’ve missed the most recent posts, I encourage you to check out my latest series on how to have a successful internship (links are here, here, and here). You’ve still got some time left this summer to make sure you’re learning as much as possible.
In fact, I’ll take it a step further. Your internship doesn’t even have to end.
What?! I know.
It’s time for a quick story…
Don’t give up the seat.
In May of 2018, I started my venture capital internship.
I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to give it my all.
Over the course of that summer, I would have the opportunity to launch a fund from the very beginning, work on (and complete) multiple investments, and generally learn a TON about the venture capital industry.
Safe to say, I really enjoyed my experience and was interested in making it my full-time occupation.
The original internship was designed as a summer internship, meaning that the internship was expected to end some time in August. As August neared, I realized a few things…
I didn’t want to stop doing this job. I was really enjoying it.
I had a seat in a highly competitive industry, why would I give this up?
I was a really affordable resource for the firm, especially if I could do good work.
And so, I had a thought…
Why did this internship need to end?
Why couldn’t I keep proving myself, building my network, adding value to the firm, and growing as an investor?
With that thought, I decided to just keep my internship going.
Now, I’d encourage you to be a bit more elegant than I was in this situation. I sort of just kept working and showing up until someone noticed. When they did, I told them that I was eager to keep working and proving myself as an investor.
It felt like a pretty reasonable trade.
I could keep providing value to the firm, especially as an affordable resource, and in turn, I could keep learning about venture capital and gain valuable experience.
Ultimately, it paid off. I continued my internship and joined full-time about a year later.
The rest is history.
Build your own internship.
Now, looking back on all of this, there are some key lessons…
(1) First, it’s about trading value.
As an intern, you’re a highly affordable resource. If you can do good work, you’re going to provide a strong ROI against the cost of your internship.
For you (aspiring VC), there is a huge opportunity to gain really valuable experience. You’ll get to continue working with experienced investors and test your skill set at a higher level (vs. doing so on your own).
In my mind, this is a great trade for both sides.
(2) Second, communicate your interest.
Looking back on it, I probably should have highlighted my interest a bit better. Instead of just putting my head down and continuing to work, I could have expressed my interest in continuing the internship and presented a plan for that dynamic.
If you’re loving this (as I was), I would recommend discussing extending your internship.
(3) Third, come with a plan.
As with most things in life, if you want a “yes”, try to make it easy for the other side.
In this case, you’re already presenting a strong value proposition, so what’s left?
A plan. Eliminate the logistics. Build your own internship.
If you can take the remaining work off their plate, the decision becomes even easier. A strong ROI with all logistics taken care of should make this a pretty simple decision for the firm. And, to help you get started, I’ve got a post outlining how to build and define your own internship experience (check out the link here).
If this is working (for both sides), there’s no reason it needs to end. It might end up being a great trade for all parties and could even lead to your full-time role.
