From Intern to Employee
These were made during the April 12th Houston Product Community, our speaker David Kirsch got students, managers, and employers ready for “Intern Season.”
With thousands of resumes, hundreds of viable candidates, and only a precious few positions, how does a match for “A Career in Product” get made?!?
David offered some helpful guidance from a career in product design, product management, and product ownership all framed in engaging animal metaphors.
Lots of good questions for the Interviewer and Interviewee alike!
I had flashbacks to my earnest Intern Summer between my junior and senior years of art school. I was the kid who materialized silently next to your cubicle and started peppering you with questions, like:
"How's it going? Whatchu working on? How does it work? Can I try? Got anything I can help you with!?!?"
All great questions! Yet, as with any job, having a framework for the roles, responsibilities, and qualifiers for success is essential.
🦁 Show courage. (Try new stuff.)
🐭 Be kind, but not nice. (aka. a silent, smiling nodder who doesn't understand the instructions.)
⏰ Care for your time and energy. (Don't let workplaces abuse you!)
🐈⬛ Be curious—like a cat!—but not judgmental. (So, not 100% like a cat.)
Lots more golden nuggets and knowledge bombs were dropped!
Thanks as always to Wade Pinder for hosting, curating, and facilitating.
And Improving for opening your space to us on a Saturday. (Again!!!)
✍ These learning #journals to aid my feeble brain focus, capture, and keep up with all of the ideas that other smart people share!
I have started posting them on LinkedIn because, invariably, someone peeks over my shoulder and then asks if they can get a copy.
I've started cataloging local Houston lectures and meetings here. And a blog post on my notebook “system” here.
#sketchnotes is a term originally coined by designer Mike Rohde.
