Thoughts on whether I'm failing at my EC internship?
I'm an intern at an EC firm, and we've recently done midterm reviews. I got a 4/5 on research ability and attention to detail as well as motivation and drive, but only a 3/5 for quant skills, technical skills, and communication.
My overall rating was a 3/5, and I feel like that puts me below average for intern ratings (I feel like the average would be between a 3 and 4).
A 3/5 is "meets standard" and a 4/5 is "sometimes exceeds standard." HR said that I was doing well. They stated that they didn't expect any interns to get 5s, though I'm sure the top 1 or 2 got 5's, and that we were being graded on how well we responded to feedback.
However, IDK how knowledgeable HR is, and I don't think they'd really want to say that anyone sucks to their face.
I've talked to family in EC who has worked and works at competitor firms, and they said interns they mentored who had similar nuggets of feedback got return offers if they improved upon the feedback. I've been trying to improve, but IDK if it's super noticeable.
I kind of also feel like I don't have the best working relationship with my mentor because they can be blunt and direct, and I don't think they really seem to "gel" with me, though I've always been respectful and professional and thanked them for their feedback, even if it was more on the critical side. I don't think they have anything against me personally, but I don't think I'd pass the airport test with them, so that's another ding for me.
Basically, if I don't get a return offer from this firm, will I be screwed for FT recruiting?
I can't even imagine how I'd answer "Why didn't you get a return offer" or "Did you get a return offer?" if that's a question they asked, because it just shows you're a bad worker or were not good enough to make the cut (unless they know the firm was struggling financially or something, which I don't think is the case).
I'm not in EC but I've interned before and have a mentor just like yours.
I think you should first of all work on yourself. I mean, really work on yourself without thinking about what your team thinks (because then it won't be a wholesome improvement at all). When you do this, you should have your technical and research skills nailed down.
Another really important thing - more so than the first even - is to work on your communication skills. Tbh, I don't think it matters much that you got scored 3 or 4 on others. But a 3 on communication? It means you don't really gel with your team or something. Work on that. Ask people you feel you're close to at work how to get better at it. Don't make everything work related and just have normal communication with the team. This is important because everything else is teachable but you really can't be taught to be liked.
Study your teammates, what they like etc so that you can gel more with them.
In my last internship, I got some 5s and 4s and 3s but what stood out was that my supervisor called me a 'bubble of sunshine' lol. I gelled with the team well and all and I knew I would've gotten a return offer if I asked for it (it was a sophomore internship that doesn't give return offers as a rule and I liked the firm and all but it wasn't what I wanted career-wise).
And as for your mentor, don't sweat it. If you think they actually do care for you and your work but are just too direct, then that's just what it is. I believe some people feel like that's the best way to mentor others. I have a mentor like that and started to make it less formal by commenting on her socials and all. She never lets it go far though and I understand that she still wants to draw the line - that's on her, I know I'm a vibe.
TL;DR: Work on yourself first without overthinking, learn to communicate more with the team, don't sweat it with your mentor, and you'll be fine.
Good luck!
The specific feedback they gave for communication was that I repeated back directions instead of asking pointed questions and didn't always confirm whether I received directions when the questions were sent in chat. I may not be super sociable but I'm always respectful and professional.
Also, they ranked, from top priority to least priority: working independently, meeting deadlines, technical skills, and communication, so communication was the least of their concerns.
Have you started implementing the feedback?Also, have you chatted with anyone on your team about something outside of work? (Maybe not necessary, but I think this helps with your image)
I got the feedback last Monday. I met my deadlines for last week and tried to work on projects while asking for less guidance. Idk if it's noticeable improvement just yet.
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