You’ve landed your dream internship, but how do you manage your first-day nerves?
Our award-winning interns from Semester 2, 2024 share their top tips on how to survive your first day as an intern.
Be okay with feeling out of your depth – it gives you the opportunity to be inquisitive and ask questions. Although you have developed knowledge over the course of your studies, there are many professional skills that can only be discovered and utilised in a workplace. In my experience, people are always willing to share their knowledge with you and help you succeed.
Pierce Brennan
Bachelor of Commerce, Major in International Business
Pick up some form of work experience while you’re studying– bonus points if it’s related to your field of study. Whether or not you decide to intern through your employer, having even just a little bit of relevant experience will help you smash your first day and wow your host organisation. I had the opportunity to undertake a student-sourced internship through my then-employer, Tennis Australia. This made my first day easier since I had already been inducted into the team and had established relationships with my colleagues and manager.
Fraser Robertson
Bachelor of Commerce, Major in Marketing
Be open, adaptable, and ready to step outside your comfort zone. Day one is all about building confidence and making a strong first impression. Take the initiative to introduce yourself, show enthusiasm for learning, and don’t hesitate to ask for guidance. Most importantly, listen actively and observe how things work – sometimes the best lessons come from simply paying attention.
Shavika Pant
Master of Project Management
Get to know your colleagues, especially your manager, as they will be key to your learning experience. Engage with team members to understand the organisation’s culture, procedures, and expectations. Explore the workplace to familiarise yourself with your surroundings and available resources. Most importantly, stay open-minded, ask questions, and take notes to absorb as much information as possible.
Simant Gupta
Master of Business Information Systems
Be proactive—introduce yourself, ask questions, and take plenty of notes. First impressions matter and showing enthusiasm for learning sets the tone for a great experience! Also, keep a diary to document your journey, it will not only help you track progress but also make future reflection assignments much easier.
Thi Hai Binh Do
Master of Business Information Systems
Student bios
Vishesh Gupta
Vishesh is currently studying a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies, where he’s developed a strong interest in quantitative finance, data analysis and risk modelling. He has always been curious about how maths can help us make better decisions in an uncertain world, and that curiosity has continued to shape his journey. In early 2024, Vishesh was selected as a Casual Sessional Academic and later promoted to Senior Finance Tutor, an experience that’s allowed him to support over 300 students, while experiencing personal growth. He also received the RSFAS Scholarship, which has been a big encouragement along the way.
Richard Tang
Richard is currently in his third year studying a double Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and Finance. His interest in actuarial studies began with a strong passion for mathematics in high school, which led him to explore actuarial science to apply analytical thinking to real-world problems. He is particularly drawn to actuarial consulting, where technical modelling intersects with strategic business decisions. Outside of studying, Richard has been involved in the ANU Actuarial Society last year as the marketing director and FMAA this year as a sponsorship director. These roles have helped him build industry connections and develop soft skills through team-based initiatives and events. He is now working toward completing his actuarial exams and exploring opportunities to apply his skills in a consulting environment.
Phan Tien Dung
Phan is currently in his third year of a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies. Before coming to Canberra, he completed high school in Western Australia. Since then, he has developed a strong interest in data and quantitative thinking to solve real-world problems. Career-wise, Phan has interned at a life insurance company, where he gained some hands-on experience in product pricing, as well as working on a career program at CBE. These experiences have shaped his understanding of the actuarial profession and the value of practical, data-driven work.
Olaf Braaksma-Menks
Olaf is a fourth-year student currently studying a double Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and Finance. He lived in Sydney and moved to Canberra to study a double degree in Actuarial Studies and Medical Science at ANU. In his second year, Olaf transitioned away from Medical Science to Finance to focus more deeply on the actuarial component of his degree and develop a stronger foundation in finance.
Emil Ong
Emil is currently an actuarial student in his final year. Since 2022, he has been studying a double degree in Actuarial Studies and Accounting, and he plans to do his Honours in Actuarial Studies next year. Throughout his degree, Emil has been tutoring Actuarial courses such as STAT2005 and STAT2008/2014. In addition to this, he has worked casually as a private tutor, worked part-time as an undergraduate consultant at Equity Partners, and most recently worked as an Actuarial Consulting Intern at Mercer.
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