| If you want to contribute/bring value, learn as much as you can about the company. Why are things structured the way they are? What needs to happen for the company to be successful? What things are that way “for a good reason”, and what things have just “always been that way”? The most valuable thing you can bring to your CEO friend is a trusted outside perspective on his company. Go in with humility and an open mind. As far as getting the most out of the opportunity, there are 2 big takeaways I would look for: 1) Learn all about the types of work required for the job. If you’re early in your career, it’s good to try lots of things and see what sort of work you enjoy (even if you want to own your own company, you’ll want to know what sort of work you’ll want to bring in help for). 2) Meet as many people as you can! I believe that a huge part of the compounding “interest” of career growth is in relationships built. If you’re shadowing the CEO, that gives you lots of access to other executives (but don’t count out anyone at any level - everyone you meet can teach you something!). Build your network by making good relationships with the people you meet. Who knows? You may meet a future co-founder there. And if not, the people you meet may be able to make good introductions: “A” players know other “A” players. Invest in the relationships with the A players. Finally, you should be on the same page with the CEO with the direction or outcome of the internship. Are you looking to land a job at this company? Do you want an introduction to other opportunities? If your CEO friend wants to help you, make it easy for him by letting him know exactly how you want to be helped. Good luck! |