Your First Week

The first week is about listening, learning, and building relationships. You're not expected to ship code immediately. Your job is to understand the codebase, meet your team, and establish communication patterns.

What Happens Day One

You'll likely spend the first day on logistics: getting your laptop set up, badges, email configured, and meeting HR. This is normal. Some companies have a structured orientation; others don't. Either way, use downtime to introduce yourself to teammates.

Onboarding Checklist

• Development environment is running locally
• You can build and run the project
• You have access to repositories, project management tools, and team communication channels
• You've been added to team calendar and Slack channels
• You've met your manager and your mentor (if assigned)
• You know the sprint schedule and standup times

First Codebase Deep Dive

Don't try to understand everything immediately. Instead:

• Read the README and any architecture docs
• Run the app locally and click around—understand what it does
• Ask someone for a 15-minute walkthrough of a key component
• Write down questions; you'll ask them later
• Don't commit yet. Just observe.

Finding Your Mentor

You may have a formal mentor or need to find one organically. Either way, building a relationship with someone slightly more experienced is invaluable. This person can answer "stupid questions" without judgment.

Look for someone who:

• Has been at the company 6+ months
• Works on the same team or adjacent team
• Seems patient and asks good questions themselves
• Is willing to have casual lunch or Slack conversations

Building Connections

Attend team meetings. Introduce yourself. Join the lunch groups if they exist. Remember names. The intern class is your cohort—lean on them too.

Ask for coffee chats with people in different roles: frontend, backend, product, design. You'll learn the codebase faster and build a network that lasts beyond the internship.

Managing Overwhelm

You will feel lost. This is normal and temporary. By week two, things start to click. By week three, you'll recognize patterns. Keep a notebook—written notes help information stick.

If you're genuinely stuck or frustrated, talk to your manager. That's what they're there for.