Buddy System Check-In: How is it working for you?
Hey everyone! It’s been a few weeks since we kicked off the Intern Buddy System. We want to make sure everyone is getting real value out of their peer matches and having a great experience.
Drop a comment below or drop a quick reaction:
-
What’s one cool tip or insight your buddy shared with you that helped you settle in?
-
What frequency of check-ins has worked best for your schedules?
(Note: If you haven’t been able to connect with your buddy yet or feel your match isn’t active, please send a private message to [Name/Admin] so we can help re-pair or adjust things seamlessly!)
One of the things I’ve learned from my buddy is that there’s a lot of room to grow within APHRC. Hearing about his journey and experience in the organization has been really encouraging. I’ve also enjoyed learning more about his work in the Research Division and getting a better understanding of what his team does. Overall, it’s been a great experience both for learning and for connecting with someone who has been at APHRC for a while. It has definitely helped me feel more integrated into the organization.
@guest601@aphrc.org Thanks for sharing this, Naomi. It’s fantastic to hear that your match is giving you both a clearer picture of growth opportunities at APHRC and a better sense of how different teams operate. Building those cross-divisional connections is exactly what the Buddy System is all about. What advice would you give to other interns to help them get the most out of their buddy check-ins?
@Rhoda Nakhosi Such a valuable perspective, Rhoda especially the point about using a buddy to navigate cross-divisional context.
On formats, we’ve found a hybrid approach with a shared running doc works best. Having a quick space to drop asymmetric notes or non-urgent questions between check-ins makes our short 15–20 minute chats super targeted.
Whenever we're both in the office, swapping the scheduled desk call for a quick walking chat completely changes the dynamic and makes it feel far less transactional. Curious if anyone else uses async notes alongside short check-ins.
One thing I’ve really appreciated from my buddy is getting a better perspective on the organisation beyond my immediate team. The conversations have helped me understand how different roles and teams connect, and hearing about their own experience has given me useful context as I settle into the internship. I’ve also found it helpful to have someone I can ask the small questions that may not always come up during formal onboarding.
For check-ins, evey week has worked well for me. It gives us enough time to experience and learn something new between conversations, while still keeping the connection active. I’ve found that having a few specific things to discuss makes the check-ins much more valuable.
@Oyetayo Oyebisi Such a great breakdown, Oyetayo. That broader perspective on how teams connect is arguably one of the biggest perks of having a buddy early on.
Agree completely on weekly check-ins it keeps the connection warm without feeling overwhelming. When you bring your specific topics to discuss each week, do you usually note them down as you go, or do a quick reflection right before the catch-up?
This is just an appreciation to the team that organized the intern buddy system and the organization as a whole for their commitment to making the internship experience very meaningful and having systems in place for us to get support and guidance in our various fields of specialization
@Michelle Shiroya Thank you so much for sharing this! It’s wonderful to hear that the buddy system has been helpful as you navigate your role. Making sure interns feel supported and set up for success is a huge priority, and messages like this mean a lot to the whole team. Wishing you a continuous great internship experience.