Owning Your Work

Definition of Done (DoD)

Before you call a task “done,” check:

• The output actually exists (doc / demo / merged code / report)
• Someone else could reproduce or use it from your notes
• Limitations and assumptions are written down
• Risks captured (privacy, security, ethics — where relevant)
• You’ve suggested what to do next

The “owner” mindset

You don’t need to be the boss to act like an owner. You can own:

• the plan — what happens next and why
• the evidence — the data or artifact that proves it works
• the documentation — so the next person doesn’t start from zero
• the follow-through — closing the loop, not letting things drift

This is the single biggest thing that separates “intern who got hired” from “intern who didn’t.”

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