Once you've completed onboarding and are ready to begin work, this guide will help you hit the ground running. For a comprehensive overview of the journey leading up to this point—including your invitation email, onboarding checklist, and training materials, refer to From application to first project: your complete Handshake AI Fellowship journey.
Tasking on a project
Each project has its own detailed instructions, deadlines, tasking expectations, and platform. These instructions are always accessible from your project dashboard, so you can refer back to them at any time.
How to prepare before starting a project
Taking a little time to set yourself up before diving in will help you hit the ground running.
Taking a little time to set yourself up before diving in will help you hit the ground running.
- Read everything first. Go through all onboarding materials thoroughly before starting any tasks — task guidelines, quality standards, and any example submissions. Missing a detail early can affect the quality of your work throughout.
- Set up any required tools. Some projects require specific platforms or software. Make sure everything is installed and working before you begin so a technical issue doesn't hold you up mid-task.
- Understand the quality bar. Every project has its own definition of high-quality work. Study any example tasks or reference materials closely so you have a clear sense of what a strong submission looks like.
- Ask questions early. If anything is unclear after reviewing the onboarding materials, don't wait until you're mid-task to ask. Reaching out to the project team or support channels early is always better than guessing.
Tasking on a project
Each project has its own detailed instructions, deadlines, tasking expectations, and platform. Pay close attention during onboarding so you're set up for success when you're ready to begin. These instructions are always accessible from your project dashboard.
Common mistakes to avoid on your first project
- Skipping or skimming the instructions. This is the most common mistake new fellows make. Read everything carefully before you begin.
- Prioritizing speed over quality. A smaller number of strong submissions is always better than a high volume of weak ones.
- Starting a task you can't finish. If you don't have enough time to complete a task properly, wait until you do. Submitting incomplete work or abandoning a task mid-way can negatively affect your standing on a project.
- Ignoring feedback. If you receive feedback on early submissions, act on it. Repeating the same mistakes signals to reviewers that you're not engaging with the project's standards.