Introduction
I have been fortunate enough to have interned at some really great companies, but I have also worked with interns who are not as lucky. Some of them seemed like they were just looking for things to complain about while they could have had an amazing experience if they only tried a little harder. This list is meant to help both interns and employers understand what not do when working in the workplace.
Don't think because you are an intern, your work doesn't count.
As an intern, you are not a coffee-maker. You are not just a photocopier. You are not just an errand runner. You are not just a gofer and you are most definitely not just a secretary or slave to the office manager or CEO, so don’t let them treat you like one! While it might seem like your tasks aren’t that important in the grand scheme of things, remember that the work you do is contributing to the overall success of your company—not just getting people their office supplies on time.
Don't treat the internship as a free-for-all.
In the same vein, you should be sure to treat your internship with respect. Don’t take advantage of others’ time, or use any space or tools that aren’t assigned to you. You’ll be working in an office setting and should dress appropriately for the workplace (this means no flip flops). When it comes to interacting with coworkers, don’t hog conversations or interrupt people who are talking about work-related topics. Your role is not only as an intern but also as a student learning more about the industry; this means being respectful of others’ ideas and work ethic without being too timid to contribute your own thoughts when appropriate.
Don't be afraid to have conversations with your coworkers and ask questions.
Here’s a great way to make a bad impression: Don’t be afraid to have conversations with your coworkers and ask questions. This can be intimidating, especially if you’re new, but it’s important to get comfortable asking questions. Here are some guidelines for making sure this goes well:
Ask questions that help you learn, not ones that show off your knowledge or make you look smart. If there’s something in the company handbook on how things work, don’t ask about it—that’s for prying eyes only!
Don’t ask too many personal questions (unless the person has given you permission). It’s fine if someone asks about where I live or what my favorite food is, but I wouldn’t want them asking how much money I make or what my biggest pet peeve is at work—and definitely no gossiping about other people in the office!
Make sure that your question isn’t too complicated for the situation at hand; save those hard problems for when they’re relevant
Don't ask for someone to make coffee for you.
When you are a guest at someone’s home, they serve you coffee. When you are in the office, however, you are expected to make your own coffee. Also, don’t ask for special treatment or anything else that would make it seem like the internship is anything less than work. You will be expected to do other tasks as well—even if it isn’t something that someone else would normally do.
Don't think that you have to have everything figured out before you graduate.
Don’t let yourself be bogged down by a fear of the unknown. While it’s true that you’re entering a new and challenging world, don’t think that you have to have everything figured out before you graduate. You won’t have all the answers right away, and even if you do, things will change quickly as you gain experience. Plus, when was the last time someone actually knew everything they needed to know? It’s okay to ask questions and admit what you don’t know—that’s what makes us human!
Another thing: if something isn’t working out like you thought it would (or as well as your peers), don’t keep pushing forward just because “that’s what interns do.” Internships are supposed to be an educational experience; they shouldn’t feel like drudgery or a burden on your time or productivity level. If something isn’t working for YOU—no matter how much other people seem happy with it—then change course!
Finally, remember that this is supposed to be fun! If there are any opportunities available within your organization or industry that sound interesting but aren’t part of your original internship description (or were never mentioned at all), give them a try anyway! The worst thing that can happen is someone says no; but then again, maybe they say yes instead…
Don't think that no one cares about what happens in your life.
Don’t think that no one cares about what happens in your life. Here’s the thing: interns are a great source of labor and cheap, but they’re also people who have lives and interests outside of work. Yes, sometimes it may feel like your coworkers don’t care about your weekend plans or how long you’ve been waiting for your coffee order to be ready (and yes, sometimes they do), but really they just want to get through their day without being interrupted by someone who keeps asking them questions every 10 seconds.
Be mindful of this fact when interacting with others at work—if there’s something important going on outside the office, try not to bring up details whenever possible. If you need help with something specific on a project or assignment, then ask! Just remember that not everyone else has the same priorities as you do—and don’t take any offense if someone isn’t inclined to answer all of your questions or give advice on matters unrelated to their job description
Don't be afraid of change.
Change is inevitable, and you shouldn’t be afraid of it. Change can be scary, but it’s also exciting and beneficial to your growth as a person. Everyone changes over time—you never know what you’ll learn from a new experience or new environment until you try it out for yourself!
Sometimes change is hard because we don’t have control over it and we can’t predict what will happen next; however, this doesn’t mean that we should stop trying to make things better for ourselves and others around us!
Don't forget to take time for yourself out of the office.
Make sure you are taking time for yourself. It’s not just about the work. It’s important to take a break from the office and relax from time to time, both mentally and physically. You can go out with your friends or family, meet up with that friend you haven’t seen in ages, or even try something new like yoga or swimming (if you have access).
Make sure that you have at least one day off per week. If possible, I would recommend having two days off per week so that you can really rest the mind when needed.
You should also make sure that your body gets enough exercise by eating healthy foods throughout the day and getting enough sleep at night! These things will help keep stress levels low while making sure everything is running smoothly within each organ system of our bodies which ultimately leads towards better health overall!
Don't forget to speak up when something happens that makes you uncomfortable.
You should absolutely speak up if something happens that makes you uncomfortable. If you’re working in an office environment and someone makes sexist or racist comments, say so. This can be particularly tricky if you are a white person speaking out against another white person (this is true for both genders). In this case, it’s important to realize that even though their behavior might seem harmless to them, it’s still not okay for them to make these comments around people who would be hurt by them.
If this happens at the office or on social media and does not involve your coworkers directly talking about you but instead making generalizations about groups of people based on race/ethnicity etc., then speak up! You do not have permission from me as an authority figure here at Intern Heaven HQ (aka my couch) or anywhere else really…but definitely here because we’re friends now…so please just do it okay?
Remember that you are a valuable person no matter where your internship takes place!
Remember that you are a valuable person no matter where your internship takes place! Don’t let the lack of air conditioning, the CEO who yells at everyone, or the fact that everyone has to wear suits and ties there every day get you down. You are a valuable member of this team because you bring your unique perspective and they will appreciate it.
Conclusion
We hope that these tips will help you not only with your internship but also in life. Remember – as an intern, your work is important and you should never feel like it’s not worth doing. Treat every day as an opportunity to learn something new and always be open to change!
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