(Photos Courtesy of GIPHY)
Sadly, for some of you, the summer holidays are drawing to an end. A new chapter of your life is about to begin, and yes, we are talking about none other than – internship.
Being an intern somewhat resembles being a freshman all over again, where you enter a new environment, have no idea what to do or how to act, and you start to panic about the odds of you making any embarrassing mistakes. This may be the first time you are stepping into the working society outside of the school’s comfort zone, and you would certainly feel jittery about what to do, what to wear, how you should behave and what to avoid doing during internship. Fret not, here’s a dummy 101 on internships for you.
ATTITUDE
1. Be Open to Learning
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As cliché as it sounds, many people actually know but don’t heed this advice. They would just sit around and wait for someone to guide them. As Stephen King once said, “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” To reap the most out of your internship, you really have to be proactive and take the initiative.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and extend your knowledge beyond what you know. Always accept criticisms with an open heart. This way you can widen your horizon and learn from others as well. Internship is a great opportunity for one to learn and hone their skills, if you don’t cherish this opportunity, then your time spent there would be all to waste. Challenge yourself by doing things you have never done before, and in your spare time, why not offer some help to your colleagues with their workload? This could end up being the one chance for you to develop beyond your pre-determined job scope!
TIP: Find a mentor. This may sound scary and hard to accomplish, but if you don’t try, you’ll never know right? Try taking the first step to asking someone whom you look up to in the company out for lunch to learn about their experience and ask for any words of wisdom and advice. This will show your eagerness and willingness to learn from a senior, and would not only leave a good impression on your senior, but help in your personal growth too.
2. R-E-S-P-E-C-T
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It can be challenging to understand what are the appropriate workplace behaviours and what’s not, especially since you are new. Plus, your colleagues are most likely older and may have different values from you. This is where respect comes in. No matter the situation, NEVER swear at work. It will only make you look and sound more unprofessional and unreliable. Stay calm and avoid any negative, derogatory and inappropriate language. You would want to treat others how you would like to be treated as well. Be respectful, tactful and try to avoid conflicts at all cost. However, if you feel that you are being taken advantage of, don’t be afraid to speak up.
3. Time Management
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Interns typically have a lot on their plates, as you’re doing anything and everything, so it’s important to practice good time management. If you are a very disorganized person, you can start to learn to be organized and set up a timeline for yourself. Use Post-It notes, a calendar, your Outlook calendar, anything! Don’t be afraid to let someone know if you can’t finish your work by the deadline, with reasonable explanations of course. It’s always better to give quality work than just simply striving for the quantity.
DRESS CODE
1. Dress to Impress
If you have always been wearing t-shirt, shorts and slippers to school, it’s time for you to get a wardrobe makeover. You need to – at the very least – look presentable as a form of respect to others.
(Photos Courtesy of Internships Down Under)
Depending on the field you are working in, the dress code may differ. Most office environments allow for smart casual outfits, but just to be certain, you should always find out from your boss or colleagues on what the office environment is like and how you should dress. Some places are stricter and require formal outfits like blazers, dress pants and collared long sleeve shirts.
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While some industries might require you to dress down and be comfortable, such as wearing sneakers or running shoes and even t-shirt and shorts, because you are most likely going to put in the elbow grease and be under the hot sun for hours such as the film industry. The trick is to be observant and see how your colleagues are dressing.
TIP: Always prepare an extra outfit in your locker or desk drawer, such as a tie or a pair of heels, for emergency cases. You never know when you will need to make a last minute outfit change for a meeting or event, for example, a sudden interview with a VIP or a meeting with a client. Being well prepared for any situation will show that you are ever-ready and adaptable!
On a tight budget? Fret not. Check out our blogpost here on Finding the Perfect Outfit for Formal Events – Budget University Student Edition.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
1. Don’t Fall Asleep on Your Desk or Play Games on Your Mobile Phone or Computer
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We all know the working hours may be long and dreadful. You may be exhausted and not used to it, but these behaviours will show your unprofessionalism and leave bad impressions on others. Your direct supervisor may not be watching you all the time, but others may! If you ever find yourself drained, take a break and head to the toilet to freshen yourself up. You can also make some coffee at the pantry to wake yourself up. We’ve all been there, but that’s no excuse to slack off.
2. Email Know-how
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Emails are part and parcel in organizations and bad e-mail etiquette can potentially ruin your reputation at work. Keep your emails concise and clean. Avoid using short forms, emoticons, jargons and slangs. Depending on organizational culture, smiley faces and words like “gr8” are big no-nos and can make you look less professional. Use proper English, grammar, and spelling and always include a subject line in your email for easy reference. If you are sending an email to a group of people and confidentiality of the contacts are needed, you should always use “BCC”.
Avoid sending private emails from work as well. We have all heard stories about private emails that ended up being passed around the entire company, and that definitely isn’t going to make you look good. Plus, you can never tell your emails are being monitored or not. Work should stay as work!
TIP: Always include a signature to look professional. You can save your signature in the system for easier future usage.
(Photos Courtesy of GIPHY)
Entering a new environment is never easy and can take some time to adapt. The key is to complete your internship with an open heart and be observant. Ask for feedback and constantly seek to improve yourself. If you manage to leave a good impression during your internship, it can help you secure networking contacts and probably even a full-time job. We hope these guidelines will be of utmost help to you and we wish you the very best for your internship! Good luck~ 🙂
