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Internship Dos and Don'ts
By Joel F. Clark, Ph.D.
Co-director of Internships
George Mason University
It is important to apply the general “dos and don'ts” of workplace behavior right from the very start of your internship. Let's reverse order and start with the don'ts.
Basic Don'ts for All Internships
Don't be late. This seems obvious, but employers frequently complain about interns who show up late, or not at all. Just because your internship is unpaid doesn't mean you can set your own hours. No matter what else you do effectively on the job, and how personable and competent you are, your consistent tardiness will be a serious mark against you, even if your supervisor or co-workers don't ever seem to notice.
Don't make personal phone calls or emails, and don't play on the computer. Personal phone calls and emails are another pet peeve for most employers, even if they don't confront you on it right away. A personal call to take care of business every now and then, or an occasional email to a friend is probably okay. Beyond that, you are abusing your position and setting yourself up for a poor job evaluation. Many workplaces are tightening their e-mail and Internet usage policies, and monitoring their employees more closely. Don't find this out the hard way!
Don't dress inappropriately. There is no one standard for workplace dress. The general rule-of-thumb is to emulate your office dress code. In casual dress offices, sloppy dress and grooming are never a good idea. A sloppy appearance conveys the strong impression that you are sloppy in how you approach your job and life. Aim for clothes and accessories that don't detract from who you are and the job you are doing.
Don't disrespect others' workspaces. A good rule of thumb is to always leave the office workspaces cleaner than when you found them, even in very messy offices. If you use someone else's desk, clean up your mess. This seems obvious, but you would be surprised at how much this simple rule is broken.
Don't bring personal issues to work. We all have “issues,” and when appropriate it is okay to discuss them with co-workers. But generally speaking, employees who consistently bring their personal issues to work soon gain a negative reputation. Your boss will think you are devoting insufficient time to your job, while your co-workers will tire very quickly of hearing about your many crises.
Don't be a gossip. Gossip exists in all workplaces, and we all engage in it to some extent. In certain situations gossip may even provide one way to assimilate into the workplace culture. As a rule of thumb, however, it is a good idea to avoid gossip when you can. And you never want to be the source of gossip.
Don't be a complainer. Like gossips, complainers can quickly gain a negative reputation. Complaining is probably the most often-cited negative attribute that employers identify in their intern evaluations. Bosses dislike complainers because it's clear they are not team players.
Don't be a “know-it-all.” There is a fine line between being confident and knowing it all. At times you may know more than your co-workers, or even your boss. But no matter how bright and capable you are no one likes to work with someone who has all the answers. It's okay to have opinions, even strong ones once in a while. But be sure to express them only when it's appropriate. Often a better strategy is to sit back and quietly assess a situation before blurting out the most obvious answer. You may avoid those simple yet costly gaffes that know-it-alls frequently make.
Don't be afraid to ask questions or speak up when it's appropriate. If you have a legitimate question, ask it. Your bosses will appreciate your attempts to clarify their instructions. A well-timed question will help you
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The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter. |
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