Don’t make these mistakes during your internship 😬

I’ve been an intern and have supervised interns before. There have been lots of takeaways from my own internship journey, and the interns that come and go in my workplace! If you’re about to start your internship soon, or are currently in one, here’s a few tips on what to do and what not to do!

1️⃣ Ask good questions

- I’m not gonna say just ask if you don’t know bc I know some workplaces can be really toxic and will not like it if an intern is constantly asking questions

- Instead, when you find yourself stuck, try searching online for solutions, or check your department’s SOP (standard operating procedure) deck/notes

- When all else fails, look to your colleagues and/or supervisor for help! You can let them know what you’ve done to try and solve the problem, giving them more context which then allows them to better explain a solution for you!

2️⃣ Carry confidence, interact more!

- I know it can be really scary being in an office setting, but being soft spoken and timid can hinder your work and your relationship with your colleagues! For e.g. you might not be able to get work done efficiently cus you’re too afraid to ask for help, and that could make your colleagues think you’re not very capable. You may also miss opportunities to deepen your relationships with your colleagues. Aka networking!! RIP to your future job opportunities 🪦💀

- Take this internship opportunity to not only try your hand at applying your skills in the industry, BUT also interact with your colleagues. Ask them more about the industry — what’s it like, what is the usual career path, what more is there than what you’ve learned in school, etc.

- Also talk to them about things outside of work! Build a good relationship with your colleagues as this can help you in your career later on (:

- Please try and avoid keeping to yourself and 🚫 using your phone📱🚫 during lunches especially when everyone else is talking. Just listen in! You never know what you’ll learn. Using your phone when no one else is might leave a bad impression on your colleagues

3️⃣ Remember to practice work appropriate behaviour

- Aka know what to wear and what to say!

- E.g. make sure to dress appropriately like no crop tops, spaghetti straps, tiny denim shorts, etc. Some offices have a culture of wearing casual clothes which is great! But it would be best to avoid anything too shabby or revealing for the first few days. Maybe until you’re able to sus out the work wear culture in your company (:

- There was once a girl that came for an interview in a crop top at my work place. While I didn’t pay much mind to it, I could tell some people around the office did 😬

- As for what to say, it’s best to avoid over sharing or “Gen Z lingo” unless it’s common in your work place! I’ve heard stories from my friends of their interns openly asking and talking about their sex lives 😳🥹 I mean yes you can do that if you want to… but do approach the subject lightly bc some might not be comfortable about it and it can paint a negative impression of you 😭

I hope these 3 pointers help you out in your internships!! Let me know if there are any other tips I might have missed out, or something you learnt during your internship that you think might be worth sharing (:

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