You got in the door! You landed that dream internship that will be a glowing addition to your resume. So now that you’re hired, don’t forget to try not to get fired.
Here are ten tips to keeping your internship…even excelling at it. This should be common sense, but I’m sad to report some people just don’t get it.
- Get in early and stay late. Obviously this must be done within reason assuming you have classes and homework to get to and maybe even a part-time job.
- Check your ego at the door. I’ve actually been told a story about an intern saying “I’ll pass,” when assigned a task. Are you kidding me?
- If I had a dime for every time I’m sure an intern has said “well, I’m not getting paid for this…” Well, you are getting credit and you should be learning valuable things that will help you further a career in this field. Get beyond that “unpaid dilemma.”
- Don’t swear in the office. It reflects poorly on you. That goes for raising your voice as well.
- LEARN THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE BUSINESS YOU ARE INTERNING AT. I wish I could say I haven’t seen this happen…
- Don’t create a mess on or around your desk. Take your personal items home with you when you are finished with your day.
- Don’t sigh loudly. You can be heard. That goes for rolling eyes as well. They are seen.
- If the internship didn’t go so well and you were let go before expected, do not ask for a letter of recommendation.
- Leave your personal life out of the office. No explanation needed.
- If you are given the opportunity to go to a client event, visit a TV studio (at 6:00 a.m. — it happened to me when I interned), take a seminar class with the staff or any neat, new activity, jump on it!
Oh, and 10.5 – send a handwritten thank you card or e-mail when you finish your internship.
You are now armed with ten tips to not get fired from your internship…or receive a very poor evaluation with no reference. Go get ‘em tiger!
[reus id=”6″][recent posts]