4. DemonstrateaStrongWorkEthic
Establishingawillingnesstogettheworkdoneatallcostswhilemaintainingapositiveattitudegives
theemployerconfidencethatyouwillbecomeavaluablememberoftheteamifhiredasan
employee.Hint:Considerworkingext rahours(beyondtherequirednumberfortheinternship)to
showyourworketh
ictoyoursupervisor(s).
CompleteAssignedProjectsonTime
Ifyouforeseeachal lengewithadeadlineonaprojectyouareworkingon,makesureyounotifyyour
supervisorandaskforanyinputhe/shemightprovideoraskforanextensiontoge
ttheproj
ect
completed.Besurethatyouofferavalidreasonfortheprojectdelaysuchasotherunforeseen
problemsorotherworkprioritiesthatneededtobeaddressedpriortogettingthe
specificprojectcompletedontime.Hint:Don’tprocrastinate.
ApproachAllTaskswithEnthusiasmandaPo
sitiveAttitude
Inju
stabouteverycompany,thenewhire/internisgoingtohaveto"payhisorherdues."You
willundoubtedlybegivensomegruntworktodo,suchasmakingphotocopies,butthekeyisto
completeallyourworkassignmentswiththesamelevelofenthusiasmandprofes
sionalism.The
employerwilltrustyoutocompletemoredifficul t tasksoncetheyrecognizeyourabilitytohandle
the small stuff. Hint: Asking for additional and more challenging work will be accepted more
positively by an employer if you've accepted responsibility for the more tedious tasks that are
requiredtodothejobonadailybasis.
AvoidNegativity
Thequickestwaytokillagoodinternshipisbeingnegative.So,avoidcomplaining,beingrude,
disrespectingcoworkers,arrivinglate,leavingearly,beingclosed‐minded,missingdeadlines,
appearingarrogant,wearingimproperattire,actingunprofessionally,appearinginflexible,and
takingpartinofficepolitics.Hint
:Acommonmistakeamonginternsandnewhiresistreating
secretariesandclerksasbeingbeneaththem;avoidthisbehavioratallcosts.
5. AlwaysFollowCompanyRulesandEstablishedGuidelines
Becomingpartofthecorporatecultureincludeslearningtheestablisheddresscodeofthecorporation.
Italsome
ansle
arningtimeallottedandwhat'sexpectedforestablishedlunchperiodsandbreaks.
Takeyourtimetolearntherulesandguidelinesexpectedbytheorganizationbeforejumpinginand
makinganyseriousmistakes.Also,checkoutcompanypolicyonpersonalemails,phonecalls,and
internetusetoavoidanyawkwardand
embarrassingsituations.Hint :Thereisafinelinebetween
takinginitiativeandbeingperceivedasa"know‐it‐all,"andforinternsespecially,itisbesttoerron
thesideofcaution.
6. IdentifyNewIssuesNotCurrentlyBeingAddressedbytheOrganization
Youcanofferyourinsig
htonproblemsyouidentifyanddiscusshowyoumightsolvethatproblemor
fillthatneedwithinthecompany.Employersseekpeoplewhocanthinkoutsidetheboxandidentify
solutionstocurrentproblemsthatmanagementmaynothaveyetidentifiedoraddressed.Hint:Be
preparedtooffersolutionsthatyouthin
kmightworktosolveaspecificproblemorsituation.
ShowInitiativeandAskforAdditionalWork
Takeeveryopportunitypresentedtoyoutoattendcompanyorindustrymeetings,conferences,
andevents;participateintrainingworkshops;andreadallcompanymaterials.Meetingslikethese
canoftenofferagoodchance
toincreaseyourknowledge,network,andbuildrelationships.
Employersloveemployeeswhodiveintotacklingtoughproblemsandwhothink"outsidethebox"
infindingsolutions.Ifyoudonothaveenoughworktodo,besuretocheckwithyoursupervisor
toseeifhe/shehasanyadditio
nalworkthattheycanprovideyouwith.Ifnot,checktoseeifyou
canassistothersingettingtheirworkcompletedwhichmayalsoteachyounewskillsinthe
process.Hint:Justmakesureyouworkwithyoursupervisor(s)soyoudon'toverstepyour
authorityandmakesureyoushares
uccesseswithhim/her.Lookforopportunitiestolearnandbea
teamplayer.