There’s a reason they’re called “rookie mistakes.” The term refers to blunders made by inexperienced people who don’t know any better. Even though you get some slack for making a rookie mistake when you’re a rookie, we all like to avoid demonstrating our “greenness” so we don’t stand out as the new kid on the block.
Having supervised many interns over the years, here are some common mistakes that can be avoided just by being aware:
- Don’t complain about doing “boring” work. You are learning the business from the bottom up, which means you do the lowliest tasks. That doesn’t mean the work isn’t important and that you can’t learn from it; it means that it’s inefficient to have a more highly paid person doing the work. For example, in public relations up-to-date media lists are critical, but keeping them current should not be the job of a seasoned PR strategist — it’s an intern job. Sometimes its boring and tedious, but it’s a foundation of the business.
- Be a problem solver. I once gave an intern an assignment to contact a list of people. He returned a couple of hours later with the list and said he could only reach a few. I asked if he called back or chose a different form of communication, such as email. He didn’t think of that but would go ahead and do so. It seemed obvious to me that the intern should think of all the possible ways to reach people, even going to their offices if need be. Interns who are good problem solvers, look for alternative solutions or suggest a new approach demonstrate initiative, work ethic and common sense.
- Ask questions and take notes. If you don’t understand an assignment, a work process, or technical terms, don’t be afraid to ask. You look a lot dumber if you attempt something you’re unclear about. And, maybe this is a pet peeve of mine, but take notes — no one can possibly remember everything.
- Respect the administrative staff. I have often seen interns who think their college degree makes them superior to an administrative assistant, a member of the maintenance staff or a security guard. Aside from the fact that no one is entitled to disrespect anyone and you have no idea what level of education another person has, it can be a bad career move. That secretary just might work for a vice president, or you might depend on the maintenance team to set up an event for you. If you are seen as a discourteous snob, word gets around and life can get very hard.
- Know when to speak and when to keep quiet. High achievers have usually been rewarded in school for speaking up and offering ideas. Interns are rewarded for that too, but you also have to develop a sense of when to back off. I recall an intern suggesting something to a director in a large meeting. It wasn’t that the intern’s ideas were bad, but this person had never met the intern and felt the intern was being challenging. The director formed a negative opinion of the intern that was hard to overcome.
Interning can be a tremendous experience and lead to a permanent position. When in doubt about an unfamiliar situation, check in with the intern supervisor and develop a rapport.
