Mistakes To Avoid During Your Next Internship

When interning for the first time, it is not uncommon for mistakes to be made. After all, you have never been in this position before, and it is a learning curve. However, if you really want to make a positive impression and ultimately land a full-time job, you will need to avoid some of the most common blunders. Irrespective of whether you are seeking an internship in your area or overseas, read on to discover some errors to avoid.

Getting frustrated or complaining about being bored – There are times when you are going to be bored during your internship. Each and every task is not going to spike your interest in the same manner. Despite this, you should never complain about boredom, instead, you need to get on with the task at hand and display your willingness to work hard irrespective of the work you have been given.

Ignoring instructions or advice – Overseas internship opportunities give you the opportunity to meet some extremely knowledgeable and helpful people. One of these individuals could be the person that helps you to secure your dream job, but this will only be the case if you take their advice on board.

Getting too comfortable – After a few weeks, you will probably start to feel more comfortable, yet this does not mean you can treat the office as your home. You should never simply sit around and wait for things to happen, nor should you put your feet on the desk or play on your phone.

Not putting the work in at home – Extra effort is a must. Create a home workspace. You can get folding office desks if you’re short on space at home.

Arguing about making mistakes – One of the most common mistakes is arguing after a mistake. You are there to learn and gain experience, and thus if you have made an error, you should listen to what you have done wrong so you can avoid making the same mistake again. You shouldn’t argue back or try to defend your actions.

Asking questions without thinking of the solutions – Before asking a question, you should take some time to think of the solution. Your boss is likely to be a busy person – they don’t want to be bombarded with questions every five minutes. Instead, you should try to develop your problem-solving skills, and if you are still struggling, by all means, ask your boss.

Avoiding socialising or socialising too much – Getting the balance right in regards to socialising is imperative. Networking is a vital part of any internship, as you will be able to build up connections for the future. Try not to be shy and don’t be afraid of sharing your opinion, yet don’t socialise too much – you’re there to work and learn.

Not speaking your thoughts – Just because you are young and do not have a lot of experience, does not mean your ideas are bad or worthless. If you think you have a good suggestion, speak up. You will soon discover whether it was a good idea or not, and it could be just the type of suggestion that leads to a full-time job.

Showing a lack of respect for the company’s culture – Each office has a certain way of getting things done; an office culture. Pay attention to the day-to-day running of the office and respect the practices that are in place.