I have found that being an intern isn’t all getting people coffee and organizing paperwork. In fact, in the few weeks that I have been an editorial intern, I haven’t done anything of the sort (although it doesn’t hurt to ask your boss if she needs anything if you’re on your way to the break room). As an intern, I knew that along with my daily tasks, I would have the opportunity to participate in an array of office events, and one of those has been to attend meetings.
While meetings can be exciting and informative, they can also be kind of daunting. I went to my first meeting during the second week of my internship, and I remember being so nervous. Not only did I have no idea what to expect, I also had to give a presentation on the research I had been doing for the magazine- in front of my entire office. Talk about intimidating.
Once I managed to get through that initial presentation surprisingly unscathed, I realized that meetings are actually really fun. They are a great way to meet new people (hello networking!), and help you learn a lot about the company you are working for. From my weekly meetings with our PR team, to the occasional “office lunch”, I feel confident in any type of meeting scenario thanks to the experiences I have been given (along with some wonderful words of wisdom from my boss).
Be on time.
This should be a rule that you follow throughout your entire internship, regardless of the occasion. Being on time is a sign of professionalism, and shows that you are excited about what you are doing. That being said, there is such a thing as being too on time. Showing up 30 minutes before the meeting actually starts is excessive and simply unnecessary. Depending on the situation, it could actually irritate your boss or make other employees feel badly. A general rule of thumb is to show up 5-10 minutes before your meeting actually begins. This will give you enough time to get organized and even socialize with your colleagues.
On the other hand, one of the worst things you can do is to show up late. I had a meeting first thing on Monday morning, and I was so afraid I was going to forget or not wake up in time (yes, I am guilty of abusing the snooze button on my alarm). If you are one of these people, take every measure to ensure that you will be at your meeting on time (remember this means 5-10 minutes before your meeting actually starts)! Luckily, we have handy-dandy smart phones to help us out in case we loose track of time. I always write things down in my calendar, but setting reminders on my phones has saved me more than once. I can’t imagine many things more embarrassing than walking into a room full of your superiors after a meeting has already begun.
Come prepared.
One of the easiest ways to avoid making silly mistakes at your internship is by being prepared. When it comes to attending meetings, make sure you have an idea as to the topics that are going to be discussed and the type of meeting you’re about to go to (ie: a brainstorming/creative meeting, a development meeting, a management meeting). It’s also a good idea to know who is going to be attending the meeting because more often than not it will give you a good idea as to whether the meeting is going to be casual or more business professional. Always bring something to write with and something to write on as well as any other notes or documents you might need. It’s also not a bad idea to bring a bottle of water because sometimes meetings can run longer than planned.
Take notes.
Internships are all about having a learning experience. When you attend a meeting, think of yourself as a sponge- you are there to absorb anything and everything that you can. This means that while you may think you have a super amazing photographic memory, chances are with all the things an intern has to deal with in a day you are probably going to forget things that were discussed. By taking notes, not only are you going to remember the things that were talked about, but you will also look attentive and interested. It’s one thing to listen, but it’s another to be an active listener. If you are terrible with names- write them down. It’s important to be able to refer to your notes later on and remember who was talking about what.
Don’t be afraid to speak up.
While you are there to learn, it is important to speak up if you have something to contribute. That’s not to say that you should be giving your two cents on every single topic discussed, but you should remember that you were hired to bring in new and creative energy. More often than not your colleagues are going to be interested in what you have to say, just make sure it’s relevant to the discussion.
Just the other day, I attended a meeting where I was asked to help film an upcoming event for the online portion of our magazine. Unfortunately, I am going to have graduated (scary!) before the event takes place and won’t be able to contribute. Instead, I let my boss know that our student run television station on campus is always looking to help out with events, and they would be a great organization to contact anytime they need an extra hand. This was a tool my office didn’t known about, and wouldn’t have known about had I not said anything.
I had an internship in the past where I really could have benefited from attending a meeting, but my boss never gave me the chance. Instead of speaking up and asking if I could sit in on a meeting, I was too afraid to say anything and unfortunately missed out on what could have been a wonderful opportunity.
While writing is very much an independent activity, creating a magazine relies on the collaborative efforts of a team. Much of this creativity comes from meeting together, and keeps everyone on the same page. Meetings are exciting ways for interns to further their understanding of the professional world, so take full advantage of this type of opportunity at your internship. I have learned so much from the meetings I’ve attended, and found that I really like working in such a creative atmosphere!