Starting an internship or a new job as a university student often means finding out you are the youngest person in the room. As you have the least experience and arenât used to the types of conversations going on around you, it can feel difficult to keep up. This is why itâs important that you can recognize and interpret the unspoken cues that shape communication. While there is plenty of general advice on internships, like this guide, understanding these dynamics can make a real difference and help you get the most out of the experience.
During my (very short) time interning at an advertising agency, I realized that the kind of language and abbreviations I used in documents and casual communication werenât always understood, despite the very casual environment. It highlighted how every workplace has its own communication style that needs to be adapted to.âWith this in mind, here are some general notes to keep in mind when you begin working somewhere new.
The meeting dynamic
In meetings, itâs worth paying attention to where people choose to sit and who is sitting closest to the meeting leader. Of course, this can be more or less important depending on the work environment, but it still offers useful insight.
Phrases that mean moreÂ
Certain phrases carry more meaning than they appear to. For example, after phrases like âthatâs really interesting,â you should learn to hear it as a full stop or something that doesnât require further discussion. The same goes for âsomething to think about.â No one is trying to be rude or dismissive, but you should avoid pushing past them, as it just slows things down for everyone or may make you appear overly persistent. If you genuinely believe in the idea, try to find a better time to bring it up, and maybe rephrase it or work through potential problems with it beforehand.
Email etiquetteÂ
Being copied into something that you werenât expecting usually means that someone wants to keep you informed or at least wants anyone who is supervising them to know that you have been informed. If you are removed from the chain later, itâs probably been moved to a level above your involvement. Make sure to check in, just in case itâs accidental, show that you are engaged, and keep track of all your projects. Also, please be careful about replying to everyone when a chain has loads of people copied in; a direct reply would be more appropriate and potentially less embarrassing for you.Â
Differentiating between casual settings and when you need to do some preparation
Phrases like âcan we grab five minutesâ are usually exactly what they sound like, but occasionally are a bit more serious. If you receive this message with a more earnest tone or at an unusual time of day, you should give the situation a bit more attention and be more prepared to listen to feedback.
Questions you shouldnât ask
Because you are coming in with a fresh set of eyes, you will probably be able to point out some decisions that seem inefficient, or you are confident you could improve. However, most workplaces have been operating the same way for years, so asking âwhy do you do it this way?â at the wrong moment or in the wrong context might appear quite confrontational. It is very important to ask questions, and it shows that you are interested in the work you do; just make sure they come across as coming from a place of interest rather than an attempt to change things.
You will still get some things wrong, and everyone does, especially at the start. That is part of the experience, though. The more attention you pay to the social cues around you, the quicker you will fit into a new work environment and begin to be more respected within it.