We all make mistakes from time to time (some of us more than others), but it can feel even more dramatic when you’re an intern who’s trying to impress the rest of the staff. So when you do mess up – remember that it’s not the end of the world. After all, you are an intern. You are there to learn and your supervisor expects you to make mistakes – just don’t make a habit of always making the same ones.
Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned from mistakes I’ve made at internships:
When you forget to turn in an assignment, and you boss sends you an angry email asking where it is. First off, apologize. Second off, send it!! We all have smart phones now and the majority of us have laptops with (or campus computers around us) for the majority of the day. I keep all my files for my internship on Dropbox. That way I can access them from any computer if necessary.
When you forget to get a receipt. Remy Goodman (COM 14’), experienced this with her internship this summer at TV Guide. Many major corporations, and even small businesses, have to keep expense reports. Luckily for me, all of the errands I run are put on one of my boss’ AmEx cards and they don’t ask for receipts. However, if your boss does ask for a receipt for proof of what you bought, it is important that you get one (since they are liable for the expenses that show up on the card). If you forget, again, apologize. Then ask if they would like you to return to the store to get one on your own time/expense. Most stores have a record of their last 30-50 transactions, so its likely they will be able to find it for you.
When you’re late. This is my biggest issue. I hate mornings – and am notorious for oversleeping. Here’s my rule of thumb – if you’re going to be more than 20 minutes late, call the office. Let them know that you’re running late. Most likely, they won’t even ask why – but if they do, be honest. I was once over an hour late for my internship – and my boss laughed it off with me simply because I was honest. Don’t make up stories about how the T ran over your foot and you had to go to the ER and then fake-limp around the office. Nobody likes a faker.
When you just plain suck at every assignment they have given you in one day. Follow the golden rule. If you’re Intern was sucking all day and you had to keep correcting her, what would you want to hear? Well first off, that she’s sorry, and that second off, she is trying to do better. If you normally email back and forth with your internship coordinators (as we generally do), get up and actually walk over to them. Make sure that everything is being explained thoroughly, and that you completely understand the task at hand. Everybody has some rough days, so don’t be too hard on yourself for it.