On Interns

You should always be nice to interns.  You may end up working for one someday.

It's expected that interns will need to engage in somewhat trivial tasks at time, but treating an intern as more of a peer than a slave can go a long way.  Here are four things to remember when working with an intern:

1. Your intern will rise to the expectations you set for them.  This does not mean they will rise to the expectations you tell them to, but that they will rise to the expectations you truly believe they are capable of.  If you tell them they are capable of growth and greatness but really only expect them to do the bare minimum and keep your coffee cup full, they will do the minimum and pour your coffee.  If you expect them to learn, grow, and excel, they will.

2. Give your intern projects, not tasks.  Rather than giving your intern individual tasks, give them a project.  Tasks create a yes-man, or what I like to call the puppy dog effect.  They learn to say yes to everything they are asked and when they carry out their task successfully, they come back for a pat on the head and a treat.  Projects create ownership, pride, and initiative.  They allow your intern to feel like they are making a contribution and requires them to actually think through what they are doing and how they can add to the agency by something other than making copies and converting oxygen into carbon dioxide.

3. Talk to your intern, not at, or down.  You can tell when someone is talking down to you.  So can your intern.  Your intern knows that they are the bottom of the totem pole, they don't need you to remind them. You can still assume the leadership role without talking down or demeaning your intern. Talk to them as though they matter and engage them in conversation.  Sometimes the wisest words come from the mouths of babies.

4. Say thank you. Most of the work your intern is doing, is probably for you, and is probably the work you could easily do, but prefer to not do.  They are probably making your copies, bringing you lunch, pouring your coffee, doing research, etc.  It's easy to have an attitude of "they're the intern- it's their job", but they are doing you a favor.  And though they may be doing you the favor with an ulterior motive of moving up in the industry, everyone likes to feel appreciated.  The more appreciated your intern feels, the more inclined they will be to help you.

Your intern will only be an intern for a short period of time.  Soon, they will be your peer, your competition, your boss.  Karma has a way of coming back around.  Monday morning, try surprising your intern by buying them a cup of coffee.

Mood: Appreciative