11 mistakes interns make during their first internship - Debut

11 mistakes interns make during their first internship - Debut Shoes on, shirt buttoned, Oyster card at the ready. Todays the first day of your city internship, and you probably feel like youre ready to conquer the world. Next stop, partner! Not so fast, speedy. You have a long way to go before your very own glass door office. Take it from us certified adults whove been there, done that, and thankfully survived the new-joiner-office-hazing. Well tell you the worst mistakes interns make and have you navigating your very first internship without looking like a Mr T-level fool, promise. 1. Dressing completely inappropriately for the office You know whats really surprising? There is definitely such a thing as  too formal.   Always ask about the office dress code before your first day to suss out what you should wear. You only get one chance at making a first impression  after all. 2. Not asking where the important facilities are Needing a wee is totally natural. Awkwardly getting lost in a huge office building looking for the loo however is probably not the best way to impress. Asking for a brief tour of the office and the facilities will save you from this. While youre at it you can totally get someone to teach you how to use the coffee machines those beasts are tricky. 3. Forgetting the name of the teammate youre supposed to be working with for the third time The second most important person you need to impress (the first being your line manager), is your fellow teammate/intern. Showing that you care about your peers and getting to know them better will show that you pay great attention to the rapport you have with your fellow colleagues. When you meet someone for the first time, try using their name in a sentence within the first five minutes. That usually helps to solidify their name in your memory. 4. Looking disrespectful by not offering to get tea/coffee for the team Yo. Even if thats not what your companys culture is like, always ask. Showing courtesy to your team is you figuratively putting the cherry on top of the cake: youll come across as great at your job, and friendly, to boot. You dont even have to ask all the time. If youre making some tea/coffee/other beverage for yourself, just ask your line manager whether he/she/they want one too. It wont hurt, promise. 5. Sitting at the desk twiddling your thumbs when there are no more tasks to do We get it. Sometimes interns just dont get that much to do from their line managers. This can be for various reasons ranging from your line manager being too busy, or perhaps they are inexperienced in managing someone else and doesnt know what exactly they can delegate. 6. Completely misunderstanding hierarchy and boundaries It is not a good idea to add your boss on Facebook at least not straightaway. No matter how chummy you get with your line manager, maintain your those  boundaries until the end of your internship. It is a sign you have professional integrity, which is a very attractive and employable trait. 7. Getting too drunk at the first networking drinks Speaking of getting a little bit too chummy, its probably not a good idea to go H.A.M. at your first ever networking drinks, no matter how much your team mates want you to. Definitely join in the fun, but temper your drinks with pints of water to maintain a good, sober level. You dont want to be the person they talk about after the office Christmas party, after all. 8. Using the wrong spelling of a clients first name in an email The devils in the details. The devil is also your line manager when they realise you may have messed an important email up. Business emails are make or break for your company, and sometimes, small mistakes can have big consequences. Always proof-read your emails before you send them, and if youre ever unsure, ask your line manager before you click the send button. 9. Sitting there quietly panicking because you dont know how to  use a program Its OK not to know how to do a pivot table on Microsoft Excel if you havent been taught. If your line manager is too busy to teach you, look around to see if theres anyone else who can. Make sure you give them time to finish up on whatever theyre doing and emphasise youre not rushing them. The best part about asking for help is that you end up learning something new! 10. Not asking for feedback after the internship is over So youve smashed your internship and youre on your last day, celebrating a successful few weeks at a great company. The work doesnt stop there though. Make sure you grab a couple of email addresses from the people you worked with the most, and follow-up with them asking for a bit of feedback a few weeks later. They will be able to give you honest, objective observations about the way you work, and you can take that constructive criticism away with you to your next opportunity. P.S. Plying ex teammates with a coffee definitely wont hurt. 11. Agreeing to work as an unpaid intern Trust us on this one. No matter how good an opportunity looks, no matter how big the company is, your work is worth something. A company isnt worth working for if they treat the newest members of their team like they are disposable, so go for companies that do pay, and pay a living wage. Feature image   ©  The Devil Wears Prada Follow Brenda on Twitter @brendaisarebel Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter