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Agencies often forget just how important interns can be, so how do we get them to sit up and take note? I’ve had the good fortune of heading up the internship programme and youth marketing division at my current agency.
I’ve been in the bustling, energetic advertising industry for more than 26 years and am still surprised – on a daily basis – by how young people communicate why they want an internship or to job shadow, and how businesses react.
My biggest challenge over the years has been communicating to my colleagues the importance of understanding that internship programmes create immense value.
But the reality is that we barely have enough time to get through our daily workload. So where do we find the time to hold an intern’s hand while they take their first shaky steps on the path to becoming a professional?
How do we become great internship mentors when we have no time?
Rotate interns through departments: In this manner, they get the full picture and everyone gets to contribute to their experience.
Allow interns to shadow: In this way, they learn what a day is like in the life of various individuals in your business.
Set up weekly meetings: Even if time is tight, it is important to ensure your programme is adding value. Set quantifiable goals that are achievable and listen to feedback; some interns don’t feel they are being challenged enough.
Be transparent: At the agency where I work, interns have come to learn as much about the business as possible, so fostering this culture is very important.
Trust: Interns will deliver value, and you should know you can rely on them. They are not there simply to run errands or make coffee. They want real feet-on-the ground experience. Always acknowledge their good work and talent.
Right, so what should interns do to make it their time to shine?
If you want to be an intern, do your homework before your interview: research the company.
Dress for the position you want, not the one you have.
Treat your internship like a real job: If you want the employer to take you seriously, you need to take the job seriously. You are learning in an active, real-world environment, so your contributions – and your mistakes – affect other people.
Practise good time management: Be on time for work and meetings. It is important to be organised.
Ask questions: This shows you are willing to learn and have a genuine interest in the agency.
Take initiative but accept guidance.
Be respectful, but assertive: Be expected to be taken out of your comfort zone and do necessary albeit boring tasks with grace – but don’t be taken advantage of.
Don’t profess to know it all – you don’t.
Don’t use these much-abused words in your internship interview:
Whatchamacallit: A word used when the actual name of the object/situation in question will not come to mind.
Um: The biggest problem with this filler word is that you’re probably unaware of how much you use it.
Perfectionist: This is the most popular among overused, meaningless clichés.
Basically: It’s tempting to use the word as a prelude to your achievements, but don’t. For example, saying: “Basically, I organised the whole event,” when in reality what this means is you assembled the pull-up banners.
I: In today’s hectic work environment, you need to be a team player.
Amazing: People use this word as a filler to sound positive. Don’t.
Stuff: What does this mean? See whatchamacallit. Same thing.
Dedicated: Sounds like you got it off the internet. Not a differentiating feature.
Motivated: We all need to be motivated on a daily basis to just get out of bed. Don’t use it; you might as well say “I’m breathing”.
I want to learn: You had better want to learn. Why else are you here?
Botha is business unit director at Grey,an advertising agency in Johannesburg.
References: Lifehack’s Steven McConnell, Urban Dictionary and Business Insider’s Jacquelyn Smith
