Interns and internships are a part of corporate life, but sometimes there can be a really sour experience for both employers and interns.  Read through these 7 signs to figure out if you have a terrible intern on your hands or discover if you’re a guilty party.

Don’t fret though,  if you happen to find yourself in the situation, there are action steps at the end of each item to help turn the tide.  Also, feel free to checkout our 24 habits of successful designers.

7. Taking Things Personal

One thing you’ll need to learn quickly when you start working with other professionals is to not take things personally.  Just because there was a mistake on something you did doesn’t mean the person who’s calling it out hates you.

If you’re an intern you’ll get better at this over time as you develop a tougher skin.  If someone tells you something that upsets you, do your best to hold it together until you’re alone.  Crying in front of your coworkers is a sure way to show you can’t handle stressful situations.  But also don’t let yourself get bullied, know when you need to put your foot down or stand up for what you believe.

6. The Waiting Game

Your supervisor is likely busy and won’t be able to give you tasks for every second of the day.  Sitting around and waiting for them to give you something to do isn’t a good habit to get into.

If you’re an intern make sure that you’re staying busy.  There’s always something to do, I promise.  Volunteer yourself to do something that maybe doesn’t look that enticing.  Clean the kitchen, organize something, or fix-up that messy closet.  Signing up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page will give you exclusive access to the designer hacks checklist which is a great place to get ideas for things to do as well.

5. Short-term sight

If you’re working a summer internship it’s easy to throw in the towel when things get tough.  But I’ll let you in on a secret to being happy in life:  Doing almost anything to relieve short-term stress is a sure way to lead an unhappy life.

If you’re an intern you need to realize that the success of your career is largely dependent on who you know and the connections and relationships you form.  Putting in an extra hour here and there can go a long way to landing that job you always dreamed of from a good reference.

4. The Smartphone Symphony

These days everyone is glued to their smartphones.  There’s nothing more annoying that a smartphone that’s always going off in the workplace.

If you’re an intern make sure your phone is on silent (that means vibrate is off too).  Keep your phone in your pocket until there’s an acceptable time to check it.  Try to limit yourself to a few times a day.

3. Time-less

At my first internship, I worked two months for free and griped about it.  I’d leave work right on the dot, and wouldn’t spend extra time.  That job really propelled my career and I wish I had more to show for it.

If you’re an intern chances are that you’ve spent (or are going to spend) tons of time and money on an education.  Even if you’re not getting paid, it’s important to realize that actual work experience goes a long way to preparing you for your career.  Think of your internship as an investment in yourself, just like your education.  Even if you’re not getting the coolest work to do, try to make the best of it and offer insight where you can.

Image courtesy of Russell Barrett

2. Club Attire

The way that you dress is a reflection of how you perceive the company you’re working for.  Even if the place you work at is really laid back, showing up in tattered jeans and slippers isn’t acceptable.

If you’re an intern be cautious of what you’re wearing.  You don’t have to wear your Sunday’s best if that’s not the culture of your workplace, but you should be mirroring the best dressed employees in the company.  And please… watch how much skin you show (man or woman).  Your club attire is not appropriate.

1. Fast and Full of Errors

In the line of work I’m in, interns usually get marked up drawings to edit.  It’s really a straightforward task.  Find whatever is in red, fix the existing document, highlight what you did it, and move on to the next mark-up.  Although this process is super simple, it’s often seen as menial and I’ve seen interns zip through red marks at lighting speed only to later find errors that were already supposed to have been picked up.

If you’re an intern make sure that you’re acing what you consider to be menial tasks.  You need to build trust with your employer and you do that by being consistent and accurate.

Do you have anything else you’d add to this list?  Leave it in the comments below!