Students
11.10.08
The Rules
Come to work on time. Yeah, we know you're tired and you were up all night working on the project that's due when you leave this afternoon. But we have real deadlines, too, and we're depending on seeing your smiling face when we get in. Or at least not too long after. And if you're not coming in, let someone know.
If you're not busy, ask someone if they need help. They'll probably say yes, even if it's only to help with some quick scans or putting some books back on the shelf. Your initiative will win you friends and people will give you food.
Ask before working on your homework at the office. We'll probably say it's okay to slip in a few printouts, but remember to use your good manners and ask first.
Cell phones on vibrate, please. Enough said.
Dress like a grownup. We know you're on a student budget and all, but you'll be treated like a peer if you look like one. People outside the department don't always remember who's an intern and who's a freelancer. Sometimes they don't even remember who's on staff. If you blend in and you stick around long enough, you might start getting benefits and a 401K.
Offer to help tidy up. Really. We're a mess. We're busy, and don't always have time to organize. We know you're a gifted designer, but people will absolutely love you if you help them with ugly, necessary chores from time to time. They'll let you keep stuff because they feel so guilty watching you clean. And sometimes there's good stuff there, like books and debit cards.
The more people trust you, the more they'll give you to do. If you can handle a teeny piece of design in a timely way, you'll get a bigger one to tackle. We guarantee that. It's all work, and we're not possessive. We love to see you excited about having your designs used. We used to get that excited before we got so jaded. You remind us how fun it can be.
Be respectful. You don't have to be in awe; we're not that important. But remember that some of us are a lot older than you. "Sir" and "Ma'am" are going too far, but we bristle at "Dude."
Smile from time to time. We already have surly coworkers, editors or clients. We can't handle sullen interns. You're young! Life is good! We need the illusion that you're happy to be with us. But if you're not, please let us know and we'll work with you to figure out what we can do to make things better.
Check in before you leave. We don't always remember which intern's in on which day, so don't assume we know where your files are or how far you got with a project. Let someone know where things are and that you're heading out. Goodbye hugs are nice, but not necessary. We'll see you next time.
