8 Simple Gestures Interns Can Do To Stand Out

Being an intern could be the biggest investment for your early career journey. Not only will it give you real-world experience in the business niche, but internship will also open an opportunity to widen your network while leveraging skills and knowledge. However, in order to make the best of your internship period, you cannot be satisfied with just being an ordinary intern. Be a super intern. 

If you want to stand out from the crowd of interns and be more than just an average apprentice, you need to practice the following gestures. These simple gestures will help pave your way to be an extraordinary professional intern.

Gesture #1 Do your homework, then ask for more

During the onboarding program, the manager will tell you what he expects from you regarding the job tasks and responsibilities. The next thing you have to do is do your homework well and when you have finished everything that needs to be done, you can ask for more tasks from your supervisor. Only then, you can be seen as a superstar intern.

Ask whether your supervisor needs help or there is something you can work on. If they say no, that is okay. You still show your interest and enthusiasm and they will appreciate that.

See also: A New “Mean Mind” Game for Job Interview

Gesture #2 Dress for personality  

It is a common saying that what we wear is a reflection of our personality. Thus, dress as neatly as possible like a successful person. Dressing properly doesn’t only give a good impression but also shows your effort and it can also be a psychological benefit for you and the one who sees it.

What if my company dressing is casual? If the company’s dress code is casual, then you need to follow the lead and dress like the others. However, you should not dress too casual as it is good to be remembered as an intern who dress casually professional rather the one who is too casual.

Gesture #3 Think like a pro

We realize that being in an intern position could be insecure. You don’t know whether you will get the long-term contract or not. Not to mention, anything can happen during your internship.

Although it is just an internship in a small café, you should always treat the job like a real job - do it professionally and as best as you can. Doing this can help you get known for your hard work.

Gesture #4 Show your social side

Being a social here means you should attend company events and meetings you are invited to. Befriend with a few colleagues and show your knowledge among others. Make sure to bring up relevant life experience to the discussion so you can become a centre of attention.

On the contrary, if you don’t like to be the centre of attention, you can simply follow and gather to company events and be a good listener. This will show your social side and the supervisor will think that you are a reliable person who fits into the company culture.

Gesture #5 Ask good questions

Asking irrelevant questions to what is discussed will make you look “foolish and uninterested”. In the worst case, everyone might under-appreciate you due to a slight mistake of asking an irrelevant question. This could be bad for your image as an intern.

Therefore, before proposing a question, do your research and try to answer it yourself. Google engine is a source of all answer but if you are still confused and Google machine cannot help, ask away. Also, if you think your question is interesting and might lead to a good discussion, then ask directly. Doing this help boost your image in terms of enthusiasm and excitement towards the job.

Gesture #6 Arrive early but not too early

You don’t need to arrive at 6 am when the office is still closed and waiting in front of the door to greet everyone you meet. This will look ridiculous. But, you can arrive slightly early before other interns and colleagues show up. It is not to say arriving early just to show that you are an “in-time” person, but you can also use the extra time to do some key tasks right after your arrival. This gesture will implicitly tell your manager that you are a reliable and hard-working person.

Gesture #7 Take initiatives

Creativity and innovation are what companies look for in their people, especially in today’s competitive business atmosphere. Hence, stand above all and speak up your ideas. Your initiative might change the whole view of you as an intern.

Gesture #8 Ask feedback

The point that an intern should never forget is feedback. Show your proactive side and talk to your manager or supervisor to ask for feedback about your performance on the job. Ask about both negative and positive side, as well as asking for constructing advice. This could help you become a better version of an intern or employee in the future. Asking for feedback also shows that you are initiative and willing to make changes in order to succeed. 

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