4 things not to do during an internship, according to PGP Australia

During an internship or vocational program, you obviously want to make a great first impression. Leaving a great impression on your host company could help you cement a permanent, full-time position with that company or help bolster your chances with another. Whatever your career aspirations may be, Premium Graduate Placements is a company that you should get in contact with.

Indeed, PGP Australia is one of the nation’s leading providers of vocational programs for current students or those just out of university. If you need valuable work experience, they need to be your first point of call. Why? Well, they have connections with over 3700 different host companies across an unparalleled range of business functions and career areas. Anything from engineering to marketing, law, commerce and science, Premium Graduate Placements clearly have the runs on the board. So, if you have just managed to nab a vocational program, here are several things you should remember to NOT do during your internship according to PGP Australia.

Complaining about trivial tasks

A lot of interns think that they’ll join a brand-new company and be doing hands-on, interactive tasks on their first day. The simple fact of the matter is this is rarely the case. According to PGP Australia, your first few days will be largely induction and getting used to the company’s processes, procedures and line of work. Even once you do become accustomed to the day-to-day operations of the business, you might find yourself doing tasks you don’t like. Complaining about the tasks is impolite, rude and unprofessional, so it’s important to approach this from several angles to get some perspective.

The trivial things are sometimes the most important

The first thing to remember is that the trivial tasks may sometimes be the most important things. Research, data entry or proof-reading may seem dull and boring, but they are crucial. A poorly written report with low-quality research and incorrect data won’t impress a client.

Work isn’t always fun

No matter how much you love your job and what you do, there will be days when you’d rather be doing something else. You might have to do some of the more boring tasks when you’re an intern, however, if you work hard and demonstrate your worth to the company, you won’t be doing that boring work for long. So, if you are lucky enough to get a Premium Graduate Placement, remember to have a bit of perspective.

Not asking for feedback

Not asking for feedback is one of the worst things that an intern can do. Asking questions and asking for evaluation and advice shows your employer that you are aware of your performance. It also clearly shows that you want to improve and get better. This type of outlook is very refreshing for an employer, since many casual workers will take up a vocational program as a resume booster only.

So, how can you avoid making this mistake? Well, advisors from Premium Graduate Placements recommend that you don’t wait for your managers to offer feedback. Be proactive and ask your managers for feedback. It doesn’t have to be a formal scenario (as in a sit-down performance review), it could be a simple question such as “Am I heading in the right direction with this?”

PGP Australia says poor time management is dire

Improving your time management skills requires effort and practice, which can be tough to ask for since your internship might be your first real experience of practical work. A lot of interns will prioritise certain tasks over others, without understanding which is more important (primarily because of a lack of experience). Premium Graduate Placements recommend that interns can improve their time management by talking to their manager about the specifics of their role and the overall responsibilities required. Make sure you know which tasks are more important, so you can create a priority list. Stick to that and you’ll be fine. For more tips, view Kev’s Best.

PGP Australia says don’t be late (obviously)

This is more a general rule in life and work, as opposed to specific to internship work. Clearly, you don’t want to be late to your internship (especially consistently late). It looks very unprofessional and implies that you don’t care. Make sure you’re up early, have a backup route to the workplace if something goes awry and plan if traffic or public transport problems arise. It’s ok to be late every now and then, but a trend of late arrivals is never a good look.

Conclusion

So, if you’re on the lookout for an internship, make sure you get in contact with Premium Graduate Placements for more information on preparing. These tips will help improve your internship experience and ensure that you excel in your role.