Are you feeling like your internship isn’t all it was cracked up to be? Are you having to deal with people who are not so great at communicating their expectations of your work? Don’t worry! You’re definitely not the first person to feel this way. The best way to get your internship back on track is to have a serious conversation with your supervisor about your goals and what you need in order to do the best job that you can.
You should sit down with your supervisor and ask them what exactly he or she needs you to do. Ask for deadlines or for clarification of projects that you are unsure of. If you’re not sure how to do something or how your supervisor would like you to get something done, don’t be afraid to ask! It’s better to ask for clarification than to mess up a big project. Ask for feedback on your work throughout the project so that you know that you’re on the right track.
In some cases, you may have a hard time getting your supervisor to communicate his or her expectations to you. I know it’s frustrating, but continue to ask for clarification and eventually you’ll figure out what you need to do. There are going to be those types of supervisors who do not have the best communication skills and it’s going to depend on you to decipher their expectations of you.
Above all, remember to remain professional even if you’re feeling frustrated with your supervisor. It doesn’t do anyone any good to burn bridges. You may not see it now, but learning how to deal with difficult people and poor communicators is going to be an amazing skill to have when you go out into the real world.
-Emily Herron
London Calling 