WhatClinic.com Blog

Not *exactly* what our offices look like...

Eilis is an intern working with me on our digital marketing projects. We thought it might be interesting for other employers and prospective new interns to hear first-hand what it’s like for an intern going back into an office after some time off studying. Over to Eilis:

An internship is an excellent way to gain valuable hands-on experience in an area of academic or personal interest to any individual.  Following completion of my studies in Digital Marketing, I was delighted to join the team at Whatclinic.com to put my educational knowledge into practice.  Returning to college as a mature student, I already had extensive experience of working in an office environment and I felt confident that I would slot right back in, like riding a bike.

A Wake Up Call

The reality was a little different.  Although only absent from the workplace for over a year, I was shocked at how alien it felt to me on my first day.  I somehow had forgotten the morning race to get out of the house, the fighting for personal space on public transport and the vast number of clearly mad people rushing around at 8 am.  By the time I had reached the office I was already feeling a bit dishevelled and I hadn’t turned the PC on.

My interview had taken place in the offices in Westland Row so I was familiar with the set up.   The office was open plan and had a busy but relaxed atmosphere.  When I arrived at 10 am it was really positive for me that my workstation was set up, stationery was provided and I had a company email address!

My first task was to read some manuals as an introduction to SEO and Google Analytics.  Easy peasy, I thought, until the sales team got on the phones and technical questions started flying around the place.  I couldn’t hear my own thoughts and I couldn’t filter out the background noise.  I was starting to feel like a fish out of water.

Some Advice

Now that I am nearing the end of my first week, I am feeling a bit more human.  The best advice I could give to anyone starting an internship is to avoid placing needless pressure on yourself and be realistic.  It is important to remember that an internship is an opportunity to learn and that an employer, who has already seen potential in you, does not expect you to know everything about the job.

Be organised: make a note of any passwords required for applications and bookmark any recommended links.  If you haven’t been assigned a network drive, create a personal folder and save everything in a structured manner.

The first week is all about settling in and learning about the workings of the company.  You may be required to use an email service, an application or a browser you are not familiar with.  Take the time to familiarise yourself with these tools.  Refer to manuals and help sections where possible and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Be confident: ask questions where appropriate.  Obviously in a small company it is important not to absorb too much of your colleague’s work-time, but at the same time it is imperative to grasp the basics.   Jot down your questions and arrange an appropriate time to discuss them.  At this early stage you will be mostly turning to a mentor to answer specific questions.  Be sure to make notes so you do not need to ask the same questions again.

Finally don’t be afraid to mix with the rest of the staff.  It is important to integrate; it will make your experience at the company more enjoyable and it provides you will a bigger pool of people to direct your QUESTIONS at !!