Interns - Know your limits

Student will get their internship several times during their studying period. It depends on the institution and what course are you taking. But unlike in utopian world, where students will be guided on all aspects of the company their working with, they were left alone, and have to manage what to do during the whole intern period.

One of the most important thing, is, you, as a practical student, must know your own limit. Some companies will describe everything on the appointment letter, but in real world, what on the letter is much different than what outside. So knowing this might save yourself from embarrassment, dignity and even your life!

On my experience, a practical student doing an intern in our construction company. He is free to ask around anything or assist on non-critical works. But all hell brake loose when we found out he was supervising concreting, while the supervisor, which is assigned for the task, is nowhere to be found.

In this case, the supervisor has been given harsh punishment, and for the student, only warnings. Thank god no accident or fatal damage during concreting. If there is, the supervisor is automatically expelled and worst case is our company has to bear the damage cost.

The moral of the story, know your role. Don't be too hyperactive in the work environment, while being passive is a sure way to loose some points for the internship sessions.

Be mature! Thats the essence of Internship.

Copyright © 2007 , M.Faisal Nordin