There is an "i" in "intern"; making your internship about YOU!

We've all kind of fallen into a familiar pattern here at Access Design as the summer has progressed, and I'm totally assimilated into my role as head intern (really, these days, I'm the only intern). I'll come in and open up shop... Adam (the owner) will show up a few minutes later and get the coffee going. My favorite mornings are those when he brings in doughnuts or some other, totally unhealthy treat. The office doesn't feel complete until Cathy arrives around 9:30 and puts us all to work.

In my last blog post I touched on how people around here view interns, but recently I've been thinking more about how I present myself as an intern. It's easy to fall into the habit of presenting yourself as "just a lowly intern" to clients. I notice myself doing this a lot when I can't answer a client's question right off the bat. And I'll admit, it's not a good habit! When you present yourself as a not-confident intern, you're more likely to hear responses like, "I'd rather talk to the boss himself" or "I'd prefer Adam look over my idea." But that's not the point of your internship; you're there to learn and understand the company's process!

Instead, it's so much better to present yourself as the dazzling intern your company is lucky to have! When I read Intern Sierra's blog post about her experience at the CMT Music Awards, I totally had an "ah-ha!" moment upon reading,

"...One woman (who was yes, quite intoxicated but nonetheless) asked me if I was a professional when she saw my camera. And my response was yes, I am (and as an intern, you really are)."

I really felt like I was a part of Access Design yesterday when Adam and Cathy were out of the office and I was helping some clients with a cottage sign. After I had taken notes on their preferences of sign design, color and size, I handed the woman one of Adam and Cathy's business cards along with one of mine. She looked at them for a moment and then asked, "Are you all partners?" I politely told her I was the business' summer intern and let them head their way. To be mistaken for an employee is one thing but to be mistaken for a partner is totally different!

I guess the bottom line here is that sometimes it's easy to get a little downtrodden as an intern. You may sometimes feel like your assigned tasks are menial or that just because you aren't being paid, you're not an important part of your business or company. I say, remember how much you're helping out your employers by alleviating any amount of work, no matter how big or small. It's also so important to occasionally remind yourself how much you're learning for a potential future job. Essentially, your experience is up to you. Present yourself as the best and you'll be seen as the best!