How to be an Office Standout When You're the Office Intern

One thing you can do to make yourself memorable, and helpful, in your internship.

 

So, you’ve got that nice plump internship. You’re dressing up and going to work every day. But you still feel like the office kindergartener!

 

 

You have the least knowledge and experience. Everyone else knows their way around with their eyes closed. You wonder how you will ever possibly make an impression with this group.

 

 

No matter how little experience you have, you can always find a way to make yourself memorable, and helpful. 

And here’s one way you can do that.

 

Put these 7 words in your internship platform, and see what an impact you can have.

And those 7 words are (drum roll please)

 

What can I do to help you?

 

Yep, that’s it.

 

Not rocket science, is it?

Most of the potent stuff isn’t. It’s about developing a pattern of personal conduct that allows you to grow by helping others along the way.

 

 

Let’s break down why this is such a potent inquiry:

 

1. Specificity. If you ask a vague question, you will get a vague answer. This question invites the respondent to make a specific request you can fulfill.

2. Time bound. You are asking what you can do to help someone, now. Immediacy is implied.

3. Sincerity. It’s a question that says you are genuinely willing to help, exactly because it isn’t vague.

4. Initiative. It demonstrates your ability to proactively make an offer to help where you saw an opportunity to do so.

5. Teamwork. It positions you as a team player, invested in the success of others.

6. Humility. This offer says you are willing to help in whatever manner is needed, even if it means taking on a task you wouldn’t normally do. Humility, by the way, is a highly underrated workplace attribute.

7. Self-Leadership. It shows capability to look outside your scope, and intervene if you see an opportunity to help. You made a call based on the situation around you and the mission at hand. This is what leaders do.

8. Goodwill. Trying to figure out how to work better with a difficult personality in the office? This question extends a metaphorical olive branch.

 

Here’s the best part.

Picture a frantic situation.

 

There’s a deadline, an angry client, a project that’s due, a last minute fire drill, an emergency of some kind. High stress.

 

You use these 7 words in an authentic offer to help someone who appears besieged.

 

You are AMAZINGLY EMPOWERED by making the offer.

 

You GAIN CONFIDENCE in yourself, simply by asking the question.

Imagine what will happen when you follow through.

 

You’ll find many ways in life to genuinely offer your support with these 7 words. (By the way, they work in your business life, AND in your personal life.)

 

Say them out loud. Practice giving your voice to them and making the sincere offer. Challenge yourself to find as many situations in all aspects of your life. See what happens.

 

And thanks, as always, for reading.

 

Image: Canva.com