Internship gyan.

, , 25 comments
4 weeks into my internship and I’m ready to pass on my gyan to fellow mortals on the earth:
  • Never say ‘I hate shopping’ when your supervisor takes you to DKNY to choose a dress for a wedding.
  • Never show excitement on the ‘60% off – Levi’s sale’ when they’re excited about Nine West’s shoe sale (where, incidentally, $150 shoes after discount make them go ‘whoooo!’)
  • Never give frank opinions – smile and go ‘Wow, you must get this!’ even when the shoes are hideously-golden and oh-my-god-how-can-you-walk-on-these heels.
  • If there is a way to leave the office without the concerned being able to see you, always use it.
  • When asked why you don’t drink (in case you don’t), never say ‘It smells bad’. Instead think of other ways like ‘The smell is strong and gives me breathing problems’
  • Never loudly choke/cough if someone who smokes stands next to you and talks to you. Instead, hold your breath and nod to show that you’re paying attention.
  • Never chuckle when they make fun of someone else. Who knows, they may be making fun of you when you’re not there, and it stings to know someone else is chuckling like you, at you!
  • Never, ever give it away that you’re jobless. Even if you have nothing to do, just pick up a relevant report and pore over it. Make notes, highlight, say you’re learning more about the client. Walk hither and thither, to and from the photocopy room. But never let them catch you jobless. If they ask ‘Are you busy?’, say ‘A bit; anyways, what’s it? I can try to do it when I’m done with this!’
  • If you think you have a better way of doing something, make sure the relevant person hears it, not the one who gives you that work to do, because not many people are fond of listening to interns coming up with smart ideas.

More to come. Watch out! Work is good. Even though the pay is not quite satisfactory and I have to stay back at times, looks like they’re finally starting to trust me and give me other work than just photocopying/printing stuff. Well yeah, 20 weeks left. I’ve been counting ever since day one, so don’t look at the 20 weeks and go ‘I knew it; she’s crazy!’

25 comments:

Badri said...

You shouldn't let out these secrets :P!

Ramya Shankar said...

I'm gonna bookmark this post of yours! :D :D
Good luck, 20 weeks will breeze away 20 weeks later! :D

prithz said...

Will need these in the near future. Tks :)

Aravind said...

Good gyan!!
Thanx... i'll need these in another 4 months time!!!

iCitizen said...

Be sure to include all the points in the final report. Its really good gyan. You'll do well i am sure. And you also know that i am being nice here right ?

Anonymous said...

he he!!! Trying to be a Roman in Rome ? :) All the best Pisa! Paavum nee... Ella points a padichuttu enakku onnu thaan thonings- nee everything manage panniduva... but "don't giggle"????

:O :O :O

NEE???

HOW???

:P :P :P

Sandhya Ramachandran said...

he he!!! Trying to be a Roman in Rome ? :) All the best Pisa! Paavum nee... Ella points a padichuttu enakku onnu thaan thonings- nee everything manage panniduva... but "don't giggle"????

:O :O :O

NEE???

HOW???

:P :P :P

januM said...

The last few lines tells me that you gotta follow this point of yours!
"Never, ever give it away that you’re jobless. Even if.. .." :D
Al d best !

Adithya said...

You sound like a cat that has been conditioned to avoid the unplesant :) I like learning from other people's experiences... I'm listening... and waiting to hear more. Cheers!

Aravind said...

Vani...
Thou art tagged :D

Check my blog!

Harish said...

do u have a bodhi tree for an office? :)

Aconfusedsoul said...

super tips!! :) keep them coming!!

Kausikram Krishnasayee said...

ensoi maddi :)

Harish said...

"Never, ever give it away that you’re jobless"
I did once and got screwed. But the trouble here is that I am very bad at acting :-)

Unknown said...

thatz something men might not understand..;-)

Manoj said...

Are they like advice? Or polambals? or both?

Anonymous said...

//Never say ‘I hate shopping’ when your supervisor takes you to DKNY to choose a dress for a wedding.

whose wedding would tat be ???

//Never show excitement on the ‘60% off – Levi’s sale’ when they’re excited about Nine West’s shoe sale (where, incidentally, $150 shoes after discount make them go ‘whoooo!’)

hmmmm ... any chance the sale is still on .... i meant the levi's sale, not the one about the shoes ....

//If there is a way to leave the office without the concerned being able to see you, always use it.

trust me, folks ..... tis tip is worth it's weight in solid gold ... i always leave by the backdoor ... going by the front exit is akin to wading thru a minefield ....

//When asked why you don’t drink (in case you don’t), never say ‘It smells bad’. Instead think of other ways like ‘The smell is strong and gives me breathing problems’

u mean they actually took you out for drinks ... guess u musta be bonding real well ... i have been working for more than 11 months now and i have never been offered a packet of instant kopi let alone go out for drinks .... not tat i drink but it's the principle i guess ......

//Never loudly choke/cough if someone who smokes stands next to you and talks to you. Instead, hold your breath and nod to show that you’re paying attention.

u think that's tough .... trust me, there are worse things .... i still remember the experience i had to endure when i worked at mustafa (local hypermart) during my "O" level vacation ..... the bloody bugger aka supervisor had this nasty habit ... his finger was permanently stuck up into his nostril ..... you would think he was digging for gold, the way he went on .... trust me, it takes lotsa guts not to cringe when someone is talking to you while at the same time have their finger stuck up into their nostril .... gives me the shivers even now when i think about it ....

p.s sooo wat sorta company are u interning at ??? and before i forget, congrats on ur blogs' 2nd year anniversary ....

Vani Viswanathan said...

badri,
naaah, let others have a better beginners' time!

ramya,
oh man, i hope they do! it's just 18 now, btw!! :D

Vani Viswanathan said...

prithz and aravind,
hehe, anytime! more to come in the coming months, i guess! :P

icitizen,
why, do you want to be failed for my final report... i can see the comment in red '... this is what you learnt??'

Vani Viswanathan said...

sandhya,
hehe.. i've been doing pretty well on that front!

janum,
haha.. thanks!

Vani Viswanathan said...

adithya,
sometimes, it really helps to know how to avoid the unpleasant! :)

harish,
LOL.. looks like! god knows how i'll be at the end of it.. maybe i'll have a halo? :P

Vani Viswanathan said...

f2f,
sure!

mark,
hmm.. neeyum enjoy! :P

harish,
hehe.. it's not about acting.. it's about how badly u want to save yourself!

Vani Viswanathan said...

yuva,
what??!!

manoj,
depends on how you read it. for me, it's plain gyan i'm passing for the benefit of others!

Vani Viswanathan said...

dante,
find answers below.
1. i don't know.
2. ditto!
3. my colleagues told me i can't use the door anymore :(
4. oh, i guess it's just the field. the very first day, we had a toast!
5. uh-uh..
6. it's a public relations agency.
7. THANKS!! :)

Adithya said...

My eyes are wide open to read more.. where else did you burn your fingers? :)