Working for free — a foreign concept to those just a few generations before us — is now common practice for those attempting to get a foot on the career ladder in every industry from fashion to finance.
What was unheard of in our parents’ day is now an accepted rite of passage for numerous graduates hoping to get their lucky break, especially in the creative and media worlds.
But with the tail end of a major economic recession still engulfing us, questioning whether working for free is still a useful, or even achievable thing to do is more pertinent than ever.
One thing’s for certain — without at least a few weeks shadowing someone who’s Jimmy Choos you’d one day like to fill on your CV, landing that dream job will be just that, nothing but a dream.
So bite the bullet, grit your teeth, and get your tea-making skills in check. Here’s how to be an intern.
Smile & Stay Positive
An obvious one this, but not always easy to remember. Especially when the boss calls you halfway through a task to come up three flights of stairs and post a letter for her — a letter that goes into the box attached to her desk. Be prepared to lug heavy boxes around skyscraper-tall offices, blow on other people’s skinny soy lattes to cool them down, skip lunch to finish a task and stay later than everyone else to get your job done. No one said it would be easy, but if you can do all this and still manage to keep a grin on your face, you’ll show that you’re a keeper.
Grow a Thick Skin
Interns are notoriously badly treated, but I’ve luckily worked in establishments where the Work Experience girls (and boys) were treated fairly, kindly and with respect. That’s not to say I haven’t heard some horror stories. If your supervisor is quite possibly the person The Devil Wears Prada was written about, you’re going to need some resilience. Don’t take unreasonable requests to heart; sadly your lowly position as an intern means you’re ten a penny and your superior might not even remember your name when you leave. What they will remember however is the girl who cried in a toilet cubicle when it all got too much for her. The world of work in general is pretty cut throat, and the fashion and media worlds especially are famously competitive. If you’re in it for the long haul, bite your tongue and keep your chin up. In the words of Lily Allen, ‘Forget your balls and grow some tits’.
Don’t Complain
The hours are long, you’re not given expenses and you’re bankrupting your already seriously depleted bank account on daily lunches at the office’s fashionable ‘concept’ canteen. But complain at your own peril. You might think you’ve found an ally in one of your fellow interns, but you never know how close they are to other members of the team. An offhand comment about how the boss should get her own bloody latte every morning could result in some very icy looks back at your desk. If you must rant, call your Mum — her generation never had to work for free so your cries of ‘ludicrous’ and ‘effing ridiculous’ will most likely be met with warm encouragement. Just don’t do it on office time. Remember, no one likes a whinger.
Be Flexible
You might be office-based one day, and traipsing all over London the next, laden with bags and equipment. Flexibility is therefore a highly prized quality in an intern. It might hurt your heart (not to mention your bank balance) to put off other commitments, especially if they’re paid ones, but try and imagine where the job could take you, the useful experience you’ll gain, and all the well-connected people you might meet. It might be tricky to cancel social engagements or rearrange part-time shifts, but try and give the internship your full commitment. After all, they usually only last a few weeks — the pub can wait but the opportunities you might gain won’t hang around forever.
Stay In Touch
If the company has an ever-changing roster of keen interns stepping through its doors, you want to make sure you stand out. Being cheerful, helpful and attentive is the first must, emailing to say thank you and networking with people you worked with online is the second. You want them to automatically think of you if a suitable job comes up, so stay on their radar by checking in every once in a while. Don’t be creepy about it — stalking their Instagram page or favouriting every one of their tweets will definitely not come across well. But everyone appreciates a good old-fashioned thank you, be it online or in person. Yes, even the Devil wearing Prada.
