Relating with Work Colleagues As an Intern

Jennifer Winter once said: “It’s hard to ignore results, and when you’re striving for the respect of your colleagues, one of the best things you can do is show you’ve got the right stuff.”

Internship experiences can be extremely valuable, providing young workers the opportunity to build skills for their resumes and meet people who are working in their preferred industry. However, working as an intern can be one of the best or worse experiences in your career. We all want to be liked and create positive impressions, Yes., so how can you relate with your colleagues in a way that isn’t awkward or clumsy.

As a fresh graduate who had no professional work experience with high levels of anxiety, it was hard to navigate through the daily activities of work and relate with my colleagues. I was laid back, barely talked or got into the usual work conversations except when asked questions, had ideas but was too shy to share with the team.

There's a popular saying, ‘You don’t go to work to make friends’, but to what extent is that true? Effective working relationships help increase productivity. It's essential to be friendly and approachable if you want to build strong workplace relationships. You’re going to need support to do well – not just in your current role, but also later on in your career.

Here are four things to be aware of as an intern, for an effective work relationship with your colleagues

Ask lots of meaningful questions:

If there’s one thing I have learnt in my current place of work, It has to be the importance of asking questions. It’s better to get clarification than to do a task wrong. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and No, you are not disturbing your colleagues. Good communication is key.

Offer assistance to other colleagues:

Make an effort to see if your teammates need a hand on a task. Your “comfort zone” will be challenged and you may take on extra work which you were not expecting. By doing this, you are building a relationship with your colleagues and if you prove yourself in your tasks, you gain more responsibilities over time.

Do not overstep boundaries:

As much as you want to create a good relationship with your colleagues, it's advisable to always "Read the room". Avoid being talkative or making insensitive statements and learn to be cautious of the words you use around the workplace.

Maintain a positive attitude:

A key part of building healthy relationships is to retain a positive attitude towards your colleagues. Nobody wants to be close to someone with negative energy. Having a positive attitude will increase your chance of getting noticed and they will be more likely to keep in touch once your internship is over.

While it’s important to remember the line between making friends and getting too personal, Building meaningful professional relationships will be an added advantage in your career journey.