I have finally completed 5 full days of my internship so far. I am gradually familiarizing myself with my work environment and getting accustomed to a daily routine with my new coworkers, who have been more than welcoming thus far.
Despite the friendly environment, many elements of work throughout my days so far have been fairly ambiguous and have left me in states of uncertainty in terms of my expectations as a new intern. Beginning this new job in an unfamiliar environment, I had initially expected to receive more guidance from my supervisor and/or colleagues in regard to what tasks I am expected to complete on a day-to-day basis. However, this has not been the case. I oftentimes find myself waiting for specific instructions from my supervisor which I rarely have ever received. Being so new to the office, I have felt that I shouldn’t do much without clear direction and instruction. I sometimes sit for a while to summon the courage to ask someone exactly what it is I am supposed to be working on.
In reality, it has really been up to me to ask about the tasks I should be working on and how exactly they should be completed, which I was not entirely anticipating. I have been granted immense flexibility as a new intern who is only 1 week in to a new job. Each morning upon my arrival, I do not know what to expect. I have to ask right off the bat each morning what I am expected to be doing. Sometimes even when I ask for instruction, I am still left slightly confused. My supervisor seems to trust me enough to complete a task in my own regard and to my own standards, which is something that will definitely take some more time to get acclimated to.
The lack of clear instruction has made me question whether or not they are truly allowing me free reign and independence, or, if the ambiguity is simply a test. I have been struggling to find the balance between taking initiative and advocating for myself in the workplace, vs. expecting my supervisor to provide me with more clear instructions as the new intern.
I am attempting to navigate this ambiguity I have been experiencing by what I previously mentioned, making sure I am checking in with my supervisor and forcing myself to acknowledge the fact that it is ok to ask questions. I should not always have the concern that I am “bothering” my supervisor or a colleague as they are typically more than happy to answer my questions or give me clearer instructions. It is fully in my right to ask questions.
I also have had some uncertainty in regard to how I would fit in with my coworkers and the social environment in the office. My office is small and I have only a few colleagues. As a very introverted person, I was nervous at first regarding how I would fit into this close-knit environment, as I believe my colleagues have all been working in the office for a number of years and have gotten to know each other very well. I am grateful that everyone has been very welcoming to me as the new intern. It has been difficult to sometimes break out of my comfort zone and initiate conversation, but in the times that I have done so, my colleagues have been very receptive and friendly. Sometimes, I do not always understand the banter that occurs or jokes that are told, as I am not entirely accustomed to the Irish normalcies. In these cases, I try my best to carry on the conversations and make contributions and try to understand, again, that there is nothing wrong with asking questions!
In the 6 weeks to come, I am very hopeful that I will learn a great deal from this experience, both in the professional light and personal. It has never been one of my strong suits to speak up and advocate for myself in all situations but I am learning each and every day how to get there, making small strides and small victories for myself that I am confident will benefit me significantly in the near and distant future. These next few approaching weeks, however, I simply hope to remain proactive in my work environment and advocate for myself and for my abilities. I know I have a strong work ethic and skills to offer within my position that can only serve to better the organization. I must remember it is okay to ask questions, and okay to not get everything right on my first go of it. I am excited to see what these next 6 weeks have in store for me!