*** I’m married! And I *just* got back from honeymooning! WOOHOO! With sketchy service on some days of our trip, the final post in the trilogy of collegiate-oriented goodness from my FABULOUS intern didn’t make it up. So now, it’s due time y’all get to read + enjoy it! She wrote this great letter from the perspective of any employee to a boss, whether past, present, or future. Think of it as all the things you wish you could just say right off the bat! What would you add to the list? And ICYMI, catch Sarah’s first post here and second post here. And as always, be sure to leave her some LOVE in the comments section – she can’t wait to respond! I’ll be back again tomorrow with the usual CUR vibe. Lovelovelove, E ***
Written By: Sarah Hanlon, Coming Up Roses Intern + Bosslady Extraordinaire
Dear Boss / Future Boss / Aspiring Boss,
Let me begin by saying thank you. I truly do appreciate you putting your faith in me and hiring me as your intern. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t ready to work my booty off (side note to interns: make sure you’re ready to work your booty off). So let’s kick this off and get ish done!
I think many of us find it hard to speak what’s on our minds, especially when I’m the intern and you’re the boss. Writing this letter is my way to really chat with you and talk about this internship (because let’s be real, writing a letter is way less intimidating than talking in person. LOL.)
When I first start working, be patient with me. I’m learning a new job, and I’m really doing my best to get it right. The last thing I want to do is make a mistake or disappoint you. I’m here to grow and learn as much as I can during our time together, and I’m going to make sure I do the best both for me and for you.
There’s a chance that, in addition to this internship, I’m working another job (or two) and/or I’m busy as a full time student. My plate is full, but I wouldn’t take on this internship if I couldn’t handle it. If I seem to be slacking, tell me about it! Chances are, I need a reminder to make sure my priorities are in check. If I’m really struggling, I’ll be open with you to make sure we’re on the same page. Communication is a major key.
That’s not to say I’m asking for a free pass if I’m not giving you my best effort. Let me know when I’m making a mistake. Tell me if I need to kick it in to gear a little more. At this age, we interns need to be held accountable for our actions and we should be treated like real adults! As scary as adulting seems, I’m hoping this internship will make the transition a little less terrifying.
If I ask a lot of questions, I’m not doing it to distract or annoy you. I’m asking because I care about the work I put out, and I want to show you that I’m willing to do what it takes to give you my best.
For those of you who own your own small scale business and are looking to hire an intern, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. If you want your intern to solely handle your social media, for example, make sure they’re aware of that. If you plan on giving them a heavier workload, be transparent and let them know your goals from the start. If you want an intern just to do the tedious work you’d rather not do, then you might be in it for the wrong reasons. If you hire me, I want to make sure I’m going to benefit from my time with you! (Similarly, if you’re just going to have me make those stereotypical coffee + donuts runs every day, I’d rather not. I’m here to learn real skills that will benefit me in the long run. And I have my own ever-changing Starbucks order to worry about.)
And finally, I want you to be real with me! Give me realistic goals to achieve. Give me a taste of what the real world is like. My head may still be stuck in that fabulous college bubble. If I make a mistake, let me know but also offer a way to fix it (because I’m probably not making the mistake on purpose. I might actually not know that I’m doing something wrong).
Chances are, I really look up to you because I chose to be your intern for a reason. You might have the exact job I want, or you might just live a really fab life that I want for myself one day. I could also be really obsessed with your closet. It’s likely a combination of all three.
While we should be professional together, I want to have a little fun too! We don’t have to be bffs, but there’s nothing wrong with a little boss/intern bonding (midday office dance parties, caffeine runs together, and heartfelt chats about life all sound great to me!)
I appreciate you and this job more than you know. Thanks for being so wonderful. #LadyBossesForTheWin.
Sincerely,
Your Intern
What do you wish you could say to your boss?
While I’m sure midday dance parties, coffee runs together and heartfelt life chats are rare in internships, Sarah and I both definitely enjoy those when she’s at CUR headquarters. 😉 What would you add to the communication wishlist for you + your head honcho in charge? AND/OR, on the flip side, what as a boss do you wish you could say to your intern???
ICYMI…
How to be a Total Lady Boss in College
The Do’s + Don’t’s of Any Internship
7 Ways to know you’re ready to get Married
Monthly Income Report: $4728.78
House Tour: Kitchen + Dining Room
