Five qualities every intern should have

Five qualities every intern should have by Michael Cheary Landing the right internship can sometimes seem like an impossible task…  Even with the right set of skills and qualifications, it isn’t always easy to know what your potential employer places precedence on â€" not to mention know how to set yourself apart from the competition.To help identify the most in-demand attributes all employers look for, we spoke to Inspiring Interns to find out five qualities every intern should have:Good phone and email mannerOne of the great stereotypes made about millennials is that we’re afraid to be proactive and pick up the phone â€" and there’s certainly an element of truth in that.But being so worried about speaking to someone new that you shy away from doing so is not only making a mountain out of a molehill, it’s also costing you an opportunity to build trust and a good relationship with a client or collaborator.It’s also worth brushing up on your email etiquette. Pay attention to how other people in the offi ce write, and match your style to theirs. Just make sure you’re mindful of tone. Senior staff might be able to get away with being overfamiliar but, as an intern, you should stick to a more formal tone unless advised otherwise.Above all, always remain professional â€" check your spelling and grammar, and avoid slang or bad language.How to: Turn your internship into a full-time jobResilience‘Can you tell me about a time you overcame a challenge?’.There’s a reason so many interviews include this question. Employers want to know how you deal with things when they don’t go smoothly: do you stand or do you fold?There will no doubt be difficult moments during your internship, and you’ll need to be able to bounce back from them. Try and put any mistakes you make in perspective, maintain a healthy work-life balance, and break down big problems into smaller chunks that you can deal with.Five key competency questions: revealed  Time managementIf you think this is the most obvious quality any intern could have, you’d probably be amazed at the number of people who show up late to work or meetings.Of course, disasters happen â€" leaves fall onto train lines and buses take mysterious detours to the edge of the known world. But if you are going to be late, make sure you let your manager know immediately.Being able to structure your own day is also a vital skill you’ll need in order to impress your employer. So, establish what your tasks are in line with the timeframe you have, and then plan out your time accordingly so you can be sure you’re staying on top of things.Emotional intelligenceEmotional intelligence refers to the ability to understand and control your own emotions, as well as assess and respond to those of the people around you â€" a quality that some employers rate far above IQ.This is because people with high emotional intelligence tend to display several key soft skills. They work well with others, both contributing to and leading teams, are good at maintaining their composure, and have strong self-awareness.So listen carefully to those around you, and try to respond to their emotional cues. And if you’re feeling flustered or upset, give yourself time to absorb and assess your emotions.If you take time to calm down before taking any action, you’ll end up making better decisions.  VersatilityThe range of work you’re asked to do during an internship can vary hugely.In marketing, for example, you might some days working on client briefs or creating content, and others stuffing envelopes for ongoing campaigns. This may not be as satisfying, but showing willing is always important.Being flexible in the work you take on is especially vital when in a junior role, and it’s not just about getting stuck into tasks you might not enjoy. You should also seize any opportunity â€" keeping in mind your own workload â€" to offer to help out your colleagues or to contribute to other projects.The more effort you put in, the more v alued you will be as a member of the team.Seven ways to make your internship countInspiring Interns are the UK’s leading graduate recruitment agency, having placed more that 5,000 university leavers in their first role. If you’re interested in starting your career journey, take a look at their graduate jobs and internships today. Ready to find your ideal internship? View all available internships now.  Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the