Internships are meant to be educational. And the most educational moments are often the mistakes you make. But there's a difference between useful mistakes, the ones that bring insight, and unnecessary mistakes that could have been avoided with a bit of forethought. Here we go through the most common ones.
1. Being Passive#
The absolute most common mistake. You're at your desk, you've finished the task you were given, and you wait. Nobody says anything. Minutes turn into hours.
Why It Happens#
Many students don't want to be a bother. They don't want to interrupt or seem incompetent by asking questions. The problem is that silence is interpreted as disinterest: not as politeness.
How to Avoid It#
Ask proactively. Three phrases that always work:
- "I've finished this task, would you like me to continue with something else?"
- "I have some free time, is there anything I can help with?"
- "I'm not sure how to proceed, could you give me a hint?"
Supervisors appreciate students who take initiative. It doesn't have to be grand. Just asking is enough.
2. Not Asking Questions#
Closely related to passivity, but not exactly the same thing. This is about students who receive a task, don't understand it, but try to solve it anyway: and deliver something completely different from what was expected.
Why It Happens#
Fear of looking stupid. It's an understandable feeling. But in a workplace, misunderstandings cost time and energy, usually more time than the question would have taken.
How to Avoid It#
Make it a habit to repeat the task in your own words: "So if I understand correctly, I should do X and deliver Y by Friday?" That simple check catches most misunderstandings before they become problems.
And remember: an experienced colleague who gets irritated by questions is a bad supervisor, not a reason to stop asking.
3. Using Your Phone as a Lifeline#
You're checking Instagram during the meeting. You're on TikTok at lunch. You're replying to Snapchat in the middle of a task. You think nobody notices. Everyone notices.
Why It's a Problem#
It's not about morals. It's about the signal you're sending. An intern who is constantly on their phone is perceived as disinterested, regardless of how good their work is when the phone is put away.
How to Avoid It#
Simple: put your phone in your bag during work hours. Check it during breaks. If you need your phone for work (two-factor authentication, apps, etc.), tell your supervisor so you avoid misunderstandings.
4. Not Keeping a Log or Taking Notes#
Many programs require you to keep a log during the internship. But even if it's not a requirement, it's one of the smartest things you can do.
Why It Matters#
- You forget faster than you think. By week six you won't remember what you did in week two
- The log gives you material for the LIA report, evaluation forms, and your future CV
- It shows your supervisor that you take the internship seriously
- You can use it to reflect and identify patterns in your learning
How to Make It Easy#
Set aside five minutes every day before you leave. Write three things:
- What I did today
- What I learned
- What I want to ask about tomorrow
It doesn't have to be polished prose. Bullet points are fine.
5. Hiding Mistakes#
You made an error in the code. You sent an email to the wrong person. You deleted a file you shouldn't have. First impulse: hide it and hope nobody notices.
Why It's Dangerous#
Hidden mistakes tend to grow. A small error caught immediately takes five minutes to fix. The same error discovered a week later, by someone else, can take hours to resolve and damages trust.
How to Handle It#
Say it right away: "I think I made a mistake with X, can you help me fix it?" In the vast majority of cases, the reaction is positive. Supervisors expect interns to make mistakes. They do not expect interns to hide them.
Being honest about mistakes isn't weakness. It's professionalism.
6. Not Asking for Feedback#
Many students wait for the supervisor to initiate feedback. That doesn't always happen, supervisors are busy and won't think of it unless you bring it up.
Why Feedback Is Critical#
Without feedback, you don't know if you're doing well or not. You could go through the entire internship thinking everything is perfect, until the evaluation reveals otherwise.
How to Ask for It#
Schedule short check-ins with your supervisor every other week. Or ask simple questions on an ongoing basis:
- "Was this roughly what you expected?"
- "Is there anything I should do differently?"
- "What's the most important thing I should focus on right now?"
Most supervisors appreciate when the student takes responsibility for their own development.
7. Not Networking#
The internship placement isn't just a workplace, it's a network. The people you meet during the internship could become future colleagues, managers, references, or collaborators.
What You're Missing#
Students who only talk to their supervisor miss half the point of an internship. Colleagues have experiences, contacts, and insights you won't get by sitting quietly at your desk.
How to Network Naturally#
- Have lunch with the team, not alone
- Ask colleagues about their roles and career paths
- Participate in social activities when offered
- Add people on LinkedIn during or after the internship (with a personal message, not just a blank request)
8. Having Unrealistic Expectations#
Some students expect the internship to be like school, structured tasks with clear instructions and fixed deadlines. Reality is often different.
What Actually Happens#
- Tasks change midway through
- Priorities shift
- The supervisor doesn't always have time
- You may get tasks that feel "below your level"
- There will be periods with little to do
How to Handle It#
Accept that working life is not a classroom. Unclear instructions are the norm, not the exception. The ability to handle uncertainty and structure your own time is one of the most important things you can learn during an internship.
And if you get simple tasks, do them well. Nobody gets promoted for writing "that was below my level" on their CV.
Mistakes Are OK: The Same Mistake Twice Is Not#
Everyone makes mistakes during an internship. It's part of the learning process. But the pattern is what matters. A student who makes a mistake, learns from it, and adjusts, that's exactly what an internship is about. A student who makes the same mistake over and over signals that the learning isn't working.
Reflect regularly. Ask for feedback. Take notes on what you learn. The rest will sort itself out.
