Career Prep 2009 Summer Blog

Do you really need to send that text right now? Do you really have to answer your cell phone even though no one is around? Did you really have to go to the restroom again or were you in the stall texting your friend again about how bored you are at work? Well, the answer to all of the above questions is obviously a resounding, “no.” You may think that you can do any of the aforementioned acts and get away with it, after all you are doing a great job on all of your projects. Well the reality of it is you really won’t know if someone is noticing until you get to your mid-summer or end-of-summer review because your boss may not say a word. In some instances, you may never hear a word directly from your boss. Why take the risk? Your internship is a great training ground for you to begin exercising self-control around texting, excessive emailing, and cell phone usage. Yes, it will be very difficult but it will be worth it.

If you need some help, think about this scenario. Your boss calls you into his/her office and starts off with all kinds of great accolades about your performance, but suddenly the tone changes as he/she mentions that several of your colleagues have complained about your constant cell phone usage, instant messaging, texting, and playing computer games during office hours. Your boss concludes your review by stating that you would certainly have received the offer had you exercised better judgment about office protocol. He/She appears to question your commitment level and work ethic based on a few text/email messages. It’s up to you to decide how important it is for you to text/email/surf the web this summer from the office. Someone is paying attention.