Ridiculous interns

[Anonymous]

So after that 8 page boring-ass thread, I want to know what the OP replied to her intern?? OP??

[Anonymous]

Strange. I'd just let him leave early. I'm pretty flexible w/ my interns and they do really good work for me in return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So after that 8 page boring-ass thread, I want to know what the OP replied to her intern?? OP??

Sorry, didn't follow the full derailment of the thread. I too was hoping for more funny intern stories. Oh well. I basically said a version of something helpful from one of the early responders:
we normally don't get off because of rain, but it would be okay for today if you're particularly worried about the storm. And there's a spare umbella in the supply closet top shelf if you need to borrow one.

The storm ended up passing early and he didn't leave. The next day he sounded a little sheepish for asking but we laughed it off. I make my interns work hard (and warn them about it multiple times during the interviews so there are no surprises), but I try to be reasonably kind while holding high expectations. Thanks for the helpful responders who saved me from my autopilot eye roll or sarcastic response. Good to remember that frontal lobe still developing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My intern emailed me to ask if he could go home early to beat this afternoon's storm because he forgot his umbrella. Are you kidding me?! Is it just me or does that seem ridiculous? Or did I miss a major hurricane warning? We're right at metro center, BTW, no shortage of umbrella shopping opportunities.

How would you respond to this? I'm leaning toward ignoring it since it's my day off and I'm only responding to urgent email. Too passive aggressive? Teachable moment? Smart kid otherwise, just occasionally entitled.

Anyone else field this type of requests?

When there have been nasty storms coming, I've encouraged my interns to leave a little early to beat the bad weather on the metro walk. Figured it was the nice thing to do and they can make it up later. They usually stick it out anyway, but always seem to appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So after that 8 page boring-ass thread, I want to know what the OP replied to her intern?? OP??

Sorry, didn't follow the full derailment of the thread. I too was hoping for more funny intern stories. Oh well. I basically said a version of something helpful from one of the early responders:
we normally don't get off because of rain, but it would be okay for today if you're particularly worried about the storm. And there's a spare umbella in the supply closet top shelf if you need to borrow one.

The storm ended up passing early and he didn't leave. The next day he sounded a little sheepish for asking but we laughed it off. I make my interns work hard (and warn them about it multiple times during the interviews so there are no surprises), but I try to be reasonably kind while holding high expectations. Thanks for the helpful responders who saved me from my autopilot eye roll or sarcastic response. Good to remember that frontal lobe still developing!

Thanks for updating OP!

[Anonymous]

I guess I am also confused about the harshness of some of the comments. Maybe some of y'all came out of the womb ready for a professional office environment. I was not. I was raised in a blue collar household, and while I worked like a dog growing up, I had to learn proper office ettiquette. They did not teach that in the top B school that I attended. When I was an intern (unpaid), I owned two suits, so I might have asked to leave to beat the rain if my other option was to possibly ruin one of my 2 suits.

OP, I would not judge him too harshly, but I think it is a teachable moment in how to manage such issues in the future. He will probably appreciate the lesson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I am also confused about the harshness of some of the comments. Maybe some of y'all came out of the womb ready for a professional office environment. I was not. I was raised in a blue collar household, and while I worked like a dog growing up, I had to learn proper office ettiquette. They did not teach that in the top B school that I attended. When I was an intern (unpaid), I owned two suits, so I might have asked to leave to beat the rain if my other option was to possibly ruin one of my 2 suits.

OP, I would not judge him too harshly, but I think it is a teachable moment in how to manage such issues in the future. He will probably appreciate the lesson.

This x 1000.

[Anonymous]

Hope the intern isn't reading this post. Talk about embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

I was offerred an unpaid internship in my major with the #1 firm in the world, at the time, when I graduated. Work for free? Are you kidding? How am I suppose to live? Do you think I'm living off my mommy & daddy?

I actually spoke those words to HR!

So many decades ago. But I'm still glad, at the time, I said it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who gives a rat's ass if she was "fearful"? She could have taken a cab.

Honestly, are you picturing your toddlers when you write this crap? These are ADULTS we're talking about.

These are adults with ZERO money. I remember being a broke 20-something and taking a cab and buying an extra umbrella was never an option. It was just not in the budget to ever solve problems with money. Mostly I suffered. I wish I had lived it up more like other interns or acted more entitled. Or even a tiny bit entitled.

So? When I was doing my internships - paid and unpaid - I could not afford cabs or umbrellas (I think I would have sucked it up to buy a $9 umbrella) but I walked in the rain, figured out my schedule so I was able to get home or around the city at night without endangering myself or worked out to have a friend pick me up.

What the bolded PP is saying is that if widdums can't handle a rain storm with the rest of the population, I truly fear for our future.