Key Traits of High-Performing Interns and Entry-Level Employees

At POWER, we just wrapped up our interview process for summer interns and were very fortunate to have received over 120 applications for the program. After sitting down for interviews with nearly half of that group and allowing them to probe the POWER team with any questions or concerns they had upfront, one inquiry continued to pop up:

"What makes a successful intern?"

This consistent question got me thinking, and for today's segment I wanted to take it a step it further to apply not just to interns, but entry-level employees as well. 

Over the years, I’ve seen first-hand what separates interns / entry-level employees who make a real impact from those who simply go through the motions. It comes down to three key traits:

Be Selfless. Be a Team Player.

Success in any business, especially a service-based one like ours, starts with a client-first mindset. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to impress your boss or focusing solely on personal growth, but at the end of the day, real success comes from delivering value to the people we serve and those around us.

Every professional wants to be promoted and progress their way through their own respective organization's ranks. But in my opinion, that is best fast-tracked through worrying and prioritizing others before yourself. It's not just about keeping your head down, checking the boxes of your projects and moving on. It's about looking up. Looking at your surroundings and doing whatever can positively progress your own business and those that you serve forward.

Fresh Eyes Bring Fresh Ideas.

One of the biggest mistakes interns make is assuming they need to fit into an existing mold, and for me this is specifically on the creative side. At POWER, we have strong creative standards, but marketing is extremely subjective. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" can be applied to everything we do from creating a graphic to coming up with ad copy. A fresh perspective on design, messaging, or branding can push us forward in ways we wouldn’t have seen on our own and we welcome it. So interns and entry-level employees should feel free to shout those fresh ideas out as they could help in more ways than one. 

Interns who confidently share their unique take bring real value. They don’t just adapt to the way things are done; they challenge us to think differently and evolve. That’s where real growth happens both personally and professionally. 

Challenge the Status Quo.

Last but not least as this one is my personal favorite, these employees need to feel like they can always challenge the standard that was previously set. So stepping outside of the creative box described above, but applying the same sort of progressive mindset that I alluded to there, entry-level employees and interns should feel free to challenge anything they feel could be enhanced.

I tell my team all the time: I love wacky and wild ideas.

I want interns who question things, who ask “why?” instead of just doing what they’re told. Whether it’s about internal processes, creative strategy, or how we execute campaigns, I encourage everyone on my team—no matter their level—to speak up. Even an idea I don’t fully agree on the surface may spark 3-5 concepts that could be absolute winners. 

It’s easy for interns to stay quiet and worry about saying the wrong thing, but the ones who take risks, challenge conventional thinking, and bring ideas forward are the ones who grow the fastest and make the biggest impact.

Bringing It All Together

The most successful interns are confident, curious, and unafraid to take risks. They push businesses (and themselves) forward by thinking beyond just the general job description or day-to-day tasks they are assigned. Those are the individuals that I truly believe can thrive no matter the industry, company, or even position they find themselves in. 

Thanks for taking the time to read through today's article and we will see you next week for another rendition of the POWER Plays!