Internship_Workplace_Etiquette.doc - UT’s PARALEGAL STUDIES...

UT’s PARALEGAL STUDIES INTERNSHIP
Introduction
As a representative of The University of Toledo and the Paralegal Studies Program, you
stand not only for yourself, but also for UT and the Paralegal Studies Program as a whole.
Your behavior, attitude and work ethic continue to set the tone for the internship program.
If you are mature, poised, courteous, and respectful of your coworkers, your internship
placement will extend this invitation to other paralegal interns who will follow in your
footsteps. Likewise, if you are rude, insolent or inconsiderate to your internship
supervisor’s needs or the needs of their clients, you may be out of a “job” shortly, you may
jeopardize your degree completion, and you may ruin the chances of other students to
intern at this placement in the future. The following information is provided to give you
information that will assist you in preparing for a wonderful, rewarding internship
experience.
Etiquette in the Workplace
Although many people consider their technical skills and intelligence to be their most
important job qualifications, many employers consider the ability to get along well with
colleagues and clients even more important . In the workplace, being well mannered
means one thing above all else: respecting others and treating them with courtesy – no
matter what!
In the workplace, manners are addressed in many different ways. You should do the
following:
 Respect the company’s culture. Take note of your supervisor and other
employees and emulate their behavior.
 Respect rank and treat it appropriately. Most companies have a hierarchy. Learn
what it is and what each level requires from you.
 Respect the privacy of others and be courteous to them.
 Respect others’ views and avoid disagreements. When they do arise, handle
them gracefully. People’s religious, political, moral, and lifestyle opinions differ.
Acknowledge that and refrain from imposing yours on them.
Developing Relationships Quickly
You can do many things in a working environment to irritate other people, just as you
can do many things to make yourself a prized worker who is an integral member of a

team. Your goal in the internship should be to make the internship supervisor think they
can’t do without you!
You can quickly, very quickly, get a reputation on the job as someone who is a hard
worker, takes directions well, is a team player, etc. One of the keys to workplace
etiquette is to pay enough attention to others to be able to modify your behavior to
accommodate them. In other words, people have different personality types; the more
observant you are and the quicker you identify that, the easier it will be for you to
communicate with those individuals.
Here are some tips to master:
 Learn the names of all people you will interact with on a daily basis. Unless you
are told otherwise, address everyone by Mr. Mrs. (married) Miss (unmarried) Ms.