A reader writes:
I’ve an intern who’s guide sensible and a really arduous employee. However there’s one large downside: he’s dangerous at issues he thinks he’s a famous person with. A number of examples:
– He thinks he’s an incredible author, however his writing is terrible. He misspells phrases, leaves out phrases, has no group, and customarily writes in an unprofessional method.
– He thinks he’s nice at public talking. In actuality, his shows are disorganized. He speaks in a short time and loudly and makes use of a number of insider language that the majority different individuals don’t perceive. He’s additionally utterly clueless about when he’s misplaced his viewers.
– He thinks he’s good at digital. In actuality, the social media posts he’s written are cringe-worthy. His makes an attempt to edit web sites have typically resulted in me spending hours fixing his work. His photographs and movies are blurry, have dangerous lighting, and aren’t framed properly.
I’ve tried speaking to him about slowing down and being extra thorough along with his work. I’ve additionally gone by means of all of the adjustments I’ve completed to his work so he understands why they had been mandatory. I’ve put him on several types of initiatives that he claims to be good at so I may discover his strengths and make it possible for he’s lightening my workload as a substitute of doubling it (which is what is going on now). It’s not working.
Even worse, he’s utilized for a full-time job with my firm and is satisfied he’s going to get it, however his interview was terrible and he failed his writing check.
I work in a inventive trade. I feel he has a number of potential. However I concern he’s simply not a great match for our trade. Any ideas on methods to handle him for the remainder of his internship? Is there a tactful option to let him know I feel he’s nice, however he’s simply not good at this work?
I reply this query over at Inc. at this time, the place I’m revisiting letters which have been buried within the archives right here from years in the past (and typically updating/increasing my solutions to them). You can learn it right here.