Types of People to Avoid during your International Internship
Meeting all kinds of new people from various walks of life is one of the highlight of being in an international internship. After all, the main purpose of being in this position is to gain valuable work experience and widen your network in the industry. There might be times, though, when you would come at odds with your coworker. That is perfectly normal. Arguments are not something that can always be prevented when working with others. Resolving those problems with compromise and talking out your differences can even be the start of a good relationship.
However, it is also important to distinguish between a person who you disagree with and someone who are just toxic. Arguing with toxic people would not benefit you in any way as it would not bring any resolution to the problem. It would only create unneeded stress for your mental health, which in turn would affect your performance in the international internship. Therefore, it is vital for you to identify the truly toxic people around you. Here are some types of people that you should avoid during your international internship.
The Victim
It could be hard to identify this type of people at first because they would appeal to your emotional side. They cast themselves as the victim in every problems that they have, making you feel sorry for them. But as time goes on, you would realize how they never learn from their mistakes and keep blaming others for all the “misfortune that have befallen them”. They see other’s successes as a personal attack on them, because they are not given the same chances or abilities with the successful person. Being an emotional crutch for these kinds of people can get tiring really quickly and it is better for you to get away fast!
The Gossiper
These are the people who might look the friendliest when you just started your international internship because they seem welcoming and very talkative. They will actively approach you and ask you about yourself. However, the gossip mongers love knowing other people’s life details just to spread them around. They might even twist the story to make them sound more sensational. To describe them in one sentence, they are the type of people who revel in other’s misfortunes and mistakes so that they can feel better about themselves. Be careful around The Gossiper because, aside from being a negative force in your life, they would also stab you in the back if given the chance.
The Egoistical
They are the type who like to hog the limelight and have a “me-me-me!” attitude. Basically, everything has to be about themselves. The Egoistical will talk about themselves all the time and judge others by comparing it to their own ‘exemplary’ experience. When you try to add something about yourself, they will turn the conversation back around to their problem. They are not afraid to resort to manipulation to get what they want. They might even pretend to be your friend when all they do is take something from you, and yet somehow still manage to make it seems like you are the one indebted to them. Since being in the center of attention is a must for them, they can turn even the most trivial things to what seems like a serious problem. Avoid interacting with them more than necessary!
The Pessimist
You will meet that one person who are always such a downer. When you share an idea about a project, they will come up with the possible ways it could fail. Their glass is almost always half-empty. Most of the time, they are also pretty lazy, as they believe that no matter what they do, they will never be successful. Being around the pessimist too long will drain your positive energy and make you feel like a failure too!
Toxic people can ruin your international internship experience and even damage your work record. The best way to deal with these kinds of people is by avoiding them. Surround yourself with people who motivate you and challenge you for the better. There are times when you need to ask yourself whether the people in your circle drive you forward or drag you down. Remember, your international internship experience is a chance for growth so you need to be careful with any negative influences!