Most interns will have to perform some administrative duties. Depending on the area of work, administrative duties generally include answering phones, making copies and faxing, greeting clients, data entry and other paperwork. Interns may also be asked to do research for projects and generate reports. Keeping the office environment organized and covering tasks of other workers in the office are also duties left up to the intern. The education gained from intern "admin" tasks would be learning new software applications, communication and problem-solving skills, and networking in the office.
Helping out around the office also means running errands and getting documents for the people you work for. Duties could include going out to get coffee, restocking the office refrigerator, transporting clients, buying materials and anything else to relieve the pressures of the day-to-day activities of the office. Running errands is always part of an internship. While running errands seem like a tedious task, it exemplifies loyalty to the company and could get you a position with the company.
Depending on the field of work, interns may be asked to research a specific topic or assignment. Accountant interns could be asked to research a company's financial history, whereas marketing interns could be asked to research the trends of the teenager population. Interns could be asked to contribute ideas during brainstorm sessions, report research findings and even lead projects if the employer feels the intern is capable. Being a good researcher means using the resources available and working as part of a team.