After a big company tweeted about a mistake their intern made (kindly) people began to share their own ‘professional misadventures’ because we all make mistakes. The ‘Dear Intern’ trend is back, and a must-read for rookie employees.
Global (25 May, 2023)—After an intern sent out an empty test email to a slice of a big company’s mailing list, a beautiful thing happened. The ‘Dear Intern’ trend was born, and rookie employees everywhere felt a lot more supported.
Said big company happened to be HBO (yes, the same HBO responsible for many great shows). After the mistake, HBO took to explain the situation kindly in light of all the ‘it was probably the intern’ jokes they received.
We mistakenly sent out an empty test email to a portion of our HBO Max mailing list this evening. We apologize for the inconvenience, and as the jokes pile in, yes, it was the intern. No, really. And we’re helping them through it. ❤️
— MaxHelp (@maxhelp) June 18, 2021
People quickly responded to the tweet, sharing their own professional misadventures because we all make mistakes (even the biggest top dogs).
That was all 2 years ago. Now, the ‘Dear Intern’ trend has returned, with people in 2023 sharing their stories and encouraging support to rookie employees everywhere.
‘Dear Intern’: A Thread
Dear Intern, one time I sent out an email on behalf of the organization’s Board of Directors with a link to a custom Thank You video that was meant to show appreciation. The link redirected to a lady in her pajamas loudly reviewing hot Cheetos recipe fails. I cried twice that day
— BCP (@BCP49025) May 24, 2023
#dearintern me to the CEO of a large company, his name is Alan
I was 34 pic.twitter.com/DHCwIsS3d5— Nik McEwan (@NMexpeditions) May 25, 2023
Dear Intern, once I sent an email ending with “if you need any help please do not contact me” because I mixed the tense and wanted to say “do not hesitate to contact me”
— RG (@Rossyngr) May 24, 2023
Dear intern, I once accidentally sent an email with an embarrassing autocorrect to the CEO and Directors of my company asking for their thoughts on approaching…
The Penis Regulator.
Instead of The Pension Regulator https://t.co/QIXQ4Ido22
— Lee Noble (@LeeNoble20) May 25, 2023
#dearintern I once wrote the CEO of the company I worked for an email in all CAPS because I thought it was easier to read. They had to explain to me that was considered yelling. I had no idea.
— Singer Scott (@SingerScott52) May 25, 2023
#dearintern when I was a gallery director, I asked an artist if I could see their titles (of their work) the email definitely said “titties” we all make mistakes, some more awkward than others 😳
— Sherri Nienass Littlefield (@nienass) May 25, 2023
#dearintern As a young attorney, I forgot to remind a client about an important contract deadline that ended up costing them $50k AND that deal. I fessed up, owned my mistake and worked my ass off to try to make it up… that same client hired me as in-house counsel a year later.
— Kate (@mypetllama) May 24, 2023
#dearintern when i was helping transport artworks for a gallery show i shattered an $1800 ceramic pickle
— 🤖 (@19374764736272b) May 25, 2023
8yrs ago I changed the song you hear when placed on hold to Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer for my entire organization, and then I couldn’t figure out how I did it, nor how to undo it. It’s still the hold song. 😳
— Emily Hau (@1GreenwichGirl) May 25, 2023
People React to the ‘Dear Intern’ Trend
All these #DearIntern posts are so wholesome.
In the wise words of the great Hannah Montana, “Nobody’s perfect. I gotta work it, again and again ‘til I get it right.”
— Ellissa Black (@Ell2theissa) May 24, 2023
Seriously loving the #dearintern posts. We’re all human!
— Nicole Proulx Nelson (@colie_6) May 24, 2023
Love the thread #dearintern trending these days! We work 8h/day – it seems only natural to make mistakes. If you get stomach ache every time this happens, it might be time to work somewhere/with someone else.
— Polina Mesinioti (@mesinioti) May 24, 2023
The #dearintern trend has restored my faith in humanity. We all make mistakes & the world doesn’t stop.
Let’s all cut ourselves some slack. This “life” stuff is pretty hard.
Our own company motto is “everything is figureoutable.”— April (@_AprilShowers_) May 25, 2023
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