Am I expecting too much of myself as an intern?

I'm an export sales intern, and a big part of my role is reaching out to suppliers. Since Monday, I've sent 124 emails, but most have gone unanswered. The few responses I've received often don't meet our MOQ requirements, so it feels like I'm making very little progress.

I've tried to improve my process by organizing leads with sourcing tools and revising my email templates, but I'm still anxious that I'm not producing enough results. As an intern, it's hard to tell whether this is a normal learning curve or a sign that I'm doing something wrong.

Managers, how would you view an intern in this situation? What would you want them to focus on, and how do you tell the difference between slow progress and poor performance?

Posted Jun 17, 2026, 1:14 PM UTC

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