E-mail snooping (intern's duty)

Today my supervisor told me that I needed to get login and password information from our IT person in order to hack into one of our co-worker's email accounts. This person is on vacation and we need to find a contact name somewhere in Outlook that she forgot to write down for us. So basically, I have been given the order to snoop, and snoop diligently.

Such is a proper assignment to be handed off to an intern. I took on the challenge without any reservations; it's a nice change to what I have been doing lately, such as making phone calls. However, after 3 hours of combing through her mess of an inbox (whose isn't a mess, though?), I have yielded absolutely nothing relating to this item of inquiry. I have, however, learned some interesting things going on in the office.

Now I let the reader know I approached this assignment with the utmost care and consideration: I resolved I would not open personal emails unless I really, really, really thought what I was looking for might be in there. I have absolutely no interest in doing such a thing, anyway. And I lived up to that promise. However, a lot of the time, you can make a pretty close guess about what an email might be about from the subject or RE: line. At least you have enough information to let your mind wander. So consider my position: I have to carefully read, weigh, and consider these subject lines in order to make a judgment call to investigate further. It's part of the job, afterall.

Examples of highlights I found, but dared not open:

RE: I am worried about Noami, too --> (hint, she's another intern here, readers)
RE: educational coordinator position in SF - your application has been received!
RE: Naughty Survey, part II
RE: the things I get myself into...

As a rule, people, do not mingle work with personal email. You never know what intern will be assigned to snoop through it when you are on vacation.