The first day of an internship can be daunting, especially if it’s your first time working in a professional environment. Just remember that you’re there to learn, and no one expects you to know what you’re doing on the first day. It’s a learning experience, so as long as you’re learning, you’re doing something right!
Here are a few tips to put your best foot forward:
1. Dress to impress. It’s much better to be overdressed than underdressed. Dress conservatively, like dress pants and a blouse, or dress shirt for men. Make sure you’re not showing too much skin, and bring a cardigan or sweater to cover up in case it’s chilly in the office. If you opt for a skirt, make sure it’s no shorter than an inch above the knee.
2. Be prepared. Take a notepad and pen with you, so you can take notes and reminders throughout the day. There’s going to be a lot of new information on your first day that you’ll want to have written down for day number 2!
3. Ask questions. There’s nothing wrong with asking questions. In fact, chances are you’re supervisor wants to you to ask questions and understand from day one, rather than trying to figure things out later on your own, which wastes time and risks things not being done correctly.
4. Keep your cell phone on silent and put away in your bag. Nothing looks worse than an intern texting and frequently looking at their phone, especially on the first day.
5. Watch the topic of conversation with other employees and your boss. Stay away from unsafe topics including money, religion, and politics. You never know who you may offend, and you don’t want to be on people’s bad side from the get-go!
6. Ask for things to do. Don’t sit around waiting for someone to direct you, or give you a project to work on. Asking and taking the initiative to see what more you can be doing will make you stand out and impress your boss.
6. Be friendly, respectful, and interested! Remember, this is a chance for you to network, collect solid references, or even score a full-time job. Make the most of it!