Oh boy, how I remember the all too familiar feeling of butterflies in my stomach the summer going into my junior year as I began my first two internships. Both of the internships that I secured that summer were part-time and unpaid, but I knew that they would be the stepping stones to my future. It is easy to let your nerves get the best of you when you feel the need to be perfect on the job all the time. We all want to put our best foot forward and to produce work that will showcase our potential, but nerves should not get in the way of that. Here some tips to ease your mind so that you can shine like the star you are at your new internship!
1. Remind yourself that you are at this internship for a reason.
If you are feeling nervous as you step into the building of your dream internship on the first day, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you put in the necessary work to get to where you are. At one point, you might not have thought that it was even possible to get an internship at all, yet here you are. Try putting everything back into perspective. Remind yourself that you work hard, someone here saw potential in you which is why you were hired in the first place, and that you have the skills needed to be successful here.
2. Come prepared for your first day.
One of the most nerve-wracking parts of starting an internship is the plethora of information that you will receive (names of employees, daily duties, how to get around the building, etc.) An easy way to feel confident and to settle your nerves is to bring a notebook that you can write everything down in. A notebook will show other employees that you are responsible, it will help you stay organized, and it will be your tool to look back on when you are feeling unsure about something.
3. Dress to impress—but feel comfortable in what you wear.
Simply putting on a killer outfit for your internship will make you feel one thousand times more confident. I am all for dressing in stylish outfits but do not make the mistake of wearing heels that are too high to walk in, or cute pants that restrict your breathing. These choices are avoidable and will only add to your discomfort if you are already nervous. The last thing you want is to be in pain on the job. Choose outfits that look professional and that fit into your work environment, but that you will be comfortable in when you are working for nine hours a day.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
A huge mistake new interns make on the job is not asking questions because they are too afraid to. This is a new internship—it is natural that you will have questions about the way things work. If you are confused, asking a question to receive clarification will only benefit you because it will ensure that you do your tasks correctly, saving a lot of time and trouble in the long run. Always make sure that your questions are important and relevant to what you are doing, but know that no one will fault you for asking questions if it will help you do the job right!
5. Last but not least, befriend your fellow interns and have fun.
It is important to remember that the other interns are in the same boat as you. Build a relationship with them. Get to know them. Bond over this new experience. You will be each other’s support system for the duration of this internship, so you want to make sure that you are maintaining healthy relationships with the people you are working with every day. This will ease your nerves and make you excited to go into work every day.
Now you are ready to be confident and successful at your internship! Get out there and do the best work that you can without nerves hindering you because you never know where this internship could lead you in the future.