It’s almost time to start that summer internship you have worked so hard for! As exciting as this is, it’s also fairly nerve-wracking; but we’re here to help. This is the collegiettes guide to interning:
“How should I dress?”First impressions are important, so don’t just wing your first day outfit and hope for the best! E-mail your internship supervisor prior to your start date and ask her what dress code the office follows. He or she will be impressed to see that you are thinking ahead, and it also shows respect for the office environment.
“Do you have a pen and paper for me?”Do not, I repeat, DO NOT, show up to an internship without a notepad and pen. Sure, the office is equipped with a ton of supplies, but take initiative and bring your own. You will probably have a meeting with other interns or your supervisor on your first day, and a ton of important information is going to get tossed at you. Your boss will be very impressed to see you taking notes because you were prepared, while other interns might be empty handed waiting for a pen and pad to be given to them.
“Should I turn my phone on silent?”Not on silent, not on vibrate, just turn it off. You’re going to be busy doing work, so don’t even waste your battery by having it turned on. Not to mention, if it’s on you’re going to be tempted to look at it. It might seem like the office is getting quiet and you have a moment to yourself, so you take your phone out for a minute. That could be the same minute your boss walks by, and it looks like you aren’t doing anything but sitting on your phone. If you want to be the best intern you can be, it’s in your favor to just keep it off!
“It’s my first day, how was I supposed to know?”It’s your first day and you’re in a meeting with information flying at you. You’re not going to know everything about the company you’re working for, especially because not everything is public knowledge; but this shouldn’t stop you from doing your research. Find out what clients they work with, or study their mission statement. Additionally, set up a Google Alert for the company name, so that every time there’s news about them you’re automatically informed. There is nothing more impressive than being able to throw out something you’ve noticed the company doing lately. This shows that you’re into current events and passionate about the company!
“I’m just going to go on Twitter real quick.”These are not your personal computers. These are office computers with probably a lot of important information on them. Logging onto Twitter or even Facebook really quick isn’t the end of the world, but forgetting to log out is the issue. Let’s say you want to go check something out real quick, but then you see your boss coming so you exit the tab quickly before getting caught. Suddenly, you’re busy with another task and have completely forgotten to log yourself out. The next time a co-worker has the same idea to check out Twitter or Facebook, they are greeted with your Twitter profile and that rather inappropriate group Facebook chat you and your roommates have going. Moral of the story, just resist Twitter, Facebook, and any other social media platforms during office hours.
“What if I don’t understand the assigned task?”ASK QUESTIONS! Of course it’s intimidating to ask for help, but don’t keep questions bottled up. Immediately after the assignment is given to you, ask any and every question you have. Your company doesn’t expect you to know everything, that’s why you’re an intern. However, they still expect a job well done and that won’t happen if you don’t clear up any confusion you may have.
“How do I get the most out of this?”Always go above and beyond. Little things, such as smiling and saying good morning to a co-worker everyday will leave a lasting impression. Being attentive, not being attached to your phone and asking questions will show that you’re passionate. Being prepared, and dressing respectfully will show that you are mature. Just breathe, and be the smart, well-rounded Fairfield University collegiette that you are!