No matter how experienced you are, the first day at a new internship or job is stressful. You don’t know what to wear, where to go or what to do. Don’t worry, it’s not actually as hard as you think it will be. Follow these 4 simple tips and you’ll end your first day looking like a pro.
1: Show up early. There’s nothing worse than worrying about being late for your first day. Since you likely haven’t been to this location many times, you may not be comfortable using mass transit or driving there. Give yourself a 20 minute cushion, just in case you get lost or stuck in traffic. It’s better to be early and have to wait than be running in late, looking disgruntled.
2: Bring the essentials. Don’t assume that your desk will come equipped with pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. If you think you may need it, bring it. You’ll look silly if your boss asks you to research something and you don’t have a notebook and pen to write down facts.
3. Always speak up. It’s your first day, you’re not expected to now everything, but sometimes editors and bosses forget that they’re using lingo you may not know. If you’re confused about anything they say, be sure to ask. Also, if they ask you to do something you don’t know how to do, be honest. Don’t pretend you know how to do things you don’t, it will catch up to you.
4: Be prepared to watch and learn. Yes, this may sound a bit boring, and likely your first day will be a little slow. While you may be tempted to pass the time on Facebook take the first day as an opportunity to learn and impress your editors early. Don’t be afraid to ask them if you can help with anything. The more you know, the better intern you’ll be!