Interning can be overwhelming. Interning in a huge city can be downright terrifying. Last week, I had the chance to intern for a fashion designer in New York City; here’s what I learned.
1. MAKE SURE YOUR PHONE IS ALWAYS CHARGED
I can’t stress this enough. Most interns are sent on errands around the city. Using map quest and HopStop can drain your battery fast. Bring your charger with you! Better yet, buy a case that can charge your phone multiple times. If you find yourself in a pinch, dim the brightness on your phone to extend the life of your battery.
2. Have a Plan
If you’re in New York City, make sure you have the app HopStop. HopStop will give you multiple routes (both by train and foot) to get to your final destination. If you plan on walking, MapQuest is more detailed, but be warned that it drains your battery rapidly! The subway can be confusing at first, but the more you use it, the easier it gets!
3. Sometimes There’s Nothing to Do
As an intern you should always try to find something that needs to be done, but sometimes there’s really nothing to do. Check with your supervisor periodically to see if there is anything else that needs to be done. If not, take some time to relax and CHARGE YOUR PHONE.
4. Network
Make an effort to connect with other interns. All the new interns I met were super nice and always willing to help. Make sure to get their LinkedIn or contact information before you leave! One of them may end up with a great internship or job in the future and can put you in contact with the right people.
5. Dress to Impress
Always check with your supervisor about dress code before your first day. In my experience, the employees dressed more casually than I was led to believe. But there is a difference between casual and sloppy. It’s always better to be overdressed.
5. Pay Attention
There’s so much that goes on in New York City. Keep your eyes open or you might miss something exciting! ; )