This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UFL chapter.
The hard part is over. You’ve landed an internship for summer. It might feel like you having nothing to do until you actually begin interning, but here are some things to try to do before you start interning that can make your transition into a new work environment smooth and help you make the most of your experience.
- Figure out exactly what you’ll be doing.You want to walk in on the first day with an idea of what tasks you’ll be assigned to. Nothing’s worse than having no idea what to expect, and nothing’s worse for your nerves. Unless your new boss has given you a clear list of what you’ll be doing, it’s a good idea to ask your boss what specifically you’ll be responsible for. He or she is probably very busy, so email or call at least a few weeks before you start. Not only will this help you, it will probably impress your boss.
- Prepare yourself as best you can for your new responsibilities.There will probably be a lot of things you’ll have to learn once you’re there, but if there’s anything you can do ahead, definitely do it. For instance, if you’re going to be interning at a PR agency or newspaper, familiarize yourself with the company’s style of writing, so it will be easier for you when you start writing.
- Try to snoop a bit, and see if you can learn about the people you’ll be directly working with.Social media and the internet in general have made it so easy to find out about people. We’re not saying you have to go into super creep mode and find out juicy, personal details, but see if you can learn something about each person you’ll be closely working with.
- Talk to people who have had your internship.Ask them about what kinds of things they did, how much they learned and tips for you. It’s also the perfect opportunity for you to ask about the people you’ll be working with. From my own experiences, a lot of students have the same internships in Gainesville, so it’s not hard to find someone who has already interned at the places you’ll be interning. But there’s a good chance your summer internship is not Gainesville. If it’s for a high profile company with a lot of interns, there might be a Facebook group for interns where you could ask questions and get advice. If it’s in your hometown, ask friends from high school if they have or know anyone who has done your internship.
- Try to become friends with at least one other intern before you begin your. On your first day, you’ll like seeing a friendly face amongst all the new ones. Having someone to talk to during breaks will make the first day just a little bit easier.
Good luck with your summer internships!