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Starting a new internship can be scary on it's own, but starting a new internship and receiving hardly any guidance is a nightmare!  Believe it or not, I've been faced with the dilemma of having to teach myself the ropes a couple of times.  Whether certain employers feel that their interns are self-sufficient enough to figure things out on their own, or just don't have the time to lay out the welcome mat, the fact is that as an intern you need to possess certain survival skills just in case you end up having to fend for yourself.



Pay attention

A good habit in any situation is to get a feel for the office environment as soon as possible.  With a little observation you should be able to tell how employees communicate with each other, what the relationship is like between employees and the boss, how casual the setting is, etc.  Being attentive should help you fit right in.  If you're tucked away in a cubicle where it's a little more difficult to view the interactions, use your initial conversations with the staff to make some strategic observations, or simply ask what you should expect.

Realize when you're being tested

More than once I have had an employer who seemed to like to "test" new interns, trying to determine how much they can handle.  If you are given a pile of paper the size of Mt. Everest to file or are delegated some other impossible task before you've even warmed your new seat, don't freak out.  Realize that it might be a test to see how you react in a stressful situation.  Overcome the situation by staying calm and working through it.  Becoming stressed or anxious will just cloud your mind and impair your judgment.  If you're still being given unmanageable things to do about a month after you start, then you are allowed to freak out.

Ask questions to the right people
 
Asking questions to clarify a task you've been given is never a bad thing.  It's better to be safe and ask rather than to be sorry if you mess something up.  At every internship I've had, I was able to find at least one person who ended up being my go-to person for questions.  This person was always glad to help and understood that it's tough being new to a company and expected to do a lot of different things right off the bat.  Granted, I always found this person through an interesting process of trial-and-error.  Try asking several questions to numerous people in the office, and it will become obvious who gets disgruntled or doesn't seem to want to be bothered.  Think through your questions before you ask them to make sure that you're not wasting someone else's time on something you could have figured out on your own.

Become friends with the old intern... STAT!

The person who will be able to give you the most invaluable advice in the whole company will be... you guessed it- the old intern/interns.  Not only do they know exactly what you will be dealing with, but they will most likely be happy to fill you in on the details.  If you aren't given the opportunity to transition with them, ask someone for their contact information and shoot them a quick call or email to introduce yourself.  Get their permission to contact them is something comes up you think they might be able to help with, and then utilize them.

Please share if you have had an internship where you had to figure things out for yourself.  How did you manage?  Did you still enjoy your internship?

I realize that the last couple of posts about starting a new internship contained a lot of different information that might be overwhelming to cover when you're already busy with school and about to add a new internship to the chaos.  To make your life a little bit easier, I'm going to compile a quick and easy list to guide you through your first day.  Print it out, follow it, and you should start out on an excellent foot.

Here are some of the main Do's and Don'ts to remember when starting your new internship:

DO always keep a smile on your face
DO practice good posture
DON'T bite your nails or give in to other nervous habits
DO dress clean-cut and conservative
DO makes sure your clothes are clean and in good condition
DO introduce yourself to people
DO speak clearly and confidently
DON'T mumble, use slang, or ever curse
DO be calm and control your nerves
DO look people in the eyes when talking to them
DO have a firm handshake
DON'T use your phone or other electronics.  Period.
DO remember people's names by repeating them in your head
DO keep your conversations professional
DON'T look bored about not-so-exciting tasks
DO think before you speak
DO research the company
DO plan what you're going to wear in advance
DO know the location of the building beforehand
DO map out the parking situation before showing up
DO bring a notebook and pen
DO remember to bring whatever they asked you to bring
DO bring food to munch on

It's all about the non-verbals

Ugly Betty on her first day at Mode.

You composed a cover letter that has the potential to win a literary award, you totally connected with the person who interviewed you, and then of course... YOU GOT THE INTERNSHIP!

Take a deep breath my friend, because the hard part is over.  Now, all you have to do is make a great first impression and completely rock the first day of your internship.  No big deal, right?  It won't be, because with these tips your first day will be stress-free and get you amped up for the amazing internship experience to come.

What to do before showing up

Figure out parking

Chances are, parking is not something on your mind the few days before your internship starts, but it should be.  You definitely don't want to show up ready for work only to find out that the parking situation is a huge headache and end up being late or starting your day completely stressed because of it.  Simply ask your internship coordinator what the deal is on intern parking and you'll avoid having to worry about it the day-of.

Know the location

Be sure to either have the location plugged into your GPS the night before, or better yet, have scouted it out beforehand to find out what traffic will be like.  Stressing about things such as parking and where you're going should not be taking up your energy on the first day, so do a little advanced preparation and avoid these hassles.

Plan what you're going to wear

Remember the days when you would lay out your outfits the night before grade school to make sure you were looking your best... or maybe because your mom made you?  Reverting to those days is not such a bad idea the night before your internship.  At the very least, you should be fully aware of the company's dress code.  Just check with your internship coordinator to figure out what's appropriate and what's not.  I think it's safe to assume that sky high heels and short skirts are probably a no-go no matter where you're interning at, so save those for the weekend.

Do your research

You should know the company's website like the back of your hand before you start your internship.  Okay... well maybe not quite that extreme, but you should take the time to thoroughly examine more than just the front page of the site, including the company's mission, what they do, and the staff page.  Before my first legislative internship, someone told me about an intern who had once made flashcards with all of the senator's names and faces on them, so he could memorize them all, and when he passed a senator in the halls of the Capitol, he could say, "Good morning Senator So-and-So."  While you probably don't need to follow his approach for the employees of the company you'll be interning for, which might border on over-prepared and maybe a little psychotic, be familiar with the employees who are listed on the website, and especially anyone who you've had previous contact with.




What to bring

A notebook

The key to transitioning a great first day into a successful internship, is to write down virtually everything you're told during your training.  Sometimes your supervisor will be super approachable and be happy to answer questions you have at any point in your internship, and other times you will get the supervisor from hell who really just doesn't want to deal with you.  I've had them both.  You never know, so avoiding redundant questions by writing everything down is the way to go.  DON'T use your phone to take notes; it might look like you're texting or not completely paying attention.

Something to write with

This is not elementary school.  You shouldn't have to ask to borrow a pen.  Be prepared and bring several of your own.

Documents

Your internship coordinator should indicate what exactly you need to bring your first day as far as documents go.  This may include a photo copy of your driver's license, social security card, or any paperwork that needed to be filled out in advance.  Whatever you do, don't forget to bring what was requested.  Forgetting something that was requested makes a HORRIBLE first impression, so gather everything up in a folder ahead of time, and don't forget to grab it on the way out.

Munchies

You probably won't know exactly what your lunch break will be like, whether you'll be able to go out and grab something to eat or will be expected to bring something with you.  Bring some small food items with you like granola bars, fruit, bottled drinks, etc. along with some cash so you're prepared for whatever ends up being the case.


Feel free to share if you have any other tips on how to have a good first day of an internship.  Also, stay tuned for tips on how to make a lasting (in a good way) first impression on the people at your internship!


P.S. Welcome College Fashion readers!  I'm so excited and honored to have been featured on the Haute Links list this week.  For more useful tips on interning and preparing for the work force, don't forget to subscribe above and follow The Good Intern on Twitter and Facebook.  Have a GREAT school year!