This summer, I traded in the many jobs I have had over the years—waitressing, folding clothes, trying to calm screaming children—to work at my first business and have my first real corporate job. Ever since I was eight years old, I knew that I wanted to be just like my dad and work for a business. Although I had been preparing my whole life for my first job, there was so much I still had to learn.
Here are a few pieces of advice I have received and things I’ve picked up along the way:
1.To quote "Definitely, Maybe," “Sooner or later, we all get coffee. Your time is now.” | While I have never actually been asked to get coffee, this is something to keep in mind. As college students, we have to start at the bottom, and sometimes, this means doing the work that nobody else wants to do.
2. Get good at what you do | Someone once told me, “You don’t have to be good at everything to be successful. You just need to be really good at one thing.” The secret to success is finding that one thing you excel at.
3. You HAVE to network | You will open up many doors for yourself if you network. I never realized that everybody at the company you work for genuinely wants to meet you and get to know you. While you may just be an intern, our generation is the future of businesses. People want to invest their time into people who will eventually become leaders.
4. Get to know your coworkers | If you are going to be successful, it is crucial that you are kind to your coworkers and can work well with others.
5. Read the book "Lean In" | This book by Sheryl Sandberg provides valuable advice about being a woman in the workplace.
6. Find a mentor | Your mentor can be your boss, a coworker, or a person from a different department. The most important thing is to find someone you can ask all of your questions to and get advice from and who will serve as a role model as you climb the corporate ladder.
7. Just say, “yes” | Say, “yes” to everything requested of you and more. Sometimes, there will be opportunities to stay late and work on a project or attend meetings with a coworker. People appreciate positive people who are eager to be involved at work.
8. Give your job 100 percent | When you're at work, make good use of your time. Your work ethic becomes very apparent in the workplace. Don't waste your time at work when you could be advancing your career.
9. You have to earn respect | It doesn’t matter if you go to Harvard, you have a 4.0 at your university, or your father is the owner of the company you’re interning for; you have to earn others’ respect. You can't expect others to treat you like a big deal until you prove yourself.
10. Don’t be intimidated by your superiors | The CEOs of major companies were once interns themselves. Instead of being intimidated, be impressed and study your superiors.There is a lot to learn from those who have earned their success.
11. Ask for help if you need it | Take advantage of the "learning curve" when you start working as an intern. People don't expect you to know everything right away, so ask lots of questions!
12. Never give up | As cliché as this may sound, you are going to have days in which you feel challenged, confused, exhausted, and defeated. It is a lot of work to master any job. However, the people who do the best are the ones who believe in themselves and never give up.
13. Learn as much as possible about your job | The more you know about the company you work for, the more powerful you are, and the more you can contribute. As soon as you learn more about your company and job, you'll actually want to talk at meetings.
14. Further your education | Based on my observations this summer, I’ve noticed those who have progressed the fastest have earned an MBA, law degree, or any other graduate degree. While it’s not a necessity to success, it’s something to consider after completing your undergrad degree.
15. Don’t be offended by criticism | This is a personal weakness of mine that I definitely had to work on this summer. As an intern, and even as a CEO, you will receive negative feedback sometimes, and that’s OKAY. Learn from it.
16. Be appreciative | People are going to give you advice along the way, show you how to master an aspect of your job, and take time away from their busy days to help you out. Always make sure you thank them and let them know how much you appreciate their help.
17. Figure out what you want | Always have visions and plans for your future. Figure out what you want and work towards that goal everyday.
18. Love what you do | In college, we don't spend a lot of time talking about finding a job we really love when ultimately that is all that really matters. Find what you love, and do it well.
While these bits of advice may seem ridiculously simple, they are essential to your success in the workplace. Ultimately, these tips will help you move from a cubicle to that corner office you've always dreamed of. As you climb the corporate ladder, never underestimate the power of a strong cup of coffee, a mentor who encourages you, or advice from your superiors. And finally, most importantly, remember that we are the interns of today and the leaders of tomorrow.
