Often the idea of starting a new internship can seem intimidating, especially if it’s your first one.

Internships are often unpaid, fast-paced jobs that have long hours. They are the work of zealous college students like you and me, who are trying to get a first taste of the world word. It could even be your first insight into what your future will look like. To ease some of your stress, most internships have some basic unwritten rules that are expected of you from the get-go.

1.) Keep an Open Mind

You may go into your first internship having very set goals. That’s great! Keep them in mind, and never lose sight of them. However, there are so many opportunities that you probably don’t even know about yet. If someone offers you a task, take it. It won’t hurt to try things out of your conform zone. It may open the door for you start adding more goals to your list.

2.) Stay On Your Toes

Wherever you work, it will probably be fast paced. Be ready to be constantly running around to different meetings, events, and figuring out information. Every second of the day something new is bound to happen, and you need to be ready.

3.) Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

If you don’t know what you are doing you need to ask for help. It’s better to ask in the beginning, then to figure out you did the entire project wrong. You are new, and people are expecting you to have millions of questions. It’s all a part of starting out.

4.) Take Notes

Whenever anyone asks you to do something write it down! Keep a small notepad on you at all times, so that you are prepared whenever anyone needs you. This will ensure that you always get all of your tasks done.

5.) If You Mess Up, It’s Ok

You are an intern, so the odds that you are going to mess up are high. Its completely ok, things happen. Always apologize, and take the blame. People will respect you for it in the end. Afterword’s, keep your head held high and move on. You will do better next time, just be sure not to make the same mistake twice.