As a college student, you’re probably aware of the importance of internships. Once you graduate, employers love to see ample experience on your resume and the best way to do that is by scoring awesome internships. So let’s say you got that summer internship you were praying for. Now, what? The next step is to prepare for the internship. Here are seven ways to do that.
1. Get familiar with the company.
Whether this is the company of your dreams, or just related to your major, it’s essential to get familiar. This is the basic homework before your first day of work. Learn about what their mission is, who their founders are and peruse their social media sites. Check out their website for basic information and impress your boss when you know more than the other interns. Pay special attention to the "About Us" section.
2. Know the dress code.
This is also an important step because you don’t want to come in overdressed or underdressed. If you didn’t ask about the work environment during the interview process, then email the person in charge for tips on what to wear.
3. Bring your laptop.
If you don’t have a laptop, bring a notebook and a pen. It’s important to take down notes on your first day. They’re going to overwhelm you with information and you don’t want to have to be the intern that forgot the rules. By having a laptop, the company knows they can rely on you for work and won’t feel the need to babysit you.
4. Come in with ideas.
Brainstorm new ideas before your first day so you come in as an asset. You want to present yourself with the ability to pull out great ideas. You want your employer to view you as more than just the summer intern.
5. Never say no.
Try not to have extremely high expectations. You never know if your internship will be sitting with the heads in charge or just pouring coffee. Regardless, you will be able to come in direct contact with individuals of power. Make yourself known. Just because you’re pouring coffee, doesn’t mean you can’t make the best coffee. Just because you’re filing, doesn’t mean you can’t be the best filer.
6. Be flexible.
The first few days can be difficult because you’re learning everything from where to park to what lingo is appropriate. Stay observant of other employees to adjust to the work environment the best. You want to seem like you fit in, that way they’ll want to hire you.
7. Get excited!
An internship is something to be proud of. Have a lot of fun and be yourself. It’s easy to spot an intern who’s being authentic versus one who’s not. Keep an upbeat attitude and let your office know that they can count on you for a smile. You earned this internship and you’re going to rock it.
