Summer for most college students means a 9-5 internship and a little taste of the post-graduation real world that’s rapidly approaching. For many, New York City is the place we choose to find our dream internship. Naturally, New York serves as an auspicious hub filled with countless opportunities for ambitious college students looking to get impressive resume fillers. Those lucky enough to land them, however, are not always native to the big city and may be experiencing this new environment for the first time. Think of this as a survival guide for the work-hard-play-hard world of internships in NYC
Know your way around the subway
You’re going to have to get around. Whether you’re running an errand for your boss or meeting a friend for a much-needed happy hour, the subway will soon become your ultimate mode of travel (cabs and Ubers are too expensive and time consuming to use every time you go out). Sometimes you have to go all the way across and downtown but don’t know which line will take you there or where the nearest station is. This is where HopStop comes in. This app is a must download for subway frequenters. All you have to do is enter your start and end addresses and it will tell you exactly how to get to the nearest station, which line to get on, and how to walk from the drop off to your end location. Couldn’t be easier right?
Another subway must is to make sure you buy the most reasonable Metro card for you. Figure out how often you use the subway and decide whether it is more cost effective to purchase a 7-day unlimited ticket (about $30), a 30-day unlimited (about $115), or a custom card that you put a specific desired amount of money on. Hold on to your Metro card and try not to lose it. If you continue to refill the same card it will save you the $1 it costs to get a new one each time. Each ride is $2.50 so do the math and calculate which option will save you the most money in the long run. Trust me- travel costs add up faster than you think.
Bring your own food with you to work
Another thing that can really break the bank over time is the cost of food in the big city. By going out and buying food for lunch every day at work, you are spending unnecessary money. Many interns live in NYC dorm rooms, which means that there is a meal plan included. Take advantage of that meal plan considering it's food you have already paid for! Go to your closest dining hall on your way to work and grab food that can be eaten during lunch or throughout the workday. For those interns commuting from home, enjoy the full refrigerator automatically replenished by your parents while you can. Find the bread and cold cuts your mom always keeps around and whip up a sandwich to bring for lunch. This will save you the overpriced $8 you otherwise would have spent on your usual Pret A Manger sandwich across the street from your office. (Side note: when keeping your lunch in the office refrigerator always put your name on it. You don’t want a whole Ross Gellar situation).
Overall, it’s smart to bring snacks with you to keep around the office everyday. Keep a bag of nuts or an apple or anything else you want in your bag because work hours can go on forever and it’s not uncommon to start feeling hungry and in need of replenishments when your boss tells you have to stay late (again). It’s always best to be prepared.
Do fun things on the weekends
Working a 9-5 job can be really draining, especially if it's something you're not used to. Some interns staying in the city find themselves bored and without things to do during their downtime. It is essential for your sanity to get out of your little dorm room or rented apartment and do different activities. These are some fun things to do if you don't mind being semi-touristy:
-Go to a Yankee game (unless you're from Boston, in which case you should probably stay away)
-Go to a trendy rooftop bar (http://gothamist.com/2014/04/16/the_best_rooftop_b...)
-Go on a Tinder date (there is no college hook-up culture in the real world, may as well practice your dating game now)
-Go to Smorgasburg (the best food festival open all summer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
-Go to a concert (from Webster Hall to Madison Square Garden there are plenty of venues to choose from in NYC)
-Go boating in central park (if you're feeling super cute)
Make friends with your co-interns
An office filled with grown adults far past college age can be an intimidating and pretty lonely thing. Most likely you are working alongside other interns the same age as you. Make friends with these people! Not only will they help to make your workdays more pleasant and enjoyable, but they may be the people you end up working alongside in future jobs. You are all in the same place and the same position trying to make it in your respective industry. Come post college-graduation, these people could potentially be your co-workers when you land a job. You will move up in your industry together, and hopefully have the chance to help each other out. This tip is about friendship, but it’s also about networking.
In a big city like New York where you may not know anyone, your co-interns become the people you rely on. I strongly encourage you to hang out with them outside of the office in a much more relaxed environment. Happy hour is always a great idea. After your boss lets everyone go for the night, choose a bar that you can all go to together. To get you going, here’s a list of NY Mag’s top 9 best and cheapest happy hour spots: http://nymag.com/urban/guides/nyonthecheap/pleasures/bars.htm. Nothings better than grabbing a cold one for under $5 with some new friends and work buddies.
Don't let your supervisors see you on your phone
It is simply unreasonable to attempt to not look at our phones for 8 hours at a time. Within our generation, Instagram and Facebook are being updated constantly throughout the day and we can't afford to miss a thing. You must be sly about it. It's the classic "squint your eyes at the computer so you look super focused on your work when the boss walks by". Just be wary of your surroundings and make sure it always looks like you're doing something if you know someone is watching you. If you start having the urge to check all the recent snap story updates, excuse yourself to go to the bathroom and bring your phone with you.
When you are in the clear to be on your phone, check out Yik Yak. We all know it very well from school but funny enough it's just as good in the city. New York's Yik Yak is run by college students here interning for the summer. Because of that, it's just like it is at school. People complain about not getting laid, being bored, things about food, and instead of making fun of a specific frat they pick on interns at a certain place. Last summer in the peek section there was a location called "the interning wolves of wall street". This one in particular chose to hate on Goldman Sachs' interns. It's funny stuff and great reading material for when your bored or at lunch alone.
Keep in touch with your boss
On the topic of networking- it is also very important to take advantage of all the connections you make along the way in your internships. The people you work for are the people who are going to be listed as your references for all future jobs and hopefully lead you to even more connections. While on the job, maintain a good relationship with your boss or supervisor and make sure they recognize that you are doing a good job. After your internship is over, be sure to send your boss a thank you email showing them how much you appreciate the opportunity they gave you. This way you will be better remembered by them if future employers go to them as a reference. You want to leave the best impression you can. The city is smaller than you think and everyone talks. This can work in your favor or against you depending on how you play your cards.
