20 Ways to Ace Your First Day as an Intern

With a couple of internships under my belt, I’ve experienced many “first days” at a new gig. The first day at a new company is always intimidating, but it can be especially nerve-racking as an intern because you want to make a great impression with your limited time at the company.

To help make the first day a little easier, I put together a list of best practices for the first day at your internship that I’ve used over the last couple years.

1. Practice your transportation route a few days before the internship starts so you feel more confident on the first day. Make sure you practice the route at the same time you’d actually be leaving for work so you can get a realistic idea of traffic.

2. Re-read any welcome paperwork or emails that contain directions for your first day, including a schedule or start time. Sometimes the first day start time can vary! I accidentally showed up on the first day of my internship at 9 AM (the normal start time) and we weren’t supposed to get there until 12 PM on the first day. Oops!

3. You’ll meet lots of people on the first day! Be sure to make eye contact and shake their hand - it’ll leave a good impression.

4. Similar to that, remember to introduce yourself to everyone you meet, even before even being introduced.

5. Smile and be excited! Don’t let your nerves overrule your ability to show how excited you are to be spending time working at the company.

6. Pack your own lunch for your first day just in case, but be open to going out for lunch too.

7. Ask questions about other people so you can get to know what everyone’s roles are in the office. Don't worry, People will ask plenty of questions about you too.

8. Have a quick elevator pitch thought out for when people ask you about yourself. Through conversations on your first day, I can guarantee you'll get asked lots of questions about your educational experience and your goals for the future.

9. Ask questions whenever you’re even a little bit confused about directions being given. You’ll help yourself start out on a good foot by getting set up in the office correctly and asking questions if you don’t understand.

10. If you have other fellow interns, make friends with them quickly! Get their numbers and even friend or follow them on social media. You can bounce some questions off them too, and if you’re both confused you can figure things out together even if they’re interning in a different department.

In addition to my tips for the first day of your internship, here are some general rules of thumb that will help throughout your internship.

1. Something I wish I’d done more of during my internship was networking! Being an intern is the best because it’s truly expected that you network with full-time employees in the office. They know you’re there to learn and meet people in the industry. Book time on people’s calendars early on and start getting to know people in the office.

2. Attend any “optional” networking events hosted during your internship. This is a great way to meet people in your office and people will notice you if you make an effort to get to know them. Plus, the more people you know personally in your office, the more fun and comfortable you will feel at work in general.

3. One of the best pieces of advice I've gotten during my internship is to be a sponge! Absorb all the information you're hearing and pay close attention to how people interact in the office. Soon enough, it will click and you'll feel like you understand how the office works!

4. Try to answer your own questions, but remember that it’s okay to ask questions you’ll never know the answer to without asking no matter how hard you search.

5. Relatedly, try not to ask the same questions twice. Search your email inbox and notes to ensure the question your asking hasn’t already been answered.

6. This is a big one: proofread all your work, including emails. You might not think it’s a huge deal to have a typo in an email, but your credibility will take a hit if you consistently make typos. A trick I learned to proof my work is to read the sentence backward, looking at the spelling of each word individually.

7. Bring a notebook and pen to every meeting, even the ones you’re just shadowing in on. It’s always good to take notes and be sure you’re paying close attention in case you are asked to recap the meeting with anyone.

8. Especially in advertising, there are lots of acronyms. It’s important to learn these acronyms so you know what people are talking about! Don’t be afraid to ask what something means - Sometimes people forget that not everyone understands the acronyms they use daily, and it’ll become second nature quickly.

9. Once you feel confident with the processes in your office, start slowly speaking up during meetings when appropriate. This was something that took me time to get comfortable with, but you will stand out if you give your two cents on topics being discussed during meetings when it feels appropriate.

10. When your internship is coming to a close if you enjoyed your time at the company and would consider returning for a full-time position, make sure you communicate that! You can talk to your manager, your co-workers, and HR directly about the potential for a full-time job in the future. People will not assume that you want to work there unless you tell them- so make sure you go out of your way to voice your interest.

Internships are truly what you make of them. As cliche as it sounds, you will get out of it what you put in! This is your time to learn and take your first steps toward a successful career. Have fun, learn lots, and be a sponge!