The Declassified Intern Survival Guide (volume 1)

Just started an internship? Wondering how to stay on top of your work or maybe build professional connections in the office? Well then, you’ve come to the right place! Welcome to the Plano Chamber’s “Declassified Intern Survival Guide”. My name is Venessa Odera, and I’m a Special Projects Intern here at the Chamber thanks to the sponsorship of JPMorgan Chase as part of the Plano Mayor’s Summer Internship Program. Through this blog, I hope to help any seedling interns navigate their experience by sharing the things that I’ve learned during my time here. Let’s get started!

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First Day Jitters

So, it’s your first day. You’re most likely feeling like a big ball of nerves, and that’s okay! Going into a new situation like a job can unsettle even the best of us. However, there are a few tips that I think will help assuage some of that anxiety.

• Write a list of things to bring on your first day.

Even if you were not told explicitly what to bring to the office, writing a list can jumpstart your brain to think of things you might have forgotten otherwise. For example, my list included a charger, lunch, lotion, watch, etc. These things may seem trivial, but when you’re at work for 7 hours they become necessities. Plus, if on the first day you realize that you need other things that aren’t on your list, then you can simply add them on later.  For instance, in order to fend off the frigid air conditioning of the office, my list grew to include a jacket, as well as paperwork and other things requested by my supervisor.

• Plan out your morning routine.

Just because your internship presents a new situation does NOT mean you should wing it on the morning of your first day. Focus on the things you can control, so that means you should plan out your morning the night before. How far away is the office? What time will you leave? What time will you wake up? Do you shower in the morning, or make breakfast, or will you stop for coffee? All these factors impact the duration of your morning routine. Personally, I set alarms about 10 to 15 minutes apart, so that I can have a gauge of how much time has passed between each activity. If you plan it out beforehand, then you can set mental timestamps and make sure you’re not late to work.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions! (seriously)

Although speaking up when you don’t understand something may be daunting, trust me when I say that no one will look at you as inept or unqualified just because you need help. An internship is meant to be a “professional LEARNING experience” where students like yourself are able to learn more about a career path that interests you. Especially on the first day, asking questions is necessary in order to not only learn more about the company you’re working for but your coworkers, and the responsibilities you’ll have as well. Not to mention, asking follow-up questions after an informational spiel shows that 1. You were paying attention and 2. You have intellectual curiosity and personal initiative.

• Have fun!

Take every interaction and opportunity with a positive attitude! This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you’ll never be able to recreate the situation you’re in right now so take advantage by absorbing the new things you learn and building your network. As Billy Cox once said, “The two things in life you are in total control over are your attitude and your effort”.