Starting a new job can be terrifying, especially when you start as a summer intern–you’re being thrown into an already existing system, expected to pick up on things and somehow fit yourself into a machine that was already working fine without you. The people who hired you, you think, are expecting greatness from you, and you’re not sure how to go about achieving it. The biggest thing to remember is that nobody expects you to know everything. It may seem that way, but everyone you work with was once in your shoes. They knew absolutely nothing (or next to nothing) and had to figure it out. You’re not meant to know everything on your first day, and you’re allowed to ask questions. Asking questions is key, because it shows that you’re interested in your work, and that you’re not afraid to ask for help. Most times, the people you work with will be more than happy to assist you. Another thing to remember is to limit the time that you’re on your phone. There may be appropriate times during the day for you to be on your phone (during your lunch break, for example) but try to limit yourself. The more time you spend on your phone, the less interested and invested you appear. Additionally, meetings can be boring, but glancing at your phone every five minutes to check the time or see what is happening on Twitter isn’t going to make the time pass any faster. And you’re likely not being as subtle as you think. It’s also likely that you’re going to have down time, when there isn’t anything for you to do. That’s okay. But remember, that you don’t have to wait for work to come to you. You can go seek it out–ask your boss and your coworkers if they have anything for you to do. They can delegate work, and if they have nothing, they might send you elsewhere, but asking for tasks shows initiative and will put you in your superior’s good graces. If at all possible, try to anticipate what will need to be done, and then go do it, after checking with your immediate superior. Once you get into a routine, anticipating what needs to be done will become easier, and your down time will decrease. As long as you keep a smile on your face, and remind yourself that you’re strong and capable of whatever your job throws at you, interning will be a breeze.
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