Better grades & Less stress. Koofers.com

Summer internship season is upon us and many of you may have already started working and getting into a routine, while others are preparing for their impending internships. When you are in your role as an intern ask yourself: “Do I like my internship?”, “Do I think I want to continue with it as a career?”, “Do I only care about gaining a good reference?”, or, “Do I just need to put in the hours to get school credit?” 

Whatever your reason for wanting to perform well at the job here are a few tips to ensure that you make a positive impression with your manager and fellow coworkers.

• Overdress for the first few days – Or at least until you get a feel for the environment and culture. And even afterwards it’s best to lean towards on the more formal side. Remember the saying, “dress for the job you want to have.” As an intern you don’t have the entry-level position yet so it’s best to out-dress your officemates. 
• Show up on time – Always arrive at work on time. If you aren’t punctual you are hurting the office structure and workflow with your teammates that do come in on time. You are also showing that you do not take the job seriously, that you cannot be depended on, or that you are not organized.
• Always be willing to help and learn – This is your time to gain as much corporate experience as possible. Don’t let opportunities pass you by.  Each project, no matter how small, can teach you about the job as well as about yourself. 
• Accept any projects given to you – You won’t get anywhere by being a wallflower. If you see each project (even those that sound terrible) as a learning experience you will gain more knowledge that you can use in the future. These assignments will also help you learn more about the type of person you are in the office in contrast to who you are as a student. 
• Ask for opportunities – If there are activities that you are interested in getting your hands into don’t be scared to ask. Most employers love people that take initiative and are willing to expose motivated employees in some capacity. 
• Relax, but not too much – If the office environment is fun and laidback it’s good to join in. But, don’t overdo it. Always demonstrate a little more restraint than your coworkers. Remember they have the college degree and fulltime job, you don’t … yet. 
• Don’t be too arrogant or too modest – It’s important to believe in yourself. You got the internship so obviously you impressed someone, but remember you are there to learn. If you think you are above the role they have you in, you will likely start rubbing your officemates the wrong way and they may be less inclined to offer a positive reference.  
• Last but not least – This is your internship, your learning experience. Make it what you want and have fun with it. If you do that you will undoubtedly learn a lot and better prepare yourself for your post college endeavors.