So you’ve secured your student placement, you’ve watched the Wolf of Wall Street on a loop for the past week and you’re all set to learn more, show what you already do know and generally make a winning impression. This is the first step towards you ending up with the job (and career) that you’ve always wanted.
Either way, now that the day is dawning, you can’t help wondering…how are you actually going to survive your time as an intern?
Don’t be late
A good impression will settle your own nerves and any worries that your potential employers may have about letting a student roam their offices. Five to fifteen minutes early shows that you’re keen and that you’ve left room for a bit of ‘contingency planning’. On the other hand, you probably won’t ingratiate yourself with your new colleagues if you turn up two hours early, wait for them to arrive and then scream, “How much do you really want this?!”
Dress Code
Ensure that you’re dressed appropriately for the workplace that you’re entering. Media companies, for example, will probably be a bit more dressed down than some other offices so don’t pitch up in a top hat and tails or a ballgown. If overdressing can be a little bit awkward then underdressing can be much more problematic. If you’re going to be sitting in on client meetings, you will need to bear this in mind when you plan your work wardrobe. If in doubt, make it smart the first day and take a mental note of how the rest of the office styles themselves.
Team Player
Team player is a phrase that’s often bandied around but can sometimes be difficult to fully define. Tripping up the boss when they’re about to discover the person across from you is sitting streaming the World Cup instead of finishing off a proposal could be seen as ‘taking one for the team’…but we wouldn’t recommend it. Instead, just be willing to throw yourself into whatever’s asked of you.
Packed lunches
There are benefits to taking a packed lunch. You can save money for a start and, more importantly, you can show off the Star Wars lunch box that is step 2 of your plan to get that graphic design job. Bear in mind that you don’t necessarily know when or where you’re going to get a chance to grab lunch so taking your own in for at least the first few days will let you assess the lie of the land. Take in something healthy that’s going to help you avoid the afternoon crash.
Stay away from office politics
You can usually pick up on vibes in an office. There may be somebody who’s not universally loved, either on a personal or a professional level. As tempting as it may be to invoke the law of the playground and join in with any comments to try to make yourself feel part of things,you should avoid this. You’re there to show that you can behave like a professional.
Don’t be afraid to take notes
No doubt there will be things that you see or hear that have you thinking “I must remember that!” only for them to be lost from your memory banks by the next day. Don’t be afraid to scribble things down on a pad, either as they come to you or at the end of the day. Don’t write down everything , obviously. You don’t want the people you’re working with to feel like everything they say will be taken down and may be used in evidence against them.
If you’ve made it to the end of this article, you’re probably feeling a little better equipped to handle your placement, but remember to allow yourself a little self-belief. Don’t worry about asking questions or showing your lack of knowledge – you’re there to learn so make the best of the opportunity. When you’re ready to find the right job to match the experience you’ve now gained, take a look at the s1jobs main site to start browsing your relevant sector.
Images by Jisc, Michael Warren and Mk2010, used under Creative Comms licence.
