Preparing for your First Day

Preparing for the first day
By Joanna Schroeder, APR
Many of you are getting ready to begin a new summer internship or your first job. I was always nervous my first day and have learned that a rough first day won't be the death of your career, but a great first impression can put you ahead. Here are several ways to make a good first impression:

• Dress professionally. Dress for the job you are aspiring to, not the job you have. This means that even if the dress code is jeans or business casual, dress professionally enough that, at a moment's notice, you could attend a meeting with a client or company vice president.
• Observe, listen and take notes but don't be afraid to ask questions. People will turn against you if you blow through the door on the first day and begin making suggestions on how to better run the department.
• Take in the corporate culture and adapt to it. Is it pedal to the metal with no idle chitchat or do your coworkers debrief at the water cooler every few hours? Are long lunches allowed or does everyone eat at their desk? Even if your environment is fun, however, remember no off-color jokes and don't engage in office gossip.
• Meet deadlines. It is extremely important that you demonstrate that you can not only get your projects completed on time but that they are done well. However, no one is perfect, even your boss.

Just like school became easier with each passing year, so will your job.
(Public Relations Tactics, May2006, Vol. 13 Issue 5, p4)
 
Making your internship a success
By Joanna Schroeder, APR
What did you do this summer? I made copies... did media reports... went on coffee runs... went to the office supply store...I learned nothing and had nothing to put in portfolio.

• Sound familiar? Many students and recent grads complete their internship but haven't been able to apply their classroom skills to a real client situation. This means getting your first job will become more difficult. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your internship:
• When you first start, schedule a meeting with your supervisor and discuss what role and projects he or she is planning for you and let him or her know what projects you would like to work on. Put your goals in writing and sign off on them. This makes you both responsible for your success.
• Offer to help on some of the tactical projects he or she is working on. This gives you more experience and helps take some projects off his or her plate. It also shows initiative.
• Ask him or her to sit down with you to critique your work so that you understand what you're doing well and what skills you need to improve on.
• Get to know the other supervision so you can learn more about what they do.
• Have weekly status meetings to see how you are coming along in achieving your goals and developing your skills.

Take these steps and not only will you have a great internship and professional resource, but also an advantage over other when applying for your first job.
(Public Relations Tactics, Sep2005, Vol. 12 Issue 9, p4.)