Internship Dos and Don'ts

Do show up on time for your interview -- not before or after: If you're going to be late, you probably shouldn't show up at all. You may have spent all morning taking your time getting ready and want to look eager and punctual, but your potential employer has most likely been slaving away in the office since 8 or 9 a.m., trying to accomplish their daily tasks and fit you into their busy schedule. It’s amazing what a difference it makes when a candidate arrives (on time) for their interview, fully prepared with knowledge of the company and acts like they belong there. Do dress appropriately: Deciding that oh-so-important first outfit, whether for your interview or your first day, is often an agonizing process. For an employer, there’s nothing like interviewing a candidate and wondering how much that eyebrow piercing hurt – Do your hair: Sure, the messy style is in right now, but that doesn't mean it's appropriate for an interview. Do take it easy on the scent: Don’t wear heavy perfume or smoke before an interview. Be considerate of the person interviewing you -- some people have allergies, some people don't like the smell of smoke and sometimes they just don’t like your brand of perfume. But once you put in your time, you most likely will be rewarded for your time and effort; Employers do look at your intern experience when hiring recent graduates, and if you get creative, that daily 9:05 a.m. double-double coffee run can be described as “works diligently in a timely manner while paying attention to detail.” If you're looking for a job in a certain field, remember that people in that field talk to each other. The last thing you want is to have your new potential employer run into your previous intern employer at an event, only for your old boss to badmouth you to your new one. Don’t complain: As an intern, your job is to do everything you’re asked, even if it’s delivering piping hot chicken soup at 2:07 p.m. with no more than 27 pieces of chicken in the bowl. Don’t talk about your personal life: It's called a personal life for a reason: because it’s personal. We've all had our fair share of ups and downs in life and sometimes it is great to talk to someone, but save that for your own time.