Hey there! I thought I’d give you a little intro before jumping into this column. My name is Jeylan (jjubran@stevens.edu), and I’m currently a sophomore on co-op! This column is here to help answer all your internship/co-op questions, so feel free to reach out anytime. I want to preface that I’m not an expert — just a student who landed her first co-op. So, take my advice with a grain of salt and know I’m learning alongside you. Now, with that being said, let’s dive into the exciting (and slightly chaotic) topic of your first day of work!
There’s nothing quite as exhilarating and nerve-wracking as your first day of work. You walk into the office — probably too early — only to find that no one else is there yet. You’re a mix of excitement and terror, feeling like a little kid on their first day of kindergarten. It’s an unmatched, surreal experience.
As the day begins, you’re handed onboarding paperwork that somehow feels more confusing than it should. Every five minutes, someone new walks up to introduce themselves, turning your morning into a speed-dating frenzy. The worst part? The next day, you’re expected to remember the names of the six thousand people you met — though realistically, it’s more like ten, but it feels like six thousand.
For me, my first day started with an awkward fifteen minutes of standing by the secretary’s desk, waiting for my coworkers to trickle in. I had arrived early, thinking it would be like one of those corporate dramas where employees stay until 8 p.m. and are back at their desks by 6 a.m. I couldn’t have been more wrong. When my boss showed up, my nerves got the best of me, and I somehow forgot how to speak. I nodded and muttered “okay” to everything they said.
The day was packed with meetings and an overwhelming flood of information, but it was surprisingly fun. I met so many incredible people, heard their stories, and realized that everyone — no matter how experienced — is figuring things out as they go. That realization put me at ease. By the end of the day, I was absolutely exhausted but genuinely excited for what the next few months had in store.
Looking back, though, the first day is less about doing everything perfectly and more about showing up, being present, and making it through. Nobody expects you to know all the answers — or even where the printer is on your first day. It’s about learning to laugh at the little mistakes, like getting lost on the way to the breakroom or accidentally calling someone by the wrong name. Trust me, these will become the stories you laugh about later.
It’s also a reminder that everyone has been in your shoes at some point. That senior colleague who seems like they have it all figured out? They probably also once forgot their lunch on the first day or sent an email with “Sent from my iPhone” signed at the bottom. It’s oddly comforting to know that even the most composed professionals had their own first-day jitters.
The key is to soak it all in. Let yourself feel the nerves, the excitement, and yes, even the awkwardness. After all, a little chaos makes for a great story — and a memorable start to your career. So, if you’re gearing up for your first day of work, remember this: it won’t be perfect, but it will be perfectly yours.
