So, you’ve landed your first internship. You spent months perfecting your resume, writing cover letters that felt like soul-searching essays, and surviving the gauntlet of HireVue interviews where you stared into the void (aka your webcam) trying to sound employable. Now you’re finally in — but what happens next?
Internships are supposed to be the stepping stone to your career, but no one really prepares you for what they’re actually like. Here’s everything I wish someone had told me before my first day.
1. Imposter Syndrome Will Hit Hard (And That’s Normal)
No matter how qualified you are, you will spend your first few weeks feeling like you scammed your way in. You’ll sit in meetings where people casually throw around acronyms like ROI, TAB, and BMS and pretend to understand what they mean. Spoiler: most people are winging it.
The truth is feeling out of place is part of the process. No one expects you to know everything — your job is to ask questions, take notes, and learn. And if you ever feel lost? JUST ASK.
2. You Might Not Have Enough Work (Or Too Much)
There’s no in-between. You’ll either be twiddling your thumbs, refreshing your inbox every five minutes, or drowning in so many tasks you wonder if they accidentally hired you as a full-time employee.
If you have nothing to do, don’t just sit there — be proactive. Ask your manager if there are any side projects you can help with. Offer to assist a coworker. In the worst-case scenario, teach yourself a skill (Excel, coding, industry trends — whatever makes you better).
If you have too much work, prioritize and communicate. No one expects you to finish an entire department’s to-do list, so set realistic deadlines and ask for clarification if you’re overwhelmed. Yes, you are an intern, but you aren’t supposed to do every little thing.
3. No One Will Explain the Unwritten Rules
Every workplace has unspoken norms. Maybe your office has a weird Slack emoji culture. Maybe everyone should have lunch at 11:45 a.m. sharp. Maybe the CEO responds to emails with just “OK.”
Observe, adapt, and when in doubt, ask your fellow interns or a friendly coworker. The faster you learn the office quirks, the more comfortable you’ll feel.
4. Your First Week Is Basically a Blur
Between HR orientations, IT setup, and meeting more people than you can possibly remember, your first week will feel like speed-running an entire season of The Office. You’ll nod along as someone explains a company process you immediately forget.
Tip: Take notes. Seriously. Write down names, login instructions, and random acronyms. You will thank yourself later.
5. Your Experience Depends on You
Some internships are incredible learning opportunities. Others… not so much. Either way, what you get out of it depends on your effort.
Take initiative.
Say yes to opportunities (but don’t be afraid to say no if you’re overwhelmed).
Make the most of whatever experience you have — even if it’s not your dream role, you’re still gaining skills.
Your first internship won’t be perfect. You’ll make mistakes, feel awkward, and question whether you actually know anything. But you’ll also grow, gain confidence, and figure out what you like (or don’t like) in a job.
So, if you’re about to start your first internship, take a deep breath. You’ve got this. And if all else fails, just smile, nod, and Google it later.
