You’re in college and have finally landed an internship at one of the Big Four firms.
While this is great, now you have to figure out how to make a great first impression!
In the first 5 seconds of meeting someone, an opinion is formed that could make or break the outcome of your internship.
There is no second chance, so get it right the first time!
8 Tips for Making a Great First Impression
1. Prepare yourself
There is nothing wrong with preparing a short introduction about yourself to pitch to your new boss upon your first meeting.
Just make sure your intro is short, to the point, and implies confidence, knowledge, and gratitude for the opportunity.
2. Social media
Clean up your social media accounts before your job interview! Basically, make sure there’s nothing on your social media accounts that could reflect badly upon the company or yourself. If your pages cannot be cleaned up, make them private or get rid of them completely.
3. Research is key
Before you step foot in the office, make sure to do your research on the company and industry. Get comfortable with industry jargon, company history, and even a little history on your boss.
One great way to do this is to connect with the company on sites like LinkedIn and setting up Google alerts for the name of your company. Doing so will allow you to track recent progress and news about the company.
4. If you’re not early, you’re late
While this statement might seem cliché, it’s actually very true. Make sure you arrive 15 minutes early, ready to start the day with vigor
5. Dress for success
Being successful is as much about your appearance, body language, and attitude than it is about your knowledge or education.
Dressing well can definitely help you make a good impression and stand out from other interns. Additionally, it doesn’t hurt to have positive facial expressions and a firm handshake!
6. Be ready to work
The company you intern with, may not have a set program for you. This means you need to be ready to roll up your sleeves and jump in. Don’t be afraid to take initiative and volunteer when things need to be done.
7. Pen and paper
Come to your new internship prepared to take notes and learn. An internship is where you learn to dig and do the work. For this reason, you will need to take notes. Make sure to write down names, processes, and other items of interest.
8. Remember people
Remembering the names of your co-workers is one of the most important factors of your work environment. Furthermore, this can go a long way toward building lasting work relationships. Forming those relationships can help you when the internship has ended and you have a chance to get hired on as an employee.
As you can see, a lot goes into preparing for a first impression. It is important to take a few weeks to prepare yourself for that first impression.
Making a great first impression can go a long ways toward helping you get hired on with the firm or at the very least, getting a great professional referral for any positions you decide to apply for.
