First Day, Best Day: Internship Success Starts Here
It’s your first day on the job, but you’re not nervous—because Roots has you covered! Whether you’re stepping into a buzzing community center, exploring a new city, or immersing yourself into field work, the first day on an internship is a big moment. But don’t worry—we’ve got your back.
From what to wear, to how to introduce yourself, to making a great impression in those first crucial conversations, we’re here to help you show up prepared and ready to shine. Let’s turn those first-day jitters into excitement—and set the tone for a successful, fulfilling internship experience.
Things to keep in mind on your first day
- First day jitters are normal
- Show up prepared and early
- Be proactive to set yourself up for success
- Enjoy the experience and learning opportunity!
7 Tips to Ace the First Day of Your Internship
Keep reading for our top tips on how to ace the first day of your internship with confidence, professionalism, and style. These practical tips will not only get you through your first day, but help you create an internship structure that will keep you organized, effective, and confident for the duration of your career-building experience.
1. Do your research about your host organization
Get to know the culture of the organization you are joining. What is their mission? What are their values? The best way to ace the first day of an internship is to be well acquainted with the organization you’re going to be working for. Do your research from all angles:
- Search the organization online
- Check out social media accounts
- Pay attention to the little details on their website
- Read their blogs or about pages
2. The early bird catches the worm
Set alarms 5-15 minutes before meetings to be on time and prepared for scheduled calls. Giving yourself enough prep time will ensure you are in the mindset of work and ready to contribute meaningfully. If you are interning remotely, you also want to leave buffer time in case any technical difficulties arise.
As you’ve likely heard before any big day, another helpful tip is to ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Whether you’re nervous, excited, or a mix of both it’s important to rest and destress to avoid burnout as an intern.
3. Get to know your teammates
Strong teams are built on real relationships. From your very first day, take the initiative to get to know your colleagues—you’ll be working alongside them, solving problems, and achieving goals together. The better you understand each other’s strengths, communication styles, and personalities, the more effective your collaboration will be.
Whether you’re in-person or remote, these early interactions lay the foundation for great teamwork. For example, if you’re on-site, use your lunch break to connect—don’t be afraid to ask others about joining their lunch plans.
Team bonding isn’t just about being friendly, it’s about creating a foundation for effective collaboration. When you know your teammates well, you’re more likely to support each other, communicate openly, and tackle challenges efficiently.
And don’t forget: this is also a networking opportunity. These early moments showcase your ability to build relationships, work in a team, and bring people together—all valuable professional skills that leave a lasting impression.
4. Dress to impress
Take the time to dress your best—your outfit should reflect both comfort and sophistication, while also showcasing your unique personality. The way you present yourself on your first day of an internship can set the tone for your entire experience. Dressing with intention can boost your confidence, help you make a strong first impression, and signal that you take the opportunity seriously.
Even if you’re working remotely, maintaining a sense of routine and structure is crucial. Dressing professionally—rather than staying in pajamas—can help you mentally shift into “work mode” and maintain a healthy work-life balance. It’s a small act that can make a big difference in how productive, focused, and confident you feel throughout the day.
Ultimately, how you dress is a form of self-respect and a subtle yet powerful way to communicate your readiness to learn, grow, and contribute in a professional environment.
5. Be intentional with mental and physical preparation
Invest the time in your first week to set up your personal work journal or calendar for all internship-related activities so you can keep track of deadlines and schedules. During the start of your internship it’s important to ask questions, pay attention to spoken and unspoken details, and make notes of things to immerse yourself in the organization’s work style and culture.
You want to be intentional on the first day of your internship not only with physical details, but also making sure to reflect and rest. New experiences are exciting while also potentially being overstimulating and overwhelming, so it’s important to take short breaks throughout the day to absorb all the new information. Not only in your first few days, but throughout your internship, it’s essential to maintain a work-life balance and enjoy your days off.
Read more tips on taking care of your mental health during an internship.
6. Communicate effectively
On the first day of your internship, you’ll want to ensure you understand the process for communication that is used at the organization. Be sure to chat with your supervisor about the frequency and mode of communication and schedule a weekly meeting for check-ins. Throughout your internship, keep open and honest communication with your supervisor, check in frequently, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need more tasks, guidance, or structure. If you’re ever feeling under the weather or your availability has changed, be sure to inform your supervisor and team promptly.
As a remote intern, ensure that you have joined any communication platforms and understand all the virtual systems used. You’ll also want to confirm your schedule, discuss and time zone difference, and ideally keep a time sheet outlining the work that you do to track your hourly commitment (Tip: this also helps with maintaining work-life balance to ensure you’re not stressing about under/over working).
Read about Kotomi’s experience learning the importance of communication as a full-time student and part-time remote intern.
7. Show up ready to go
It’s key to be intentional during the first day as an intern. We want to stress the importance of showing up ready to pay attention and participate in your internship. Take notes, ask questions, double check details with team members, and don’t be afraid to be curious. The initial days of an internship can feel like an information overload, so you’ll need to be ready to focus, listen, learn, and engage in your new role. First impressions are imperative and can set the tone for your internship experience – you don’t want to be the intern that’s always on their phone or can’t remember deadlines.
Be ready to crush your first day as an intern and make an impact in both your organization and their mission over the course of the coming weeks!
8. Expect ANYTHING!
As an intern through Roots, before the first day of your internship we’ll work with you to develop an Internship Work Plan to define your internship goals and ensure that you and your supervisor are clear about your tasks and responsibilities. This is a great resource to help you reach your pre-defined learning goals. But goals can change! Grassroots work is an ever-changing landscape which provides the perfect opportunity to grow your adaptability, flexibility, problem-solving, and resilience.
Expect to learn a lot of things, but keep your expectations open on what exactly it is that you may learn. Internships are dynamic personal and professional learning experiences and the more open-minded you are, the more you’ll be able to take away from your placement.
Your time to shine!
Congratulations – you’re on your way to acing the first day of your internship. And don’t worry if ever you hit a wall, Roots is here to help you along your internship journey, from helping you find an internship abroad through to hearing your final feedback on all that you’ve accomplished on your placement.
Reach out today to start your grassroots internship search!
This blog was written by Valentia Khumalo.
