How to be Successful in Your Internship or First Job

Notes from Carnegie Mellon Career and Professional Development Center.

Look Like a Professional

Observe others to find the proper dress, decoration, carry-items for your workplace.



o It better to be overdressed than underdressed
o It is better to under-decorate than over decorate
o Turn off your cell phone and do not “text” during work until you are told it is OK

In general (not just work):

• Be on time for meetings and appointments
• Be on time for work

Act Like a Professional

Be Friendly - Being well liked counts
o There are so many different personalities that you will be working
with

You need to show up for work and work
• Don’t complain
• Adjust to the culture in which you are employed

The worst career eliminating move of young professionals is “Being cocky overconfident snots who can’t listen to anyone but themselves…..”

So: be eager, be respectful, be curious, be willing to take on ANY project, have a can-do attitude, make your deadline, do the job


Communicate Like a Professional

Breaking-in Skills

You are an outsider until you prove otherwise

• Admit what you don’t know

• You don’t earn acceptance by challenging the system at first; you 

earn it by fitting in

• Build a track record by becoming known for hard work, for fitting in, 

and for professional maturity