Below are some helpful hints to make yourself indispensable for your summer employer this year. Remember - your summer position is one long interview opportunity!
- Remember that first impressions do matter!
- Display a positive attitude, smile, be polite and pleasant
- Be nice to everyone from the mail courier, receptionist and support staff to the associate, partner or shareholder.
- Be collegial, show interest in others, get involved
- Be professional in your appearance, demeanor, and language
- Listen, listen, listen and think before you respond (Don’t interrupt others, don't hit send on your email until you have re-read the message and are confident that it is well written and appropriate)
- Perform your work well - ask questions, follow through on commitments
- Offer to help someone or volunteer for a project
- Be flexible, change is part of life, embrace it
- At work, keep your cell phone on silent
- Everyone makes mistakes. Don't try to cover it up, accept responsibility for the mistake and learn from the process.
- It is considered to be unprofessional to wear your Bluetooth or IPOD buds or to be texting while at work.
- Take advantage of every opportunity to meet more people and experience different work styles. You'll want to have lots of experiences to reflect back on when your summer ends.
- Pay attention to your feedback (both good and bad). It exists for a reason.
- If a partner asks you to accompany him or her to a meeting, hearing, deposition, client conference, etc. -- GO.