Summer internship time is here and hopefully you’ll be going into an office somewhere to get experience to boost your career and your resume!
Remember even if the only thing you get out of your summer internship is that you hated it, that’s okay. I often say I found out what kind of law I wanted to practice by figuring out what kind of law I DIDN’T want to practice. You can get some many things out of your summer internship so keep your eyes and ears open and soak in every bit.
Here are 6 items you’ll want to have for your summer internship
Suit – you don’t have to break the bank here; look at H&M, Target, even Old Navy. Stick with black if you’re purchasing one of a lesser quality; I find black keeps it’s color better than navy. I like navy better for summer just because it’s a little brighter but black is a classic choice and works for any season. Find one that you can purchase three to four pieces all at once: blazer, skirt, pants, and dress. It’s essential for you to have these pieces because you can mix and match them in many different ways. In my work capsule wardrobe posts you can see how to change up the pieces.
Conservative Tops – pick five to six of these that don’t show cleavage are an appropriate length and are not see-through. If they show your shoulders then wear the blazer from the suit over it and if they have at least a cap sleeve then you’re good to go without the blazer. You can look through your current closet for these, I bet you have some! Tanks work under blazers if they’re in line with the cleavage/length/see-through guidelines. Here are some other picks:
Low Heels – you don’t want to have sky high heels for your summer internship. Pick a pair that are under 3 inches. If you are on a budget and can only pick one color get them in nude. Nude heels go with everything, even your black suit. Also, take the time and money to take them to a shoe hospital and have them recap the heels. Usually the heel caps that come on heels aren’t great. It will cost you about $10 to get then recapped and it’s worth it.
Friday Dress(es) – these are my favorite kinds of dresses; I call them Friday dresses because when you’re young and you still party on Thursdays you can wake up late on Friday, toss one of these on, and you are good to go. They are approx knee-length, have sleeves, and are comfortable. Here are some so you can see what I mean:
Classic Tote – having a understated classic tote is going to be key for your internship. You’re going to basically be carrying around all your stuff because you probably won’t exactly have a desk you can really keep things in. You can look at my mini guide to work bags but if you’re looking for something more affordable try Target or look through the racks at Marshall’s or TJ Maxx.
Padfolio – if you have a nice padfolio that’s awesome but you can find one for fairly cheap if you look around. This is key for keeping all your notes in one place and also you will definitely want to use this at all interviews in the future. Not only is a padfolio a summer internship must have it’s a career must have. Stay away from bright colors but you can always monogram it!
I wrote a post about how to stand out as an intern; it has some great tips for your summer internship. Have a blast during your internship and don’t forget to add it to your resume. Make sure you are signed up for my emails because you’ll get a downloadable professional resume template!
