On your first day of an internship, arrive on time (or join early if remote), meet your mentor and team, complete onboarding and system access, understand how work is assigned and communicated, and take notes on everything. You aren't expected to deliver anything yet. Your goal is to understand the setup and make a professional first impression.
Key takeaways
- Be on time, prepared, and professional.
- Meet your mentor and learn how to reach them.
- Complete onboarding and system access.
- Ask how work is assigned, tracked, and reviewed.
- Take notes; you will forget names and steps.
The Night Before
- Reread your offer letter for timings, location, and contact person.
- For remote internships, test your laptop, internet, camera, and meeting links.
- Skim the company's products and revise the basics of the technology you will use.
- Keep your ID, documents, and a notebook ready.
On the Day
- Arrive or join a little early.
- Meet your mentor and team; note names and roles.
- Complete HR formalities and system access.
- Ask how communication works: chat, email, and meetings.
- Ask what your first week will look like.
Questions Worth Asking
- Who should I go to when I'm stuck?
- How are tasks assigned and tracked?
- What does a good first week look like?
- Is there documentation I should read first?
The terms you hear on day one, such as stand-ups, sprints, and pull requests, are explained in the IT Internship Glossary.
Unexpected things happen, even on day one. If you are running late or have a technical problem, inform your mentor immediately. How you handle a problem says more about your professionalism than everything going perfectly.
From the interview roomDhaivat Ajwaliya, 16+ years interviewing interns
Related Guides
- What to Do in Your First Week of Internship
- Internship Offer Letter: What to Check Before Accepting
- Common IT Internship Mistakes
- IT Internship Success Guide
Back to the stage guide: IT Internship Success Guide, or the full IT Internship Guide for Students in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do on my first day of internship?
Be on time, meet your mentor and team, complete onboarding and system access, understand how work is assigned and communicated, and take notes.
What should I wear on the first day?
Follow any guidance from HR. If none is given, smart-casual clothing is usually a safe choice.
Will I get work on the first day?
Usually not much. The first day is mostly onboarding, setup, and introductions.
What if I don't understand anything on the first day?
That is normal. Take notes, ask your mentor where to start reading, and look up unfamiliar terms afterwards.
Your next step
Plan the rest of your week with What to Do in Your First Week of Internship.
What to Do in Your First Week of InternshipMore Free Resources for IT Students
- Free test: IT Internship Readiness Test. Check your technical foundation, projects, communication, and interview readiness in about five minutes.
- Free assessment: Which IT Role Suits You Best? Explore which of ten IT roles match your interests, strengths, and working style.
- Free reference: IT Internship Glossary. The terms you will hear before and during your internship, explained simply.
- Book: The Lost Intern: The Complete IT Internship Guide. Practical answers on choosing a role and company, and preparing for your first internship.
- Free mentoring: feeling stuck as a fresher? Apply to the Fresh Start cohort.
About the author
Dhaivat has 16+ years of experience in the IT industry, working on AI and cloud technologies, project delivery, and engineering leadership. He has interviewed and mentored many interns, wrote The Lost Intern, and runs the non-commercial Career Impact Initiative, mentoring students for free.