I have finally arrived in California for my internship, which begins tomorrow at 9am sharp. Although waiting was a huge part of the process, there was so much to accomplish before I hopped a flight out here. This is probably the most difficult step and although I cannot even begin to cover every little detail, I can let you know a lot of the basics that need to be thought about. Each situation is special, but there are some general tips that you should think about before you go.
First: Housing
For me, this was a very difficult process because I was heading to a town half way across the country for only two months. If your internship is for an entire semester or summer this step will hopefully be fairly easy, especially if the internship is happening in an area near a college or one that is used to having multiple interns every few months. If the internship is local you will have nothing to worry about because you can live at home and some internships include housing for out of state participates. But for most people the best place to start is craigslist.org where you find the closest page for the area you are headed to and search away at the temp housing listings. The way I found my housing was by putting up an ad about myself requesting housing near my internship location. I got a lot of emails from a lot of shady people, but I did find a few good people offering up a room in their house for the two months I needed.
When you post an ad please be careful how much information you provide. Always include your gender and some basic information about why you need housing, for how long, and the price range you are looking for. Also, include a request for photos of the house and room if available. Other good information to provide is if you smoke, are allergic to pets, and if you will have a car with you or not. Never include your name, phone number, or personal email address. On craigslist.org they offer to provide you with a coded email that forwards all replies to your ad directly to your email address. Definately go with this option. As you sift through the replies keep an eye out for honest people that give a good amount of information of the room and amenities as well as an address. The people who answer your ad might be just as guarded and should be, so exchange emails with those that fit what you need and seem honest. Once you feel comfortable enough ask for a phone number or provide yours so you can talk on the phone.
Checking up on the house is a great idea. Checking out google maps (or Google Earth) you can look up the address and see a roof view of the property and surrounding area. This can give you an idea of the area and ease for transportation and safety for the area. If you have photos (which should be insisted upon before accepting) it is easy to compare a view of the house to the shape of the property. If things match up the house is good. You can also google the contact you have to see any information that is on the internet. If everything checks out make a deal (but I wouldn't advise sending money ahead because you never know when plans will change). If a contact asks for money up front by mail or money order I would say thanks anyways and move on.
Second: Transportation
There are actually a lot of things to consider for this part of planning. The major two are how to get where you are going and how to get around once you are there. To get to your internship you need to do some research on where you are going and look into multiple ways of getting there. Go online and look up transportation to your destination from the following sources: airline discount sites (expedia.com, travelocity.com) and amtrak.com. Also, figure up the cost of driving, especially if having a car would be needed for your area. These three options are going to be the easiest to get information for. If you are a college student with a valid student email account you can also use studentuniverse.com for all sorts of great deals on travel, hotels, and other things students need. I saved at least $100 by booking through Student Universe.
I advise booking your trip as soon as you send in the contract for your internship. When you book early you are likely to save money. For instance, I booked two weeks before American Airlines declared their "pay-per-bag" regulation, which made me exempt from hefty fees (savings of $45 for checked luggage). Paying for your ticket, by either plane, train, or even boat, early will secure you spot and save you from seasonal price hikes (mostly during the summer and spring). And don't forget to have someone pick you up or plan for a taxi or shuttle from the airport/train station.
The other form of transportation most important is how you plan to get around town. Of course, if you drive or are local this is probably taken care of for you. For those who fly there are some things to look into. Depending on your age, renting a car for all or part of your internship may be useful or even necessary. Unfortunately there is an age minimum of 25 at most car rental companies, although some allow 21-24 year olds to pay an extra fee for renting and some will even go as low as 18. Make sure to do research for the rental companies in the immediate area. But renting cars is very expensive and may not be economically sound, especially if the internship is not paying enough to cover the costs. For many areas, like the town I am in, biking is very popular. Although bike rentals can get expensive as well, there is no gas to worry about and the exercise is good for you. If there is a college nearby check with them for rentals because they are usually cheaper than more expensive areas. Compare costs and bike models for the best deal. If you will be riding around town a lot it would be smart to look for a commuter style bike or if the area has hills or rough terrain areas might need a mountain bike. If you are close enough to your destination and the area is safe walking is the cheapest and easiest form of transportation available.
Third: Packing
Naturally you just need to pack with common sense. Research the area you are going to for weather conditions for the season you will be going and pack clothing accordingly. Ask you internship coordinator about the dress code and pack carefully to those guidelines. You may need more slacks and nice tops or for some internships jeans are acceptable. Dressy clothes may also be needed so plan to pack at least on semi-formal outfit with appropriate shoes. Bring only those cosmetics you will need for the time you will be there. Shampoo, razors, face wash, toothbrush and toothpaste, things like that which you use daily. If you can live without it leave it behind. The less you have the easier life will be. Don't forget the non-basic things you need as well: cell phone and charger, computer, paperwork needed, checks and credit cards, money, maps and anything else you need for your internship.
Packing a calendar (you can print only the months you need with a Microsoft Word template) will make the daily grind easier to remember. All events and times should be recorded immediately, especially for your first day, so you can look ahead for each week. Often the internships requires paperwork to be turned in when you arrive, including immunization test records, tax forms, or information related directly to your internship. Do not leave any of this behind because you never know when your acceptance letter will have a phone number or pice of information critical for you to know. Maps are important to pack. Among these should be travel papers (maps of airports or train stations, as well as flight or train information. You may also need to pack a few office supplies for taking notes and other internships needs.
As I mentioned before packing light is ultra important. Check out the pricing at the location you are traveling to. If you are headed to an area more expensive than that in which you live (for instance, going from the midwest to a coastal area or major city) buying your cosmetics at home will be much cheaper and an extra carry-on may be worth the savings. If you are headed the other way though, the only cosmetics you may want to buy at home are those that are only found in your area. Otherwise it would be smart of wait until you arrive in town and hit the local stores.
Fourth: Wait for Departure
Once all of this is taken care of (including all those small things that are specific to your situation) you are simply playing a waiting game. Double and triple check everything and keep in contact with your housing provider so they do not forget about you. Everything is taken care of and you can relax until take off. There is nothing more exciting than arriving to your internship.
Written by TomorrowToday.
You can read previous entries in this series: Preparation and The Interview
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