Updated November 2026
TL;DR
Your first day and week of an internship are about learning how the team works and showing you can be relied on. Follow seven tips: research the company and your role, prepare your workspace and tools, introduce yourself, clarify expectations, ask questions and take notes, communicate your progress, and complete one small task well. At a startup, onboarding is often informal, so taking initiative and communicating clearly earn trust fastest. Before day one, write a short introduction and three questions: what your first assignment is, what success looks like this week and how to ask for help.
Your first internship won't feel like school: you might join a meeting, learn new tools and discuss a real project within hours. What sets a strong first week apart isn't knowing everything; it's taking an active role in learning. This guide covers each tip and how your first week usually unfolds.
Still choosing a program? See Ladder's lists of free internships for high school students, summer work programs and our guide to staying visible in a remote internship.
What should you do on the first day of your internship?
Use this as a checklist for your first day and week.
|
Tip |
What to do |
When |
|
1. Research the company |
Spend 30 minutes on the site, product and recent updates |
Before day one |
|
2. Prepare your tools |
Test laptop, internet, mic and camera |
Before day one |
|
3. Introduce yourself |
Name, role and one thing you want to learn |
Day one |
|
4. Clarify expectations |
Confirm output, deadline and reviewer |
Every new task |
|
5. Ask questions and take notes |
One running document for everything |
All week |
|
6. Communicate progress |
Short updates before anyone has to ask |
All week |
|
7. Finish one small task well |
Then ask for specific feedback |
By end of week one |
What happens on the first day of an internship at a startup?
Startup onboarding is usually shorter and less formal than at a big company: you might meet your supervisor, get access to communication and project tools, join a meeting and hear about the work you'll support. Small teams mean your supervisor is juggling other work, so instructions often come in stages.
Don't worry if there's no detailed schedule or task yet. Before day one ends, try to pin down three things: who to contact with questions, what your immediate priorities are and when you'll next check in.
Tip 1: Research the company and your role before your first day
Even 30 minutes on the company's website and recent updates helps you follow your first conversations, since a supervisor may discuss a customer problem or product feature without explaining everything. On a marketing team, read the blog and social posts; on a software team, try the product.
Reread your internship description too, even if the role evolves. Note what's unclear, like which project you'll support first, so you arrive with a couple of thoughtful questions.
Tip 2: Get your workspace and tools ready for day one
Technical problems can eat a surprising amount of your first day, especially remotely, so check your laptop, internet, microphone and camera ahead of time and have a quiet spot for calls. In person, confirm where to report, when and what to bring.
You may not have access to every tool yet. Startups often use Slack or Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, and Trello or Asana. Flag access problems early: "I got the project link, but I don't have permission to open the document" is far better than mentioning it the day a task is due.
Tip 3: Introduce yourself and learn how the team works
Keep your introduction simple: "Hi, I'm Alex, the new marketing intern. I'm interested in content and social media, and I'm looking forward to learning from the team." As you meet people, learn what each one works on and where your work fits.
Watch how the team communicates, not just everyone's names. Some teams ask quick questions on Slack, others save them for check-ins. Knowing when you're expected to be available and reply helps you avoid misunderstandings, especially remotely.
Tip 4: Clarify expectations before starting a task
A simple-sounding assignment can mean different things: "research five competitors" might mean a product summary to you and a pricing comparison to your supervisor. Confirm what the finished work looks like, when it's due and who reviews it.
Repeat it back: "I'll compare five competitors on pricing and features in a spreadsheet and share a draft by Thursday. Does that sound right?" If priorities shift or a deadline gets tight, say so early so the scope can be adjusted.
Tip 5: Ask questions and keep useful notes
No one expects you to know every tool or term, so ask, but make questions specific. Instead of "I don't understand the task," say "I found the competitors, but I'm not sure which pricing plans to compare." If someone mentions a CRM or a sprint, it's fine to ask for an example.
Keep one document for instructions, terms, deadlines, links and feedback. Check it before asking again, and batch nonurgent questions for your next check-in. Good notes make you more independent each week.
Tip 6: Communicate your progress without being asked
Send short updates before anyone has to chase you, especially in a remote internship where your supervisor can't see you working. A simple shape works: what's done, what's next and what you need.
Flag problems the moment you spot them, not on the due date. "The data I need won't be ready until Friday, so I'll draft the summary first" shows judgment and keeps the project moving.
Tip 7: Complete one small task well and ask for feedback
Your first contribution doesn't have to be impressive, just careful: a clearly organized spreadsheet or a well-researched draft shows you pay attention to detail. If your first assignment is large, finishing one part well counts.
Ask for specific feedback. Instead of "Was this okay?", try "Would a shorter summary be more useful for the team?" Applying that feedback to your next task is how you become someone the team relies on.
What should your first week of an internship look like?
Expect more learning than doing, and that's normal. Day one is usually people, tools and context; by midweek you may join regular meetings and take on part of an assignment; by Friday you might have one finished task or simply a clear picture of the project ahead.
What matters most by Friday is a clear direction for week two: your responsibilities, how your supervisor likes to work and what you'll contribute next. In a short placement, setting expectations early leaves more time to build skills and act on feedback.
Does how you start an internship matter for college and careers?
Yes: the habits from your first week, like clarifying tasks, communicating progress and acting on feedback, are what a supervisor remembers when writing a recommendation. They also carry into every job after this one.
The best way to build them is on a real team. Ladder Internships places high school students in remote, eight-week start-up internships, where they work on a real project with a company coach, with full financial aid available.
Common questions about the first day of an internship
How do you introduce yourself on the first day of an internship?
Share your name, your role and one thing you want to learn, like "I'm looking forward to learning how the team plans its campaigns."
What should you ask your supervisor on day one?
Ask about your immediate priorities, what a successful first week looks like and how they prefer to get questions and updates.
What if you don't get an assignment on your first day?
That's normal while access and context are set up. Review shared materials, learn about the company and ask when to expect your first task.
Where can high school students get a first internship?
Join a remote start-up project. Ladder Internships runs remote, eight-week start-up internships for high school students worldwide, at 5 to 10 hours a week, with a company coach and full financial aid available. The next deadline is November 15, 2026, for the Winter I cohort starting December 7, 2026.
Contact us at contact@ladderinternships.com if you have any questions!