Our teeth and ambitions are bared

At some point during college, things like resumes, professional appearance and internships become priorities. Like Scar from Disney's "The Lion King" said, "Be prepared." If you aren't prepared ahead of time, you'll fall behind every other student trying to do the same thing you are — land a job.

Preparation is a key factor and that's why it's important to know what can help and hurt you during those first few days as an intern. Here are a few suggestions I've found can help when preparing for the first day of an internship.

Plan to arrive looking sharp. Dress like you're the king of Pride Rock. No employer wants to be represented by a slob. If you're not sure what to wear, try to remember what people were wearing the day you were interviewed. If you can't recall what they wore, use the conservative approach — dress pants and a button-up shirt or blouse.

Do a little research. Sometimes "Hakuna Matata" isn't the best policy. You don't want to walk into the office thinking you are only an intern and don't need to know company details. An arrogant attitude will get you nowhere in the job market. Try to find out what the company sells or does, if they are a publicly traded company and whether or not they're doing something new in the coming year. Historical research is always nice to know, but it's the "happening now" information you should look at the closest.

Get a good night's sleep. You don't want to stroll in your first day with bags under your eyes. Wake up well-rested, energetic and ready to face your first day on the job. Employers will be glad to know you've put in the effort to make your first day a great experience. They can tell if the lion slept last night.

Be aware of time. What time you should arrive to work and what time you are allowed to leave. You should have a clear understanding of your work schedule and be on time. Leave at an appropriate time in order to handle traffic or uncertain weather conditions. Plan for enough time in the morning to get ready, be out the door and on time for work.

Start your morning off right. Don't load up on pancakes and sausage, or worse, eat nothing at all and expect to feel fine during your first day. Have a bowl of cereal, some fruit or eggs and eat slowly. Even if you can't wait to be king, don't rush yourself — that only makes you more anxious. Just relax, eat your breakfast and head off to work.

With research, preparation and initiative, you're likely to land the internship you were meant to find — either for a learning experience, a foot in the company's door or a way to narrow down which field you prefer most. Whether you like your first internship or not, you'll get an idea of how to tackle the first days future job opportunities. It's a first step in the circle of life.

— Megan Gross is an IC Columnist and a junior majoring in marketing.