Items Not Allowed at Your Internship

Lauren Berger is CEO of http://www.internqueen.com. Berger tours the country speaking at colleges and really bringing the internship message to life. Lauren Berger is known as "The Intern Queen" after participating in 15 internships during her four years of college. She was named #5 on YouthMobile's list of Top Youth Marketing Minds for 2010 and also #5 on BusinessWeek's Top 25 Entrepreneurs 25 and Under this year.   Follow the Intern Queen on Twitter  at http://www.twitter.com/internqueen.

I spend the majority of my days chatting with internship coordinators and HR representatives from companies of all sorts. Unfortunately, I'm constantly hearing horror stories from these people about what interns are bringing with them to their internships. Here are a list of items NOT  to bring to your internship (yes, you may leave these items in your car):

• Cell phones should be left in car or turned on SILENT. These should not be in your hand at anytime during the day unless you are on a lunch break or using it for an internship-related task.

• Skimpy clothing must be left at home, ladies. When a client or co-worker is introduced to the intern they should get a professional impression. Anything you would wear to a club should be left at home.

• IPODs are great for the walk to your internship or the walk home but should stay OUT OF SIGHT at all other times. I suggest students avoid putting on their IPOD during lunch because it doesn't invite co-workers and fellow interns to get to know you and chat with you. Remember, a main goal of your internship is networking and lunchtime is a great time to sit with people and start up new conversations.

• Club stamps or bracelets from the night before should not be sported to your internship. Many students are going out every night during their summer internships and having a blast in new and different cities. That's fine BUT "the night before" shouldn't be a main conversation at your internship. Make sure that your hands aren't still stamped from the night before and your wrists aren't filled with the club bracelets.

• Inappropriate pictures or images on folders are not welcome at your internship. I do recommend bringing a small notebook and folder to your internship. If the notebook and folder have a design, that's fine - but make sure that any pictures remain professional.

• Personal photos are common at internships when the interns are assigned their own cubicle, desk, or workspace. Bringing in personal photos of family and friends is fine but those pictures should NOT include alcohol, pictures of you kissing your significant other, and I would avoid "funny face" pictures that could be taken the wrong way or portray you in a negative or immature way. Remember, these people are not your family or your friends and they don't know the context of those photos.