Remember your first day of high school? Remember all that anxiety about who to eat lunch with, what to wear, and whether or not matching the color of your shirt with your braces would be a good idea? Well if you thought you left your awkward teenage self behind at your last orthodontist’s appointment, have I got a surprise for you! Turns out first days are anxiety ridden at any age. Like the facial expression of an over-Botoxed celeb – some things never change.
The weekend before my CW internship began, I scoured my closet for the perfect “first day of work” outfit. First impressions are crucial and I wanted to ensure my new boss saw me as the stylish professional I aspire to be. By the time the majority of my clothes were on my closet floor, however, I realized that not only did I not have a perfect something to wear on the first day, my wardrobe was seriously lacking in anything work appropriate.
As a California girl born and raised, I have acquired a less-than-conservative taste in clothing. Living in a city where the daily forecast rarely strays below 70, I consider sun dresses and short shorts everyday necessities. While these LA essentials are great for a day at the beach, they don’t work so well in the office. Picture the 90210 girls in a boardroom…disaster.
Rather than allow the looming sense of panic to set in, I sought guidance from the one mecca capable of solving all of life’s problems – the Beverly Center shopping complex.
Four hours, seven stores, two Starbucks and multiple shopping bags later – I emerged victorious. Although my expectations were initially low, I ended up finding some office-appropriate pieces that actually fit my personal style. For my first day on the job, I opted for a Calvin Klein sheath dress and some classic Ferragamo flats. As the saying goes when you look good, you feel good and I was feeling great.
I knew I had nailed the intern chic look when Dajuan – henceforth known as my favorite administrative assistant in the office – asked if I was sure I wasn’t part of the GOSSIP GIRL cast. Needless to say, Dajuan and I became fast friends.
But that was just the tip of the amazing-first-day iceberg. I met with my supervisor Rick Haskins (aka marketing guru/legend) and discussed how my time with the CW would be spent. In an effort to maintain a façade of professionalism, I restrained myself from squealing with excitement during our meeting; but suffice it to say I’m confident the next eight weeks will be everything I hoped for and more.
Then I met Rick’s right-hand man, CW’s marketing coordinator, Eric, who took me to my private office. Yes, you read that correctly. First day as an intern and they set me up in my own office – complete with couches and a flat-screen TV. Not too shabby, eh?
Not too shabby, eh?
Okay…so technically it isn’t really “my office”. They sort of ran out of cubicles and didn’t have a desk set up for me so they stuck me in a network big shot’s empty old office. Still, fluke or no fluke, this is the kind of executive lifestyle I could get used to.
After settling in to my new digs, I turned on my flat-screen and watched the pilots for THE SECRET CIRCLE, RINGER, HART OF DIXIE, and H8R. Fingers crossed another assignment will entail watching new episodes for these series in advance because I can’t wait for the fall season to start.
As if my day couldn’t get any better – Rick just told me that tomorrow morning I get to sit in on a meeting with the marketing department’s creative team AND shadow them at a photo shoot for the print ad of HART OF DIXIE!!
I can already tell Rachel and I are kindred spirits and will totally hit it off (we’ll def be on a first-name basis by the end of the shoot so I figure I can start throwing it around now).
Must-ask questions include a list of her top vintage stores in LA and comparing favorite episodes of The O.C.
- Eva Gurfein