Starting a new job brings a lot of excitement, anticipation, and a teensy bit of, “Wait, what do I do now?” The Right Start: Fundamental Skills is designed for exactly that moment. The workshop arms interns and new hires with the practical tools they need to make a strong impression, connect with their teams, and build a career that they love.
Here’s a look at what we cover, what this summer’s interns and new hires are saying, and what they’re curious to explore next.
01 Build Trust and Credibility
Before you can do great work, people need to believe you will. Trust is built in the small moments long before the big ones. The session opens with a simple but powerful idea: perception is reality. How you show up in meetings, the emails you send, and whether you hit your deadlines all speak volumes about who you are as a professional.
Participants work through real scenarios on meeting engagement, email etiquette, and time management. Our “Trust Buster to Trust Builder” exercise makes it click: small habits either earn trust or quietly erode it.
What participants say resonated most:
“Perception being reality really landed for me. I’ll apply that by showing up in different spaces and being involved in the moment.”
“Remembering that first impressions happen through perception, even through emails and messaging.”
02 Connect and Collaborate
One of the most important mindset shifts from school to work? Moving from ME to WE.
In school, success is largely individual. At work, your ability to understand the culture, get to know your teammates, add value beyond what’s asked, and be a genuine good teammate is what sets people apart.
We explore how to connect to company culture, what it means to go from “meeting” expectations to “exceeding” them, and the difference between the two.
A key challenge for participants: ask yourself every month, “What could I do that no one asked for that could be helpful?” That’s where careers take off.
What participants say resonated most:
“ I have about 20 ideas we discussed which I have been applying, but one that’s really important is taking advantage of the social/coworker opportunities.”
“Be a team player; be kind; make someone’s life easier”
03 Stay Curious and Be Proactive
We offer a hot take that runs counter to what a lot of new professionals expect to hear: don’t fixate on your next promotion. Focus on building skills, taking on new experiences, and building enduring relationships. Those three things are your career rocket fuel.
THE THREE STAGES OF CAREER ROCKET FUEL
TAKE ON ROCKET FUEL
Build transportable skills (problem-solving, communications, analysis, team-building, selling), say yes to new experiences, and invest in relationships that last.
POUR GASOLINE ON YOUR STRENGTHS
Once you know what you’re great at, double down. Success isn’t about fixing weaknesses; it’s about amplifying what makes you exceptional.
PASS THE TORCH
The most successful people lift others as they climb. Teaching and mentoring is how careers become legacies.
Participants are challenged to redefine success itself, shifting from a mindset of “size and speed” (title, pay, early promotions) to one of “quality and sustainability” (range of experiences, great bosses, steady advancement). That’s a mindset that actually sticks.
What participants say resonated most:
“Be curious and not judgmental. I’m taking that with me.”
“Taking the time once a month to see what you have done and what you will do during the internship.”
What Interns and New Hires Want to Learn Next
In Their Own Words…
“Very engaging, insightful real world scenarios. This wasn’t theory, it was immediately useful.”
“The skills discussed were very clear. I intend to apply what I learned throughout my entire career.”
“It was informative and confidence building. I walked away with real tools, not just inspiration.”
“Overall experience felt positive yet genuine, not shying away from harsh truths.”
“Gained a lot of information, helped me think and work through some communication mind blocks.”
“The overall experience was very interactive, engaging, and informative. Loved every minute.”
Feedback from this cohort tells us the curiosity doesn’t stop when the session ends. Here’s what participants are asking to learn more about. Consider it a preview of what’s next.
Joining a pre-established team with confidence
How to pitch project ideas to your manager
Presenting and capturing a room
Imposter syndrome, self-doubt, & managing anxiety at work
Time management and staying organized under pressure
Let’s talk about what’s right for your organization.
Sound like topics your team needs? These themes map directly to several of JB’s most-requested programs. Whether you’re onboarding interns, new hires, or an entire cohort, we’ll make work better together.