Dressing inappropriately for an office environment
Every summer it is always interesting to see what the interns show up in for work.  Yes, they have been a poor college student, but that is not an excuse! Investing in a few work outfits can go a long way.  Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Gap and Old Navy, all have appropriate work clothes for the office.

Most offices have relaxed dress in summer, but keep it tasteful, not sloppy. Pants, classy blouses or shirts and a sweater or jacket (good in summer air conditioning) are always appropriate. Watch what the professional women in the office wear and imitate them. A black pantsuit is a wardrobe staple and a must!  In fact, they are great for interviews and travel (I have about six).

A good rule of thumb – if you would wear it out at night, it is probably not appropriate for work. Flip flops or cleavage are never appropriate for the office (though nice sandals are OK in most offices during the summer). A young geologist in my office wears very nice, but very tight short skirts and four-inch heels to work every day – I always wonder if the men in the office are listening to what she says or checking out what she wears. My suggestion - save the tight skirts for the weekend.

You want your bosses and coworkers (in a corporate environment, the people in power are almost always men older than you) to remember you for what you can do, not if they should ask you out.

After work events – remember, it is always work
It is always interesting to see how interns and new employees act at after-work events, especially if there is an open bar. Some interns go crazy, get drunk, act silly and are not offered a permanent job. Any event sponsored by your employer, even if held in the evening or on a weekend, is still considered work - so dress and act appropriately. I hold myself to a one drink rule at any work event. If dates are allowed, make sure your date can behave well too, or leave them at home. Some firms use after-hours events as a test for you, so beware. Remember, it is always work!

Work social events are a great time to use your sorority recruitment skills – practice conversation, work the room and meet new people. You will have a great social advantage over most other people if you do these things.

Your web presence
Yes, recruiters and employers do check your web presence, so do not post anything on your Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn profiles that you would not want your boss to see. Enough said.
Along those lines, don’t spend too much time surfing the web at your desk. Most companies tolerate some incidental surfing, but monitor your activity. Save it for after work.

Remember why you are there – it is a long interview
More and more companies use summer internships or temporary jobs essentially as long interviews and make permanent hires almost exclusively from former summer interns or temporary employees. Similarly, recent graduates are often probationary hires. Anyone can look sharp for an hour-long interview, while an entire summer can give the employer a chance to see what you are really like.

A summer job is a good chance for companies to check you out, but also for you to get to know the culture of the company and the job you would be required to do if hired permanently. Focus on making a good impression, working hard, solving problems and generally doing a great job.

At the end of the day, enjoy your summer job experience in the big corporate world.  If you are fortunate, you can walk away from a summer internship or temporary job with a permanent placement.