I’ve been seeing a lot of informational material surfacing lately for interns, recent grads and new-comers to the working world; there have been a lot of articles like,  “Do’s and Don’ts for Interns” and “Ways to Succeed in your new job,” etc. I’ve noticed something very important about these articles: even though they are accurate, THEY ARE ALL THE SAME. Some of the items on these lists are common sense and things that you do naturally so they aren’t really gold nuggets of advice.

This article by Ragan’s PR Daily, called “12 Do’s and Don’ts for PR interns,” outlines a few of those pieces of advice that are extremely repetitive. Here is the list:

Don’t ever enter a meeting, even an informal drop by from your manager, without a notebook and pen.

Don’t be afraid to tell your manager you’d like to be busy—ask for more work.

Don’t be a social media or text addict, checking your status and phone can wait.

Don’t leave for lunch or at the end of the day without checking with your boss or peers to see if they need help with anything before you go.

Don’t decorate your cube with college party pictures; you are a working adult now.

Don’t party. You may be at a fun work function or event, but you are working (regardless of how much fun your bosses may seem to be having).

Do proofread everything. No matter how mundane the task or email may seem, attention to detail and pride of ownership will pay off.

Do take initiative and come up with ideas for projects, pitches, organization, etc. Show your value. Great ideas can come from anywhere, including the intern.

Do ask questions and ask for clarification if you are unsure of an assignment. Asking your manager to help you prioritize is wise, too.

Do provide short check-in emails or updates to your manager regarding the status of projects.

Do solicit feedback and ask for areas in which you need to improve.

Do treat this as a job audition. Most companies are looking at you as a possible future colleague.

Common sense right? I can’t tell you how many of these articles I’ve read and immediately thought “Cool. Can you tell me something I don’t know?” It can be a little daunting starting out, interning in a new office or getting your first job; concrete advice would mean more to us. I’d like to keep this list and add on to it from first-hand experience.

Do show up on time! (I know what you are thinking: “Isn’t that common sense too?”) YES, IT IS! And yet, you wouldn’t believe how many people in my generation are late to everything and are okay with it. Oh, 5 minutes isn’t too late right? C’MON! It is one of my biggest pet peeves. This is the rule to live by: 15 minutes early is on time, on time is late.

Don’t talk to your boss about something important when they first get to the office. They need a few minutes to pull themselves together too (Hey, we all put our pants on the same way, right?) or else they’ll feel like they are being pounced on. Some have a morning routine like dropping off briefcases, grabbing coffee, checking the mail, reading email, etc. before they actually dig in to that day’s work. Give them a few minutes to adjust and then start talking.

Do talk to your boss about things unrelated to work. Granted, you want to make sure you’re doing this at the right time but casual conversation can be great. You learn things about other people that you would have never known otherwise. For example, if you know your boss is really good at trading stocks, ask his/her opinion on one that you’ve been looking at or a competitor’s outlook in the market. Or if they like yoga, tell them about a new studio that recently opened. It may lead to a great conversation that can help you bond with your boss or learn something new. And if it doesn’t work out, you were just being nice.

Don’t take your lunch break before your supervisor. Generally, your boss is probably older than you and manners dictate that you would do this anyway. But sometimes you have those bosses that use the pesky little line “Oh no, go ahead. I insist.” Really, they probably don’t care, but if you let them eat first and wait for a convenient time to take a break, they will notice and appreciate it. It is common courtesy (and unfortunately doesn’t happen enough anymore).

Do give 110%. If you aren’t truly passionate about the field, job or company, it will show. If you are going to show up to work everyday half-heartedly, just don’t go at all. Even if you are the better candidate in experience, it might not be enough to compete with the passionate person who truly wants the job.

Don’t act like a know-it-all. While new ideas are appreciated, there is a time and place to bring them to the table. Observe for the first few weeks and then offer suggestions once you truly have a grasp of the company and the way the working environment functions. Listen first, then talk.

I hope that you find these helpful and a little more insightful than the scripted answers we normally get. But, when it comes down to it, you will know when a position is the right fit for you and easing into the job will be more than comfortable if it’s the right one.