Welcome to summer interning season. We have plenty of 'em now in the always hectic editorial department of Westchester Magazine, my day gig—and I LOVE them. They're usually super-smart and helpful and because we give them actual, substantive (sometimes boring but always real) work—and would never dream of sending them on a Starbucks run—it's a win-win. They get great experience and a look at how what they're studying translates into the work world, and we get extra help and their fresh perspectives. Because many are the age of my own college student son—who's had his own share of terrific interning experiences—I always try to go the extra mile to make interning at the magazine a real learning experience and mentor them as a combo boss/mom. (And unlike my own offspring, they don't call it nagging, at least not to my face.)

Anyhoo, if your own kids are interning or starting out in their careers, here's my number one tip: Whenever they go into someone's office to talk about an assignment, ask a question, or for anything at all ever, they should ALWAYS bring a pad and pen. I can't tell you how often this office 101 basic is skipped. Walk in prepared—always—and they'll be one step ahead of the game. Another (much more fun) tip? Watch all the past seasons of "The Office. And then? Do everything those guys don't!