Spring 2013 Seminar 2

As we do each semester, the second seminar is an our opportunity to explore workplace challenges and offer suggestions for solving these. This year, we also discussed the pre-internship survey of transferable skills.

One of the Student Learning Outcomes which our internship program seeks to help students with is developing an appreciation for cultures and values other than our own. In light of this, here is a case study for your consideration. Please add your comments suggesting possible course of action for those in the described situation:

Molly is excited to be settling into her first post-college job with the Aero-Dynamics Research Corporation. Her office is responsible for developing marketing plans for any products which have passed all the pre-release testing. One on-going challenge the company faces is corporate espionage, particularly with electronics and software, but she does not anticipate this being very relevant to her role in marketing.

One Friday morning, however, Molly arrives at work to find her boss and coworkers in a state of panic. A product description originating in their office has shown up on the packaging for a similar product produced by a competitor. They are now faced with the challenge of re-writing the marketing material while the production division develops some upgrades to the product to differentiate it from the inferior competitor's product. All their work must be re-done before the Monday release of the material to the packaging manufacturer.

Molly is conflicted - she knows getting this marketing material together is urgent, but it seems that sticking with the original Monday deadline is unrealistic - after all, the new version of the product will not be ready until mid-week at least. Not only will it mean their entire department must work all weekend, any revised product description will no longer be entirely accurate. Her boss turns to her and says, "So, new kid, ready to tow the party line?" She wants to express concern that they should wait until after the prototype changes are made, but she is afraid of standing out as a trouble-maker.

What are her options?

Workplace Challenges

Fall 2012 Internships:

Seminar 2 Make-up Assignment

During our second seminar, each student was asked to introduce himself/herself and tell us their internship employer location. Then, we explored unexpected challenges students have faced this semester and participated in case study discussions.

The first few comments answered situation 1, which I've left at the end of this post. For upcoming responses, let's explore another potential workplace issue.

Please introduce yourself and your employer location, then share your thoughts on ways you think an employee might handle the following challenging situation:




SITUATION 1 - NEW COMMENTS NOT NEEDED ON THIS ONE - Great job everyone!
Marsha is excited about her first week in her new internship with Allen Inc., CPA firm. She is getting the opportunity to have hands-on work with preparation of client reports and learning a lot about client-firm privacy regulations. One challenge, though, has been that she has no idea when she is supposed to take a lunch break. She never sees a group going out to lunch or notices the office closing for lunch. She wonders if they all bring lunch or eat when out on calls to clients. A couple of the office staff do take a break, but not her direct supervisor or the other professional staff. She doesn't know whether to ask her supervisor, one of the clerical staff, or simply start taking a short break each day. For three straight days, she has skipped lunch entirely...after all, nobody else seems to take a set break, and they work from morning until evening. She thinks perhaps she isn't entitled to a break since her hours are only from 10:30-4:30 three days a week.

Is it realistic for Marsha to expect a break during her six-hour day as an intern? What can she do to resolve this question?  Whom should she ask?

Summer internships are beginning to wind down and I would like to give you the opportunity to comment on positive observations related to another intern's experience (or ask questions about another intern's experience).  I realize this may be the toughest topic we've addressed, so who is up to comment first?

You have had some great comments about problem-solving, and I hope those whose internships are continuing through Summer Session 2 will add to these!

For those who are finishing their internship experience, it is time to reflect on the experience as a whole and think about ways which you can present what you learned on a resume, job application, or graduate school application.

Most definitely, you will want to ask someone who knows you well to serve as a reference for the time you have spent in your internship. You will also want to include your internship as work experience (or shadowing experience) on your resume. These sections of a resume generally include organization name, your title or role, dates of the experience, and several bullet points describing your accomplishments.

In your comments below, share two or three accomplishments you believe would be useful to include on a resume. Then come back to see what others have shared to get ideas about other possible details to include.

Finally, I encourage you to email me photos of yourself at work (maintaining any confidentiality required in your workplace), and I will post these on the blog so that your peers and future interns can get a picture of what being an intern "looks like."

One of the skills each of you is evaluating during your experience this summer is that of problem-solving. Different organizations approach problem-solving using different methods. Some prefer a team approach, while others assign individuals to evaluate a problem. In fact, there are probably as many methods of solving problems as there are problems to solve.

In your comments, please share an example of one method of problem-solving you have seen used in your current internship. While maintaining confidentiality and a positive frame of mind, what have you learned about effective problem-solving through your work or observations?

Welcome to Summer Internship Conversation with the Office of Career Programs and Student Development at Presbyterian College! We're excited to begin another term of hands-on learning, with a diverse group of students completing internships in some exciting places. I invite each of you to introduce yourself and tell everyone where you'll be interning this summer. Let us know what your greatest hope for the summer experience is. Then, read the comments from other interns to see what else is out there. You will be invited to comment on a series of blogs this summer, but there are a few guidelines I'll try to remind you of each time:

1. This is a public forum. Faculty members, employers, and the general public will read what you say. This is not a place to air dirty laundry or to report problems. The proper way to communicate about such issues is directly with me in private conversation.

2. This is a public forum. The questions are asked so that you can share and compare a variety of settings - give informative details which will help other interns (current and future) learn about the variety of workplaces which are represented. Share, share, share relevant details which give insight into working in a particular type of setting.

3. This is a public forum. Privacy matters. Remember confidentiality issues related to your internship.

4. Most importantly, this is a public forum. You are representing yourself and Presbyterian College to future employers and the world. Do yourself proud.

Now - GO BLUE HOSE! Do your best and have a great summer!

Spring 2012 Seminar 3 - Finishing STRONG!

Each semester we use the final seminar to pull all the details together from the entire semester, particularly to share the most valuable lesson or skill you will take with you from this internship.

In the comments section below, please share some of the most important lessons you've learned - particularly about time management, work ethic, networking, and overcoming obstacles. Then, write a sentence or two about your plans and dreams following this semester and a shout-out to students you believe should explore a similar internship in the future. Finally, what is the most important thing you learned from your experience?

Spring 2012 Seminar 2

Those of you who missed our Internship Seminar last week missed an opportunity to practice your interview skills. We explored the common questions you can anticipate in graduate school or job interviews, and ways to highlight your internship experience during these.

For your make-up assignment, write a comment which shares your answer to one of these potential interview questions:
1. For students who anticipate seeking a job after graduation -  "What skills have you used during your internship which you believe will help make you a stronger asset to your future employer?"
2. For students who anticipate applying to graduate/professional school after graduation - "How has your internship helped you get more out of your classroom experience?"
3. For students who need a back-up question - "Tell me the most important thing you have learned about working with others."

I look forward to your comments!

Spring 2012 INTERNS Galore!

The Spring 2012 semester promises to be an exciting one for internships at Presbyterian College. Not only are there more students completing internships in the spring than the fall, but also, many of these internships are for longer hours.

Students who are completing an internship this semester are invited to introduce themselves in the comments to this post, and to tell a little about your internship and what excites you about the opportunity.  Faculty intern advisors and employers are also invited to read along, comment in our discussions, and contribute to the internship community-wide discussion.

Please keep in mind that this is a public forum, using discretion when discussing any challenges, particularly maintaining confidentiality with workplace-related specifics. Contact me directly by phone or email if you have an internship-related problem which needs to be addressed.

End-of-Semester Workshop

During the last week of classes, fall interns came together to discuss and reflect on their experiences this semester. Students marked the office map with a flag showing their internship location, wrote down challenges which they overcame and which will help them face future challenges, and illustrated their transferable skills in pictorial fashion. They also created a list of the most important or best thing about their experience and a summary of accomplishments which they can list on future resumes.

Fall intern discussion - The Workplace Environment

Each work setting has its own personality, so to speak. You use knowledge related to the industry requirements. An example would be the vocabulary related to that field. You also develop new skills, some of which are specific to a field  (such as use of certain software), but many which are transferable to a wide variety of locations and fields. These two areas are fairly easy to identify and descibe.

More difficult, though, is trying to describe the underlying attitudes or values of a particular workplace. How do individuals interact with those who have different backgrounds or cultures? What value systems are overtly expressed - or are there subtle values which are harder to identify?

During your internship this semester, we will be exploring your own development in all four areas: knowledge, transferable skills, attitudes, and values. One part of this will be comparing your current experience to previous experiences and observations.

As you begin your internship, reflect on other workplaces you have observed or experienced, and comment on the use of academic knowledge, transferable professional skills, personal or faith values, and attitudes towards others in those locations. Also, comment on where you anticipate being in your own professional growth in five to ten years.

Remember, this is a public forum, so if anything you wish to say should be kept confidential, please email me instead of posting here.

Fall 2011 Internships Conversation

Welcome to fall semester 2011! Our first intern seminar will be held on Thursday, September 1, at 4:30PM in HP 214. I hope that all interns will be able to attend.

Should you have a scheduling conflict, this blog will serve as a place where you can participate in the conversations we hold during the seminar. Watch for the initial topic to be posted on Friday, September 2 for follow-up for the Thursday discussions.

Happy Interning, everyone!

After the Internship

I had no intention of posting anything else on our blog, but today I came across an article which is worth sharing with each of you!

Internships.com - How Should I Keep in Touch?

Presbyterian College has membership with Internships.com, and there are many informative articles as well as exciting opportunities posted there each day.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have more questions, want to do a follow-up internship, or are preparing a resume!

Final Thoughts

The summer has almost come to a close - and I think most of you have had wonderful educational experiences. So what comes next? After all, an internship isn't just another class; it is a full-immersion experience.

While your experience is fresh in your mind, I encourage you to take time to add a file to your computer folder. In it, make a list of people and contacts you have made (thanks to Brandon, one of our interns this summer for this idea), as well as anything specific which might be helpful to you in an interview or on a resume.

Include software you've learned, presentations you have made, trade-specific vocabulary you have developed. This one or two page document will be a resource for you to reawaken the memories which seem so fresh right now. So, in two months, six months, or two years from now when you want to be able to answer questions in an interview, you'll have this resource. Or, if you hear of a job opening in a related business, you will have the name and contact information for someone who may help you learn more about the job or be willing to be your reference.

If any of you have tips for the rest of the interns, I'd love to hear those, too, so feel free to share them here! You are welcomed to drop by my desk any time this fall if you want to discuss anything related to your internship experience, professional development, or job search. And last but not least, don't forget to update your resume!

Sizzling!

Tom with Mulligan

Have you ever known anyone who seemed to do everything to the best of their ability? Those people who seem to find energy at the crucial time or offer just the right encouragement to coworkers?

As you move through the work environment, certain people start to stand out as positive examples. These individuals are "On Fire" in their field; they are the people who know how to get the job done and how to motivate others to do their best.

Elise at MUSC

Tracy at Back to Basics Childcare

While I don't want you to publicly embarrass anyone by naming names, I'd like to to take a few minutes to describe the characteristics you believe help someone to become a Sizzling Star. Then share your thoughts of how you can develop these skills yourself.

And thank-you to those of you who have started sending me photos and intern stories. Here are a couple of you Stars at your locations this summer.

Looking forward to some great stories!

Reflecting on Summer One and Starting Summer Two

This post is short - I want you to do most of the talking this week. Continuing or completing interns may answer the questions in the next paragraph; new interns should read the final paragraph and respond to the appropriate posts.

Although most interns this summer plan to continue to work through the end of Summer Session 2, a few of you are finishing your internship requirements this week. As you reflect on your experience, try to come up with the one thing which you believe has made the biggest positive impact on you through this internship and tell us about it here. And if there is one thing you could have made a better effort to do from the start (since some students are just beginning their internships), what would it be? Everyone who is continuing into second session is also welcomed to share your answers to these two questions.

Newcomers who are just beginning your internship, I invite you to introduce yourselves through a comment on the "Welcome" post and share a little about your internship plans as a comment on "Getting Started: The Workplace Environment."

"The Devil is in the Details" - workplace professionalism

It has been said that "the devil is often in the details." Knowing what to expect on the job may sound simple, but there are many details which make up general professionalism.

For the second internship discussion topic this summer, I thought it would be both interesting and helpful to talk about these basic workplace professional skills, especially those which are expected in your specific workplace.

Some skills are pretty much expected “across the board,” such as professional courtesy, being on time, using standard grammar, etc. However, there are other professional skills which are industry-specific, some of which you may not have anticipated at your workplace.

For the benefit of your own personal reflection on the topic - and the shared benefit of raising awareness among your fellow interns - please share with us some of the skills you have observed among your coworkers…those which surprised you…those which you “thought” you already knew…or those which you anticipated.

A few terms to get you started - clothes (including shoes) - cell phone use - slang - protocol (such as the steps required to make a purchase or decision) - initiative - positive/vs./negative speech - office organization - food at work -  Here is an excerpt from a recent journal which touches with just one minor topic of workplace etiquette…I am sure all of you can come up with many more!

“One of the hardest things I had to deal with was the transition of people’s names. I still struggle with it in writing my journals. I wasn’t ever sure of the appropriate protocol to use in addressing people. Should I just call them by their first name or Mr. “Jones”, or Mr. “Dan.”  I interchanged each one of these, but I rested on Mr. “Dan.” I feel like this is a challenge that lots of young people entering a work environment face. Especially in the south when we are taught from a very young age the subtle art of manners and politeness. Understandably this isn’t a huge workplace issue, but it could be a source of stress to some. And when you add that to a separate stressful environment it could get touchy. I think a class or a seminar on workplace etiquette before the internship begins would be really beneficial.”

(Feel free to use pseudonyms if you are giving personal examples, and as always, if you have challenges which are not appropriate for a public conversation.)

If you have photos of yourself at your internship, these would be a great addition to our blog! Just email me a copy at careerservices@presby.edu,  and I'll add them.

Getting started - the workplace environment

 There are many factors which make up the workplace environment - number of employees, nature of business (i.e. retail, vs. research), facility size/style, etc. Then there are the interpersonal factors which add to the physical and economic components - leadership style, team style, pace of work, and more.

Keep in mind that this is a public forum, please share a little about the workplace environment in your internship location and tell us a little about what you particularly like about your workplace. If appropriate, include leadership style, team communication, size of business, and pace of work.

What challenges do you find for yourself in your current environment? (i.e. - it is a fast-paced environment and you like to weigh your options - or it is a formal atmosphere and you have concerns about being too casual at times) How will any challenges offer you an opportunity to grow professionally?

Again, remember that this is not a private forum, so please do not use names or post anything which might reflect negatively on your employer or yourself. (Challenges may be phrased in ways that avoid this - but if there are any problems you need addressed, contact me by email at ldownie@presby.edu.)

Welcome!

Welcome to Summer Internship Conversations! Our interests are varied - our experiences diverse, yet there is one common objective: Summer Interns hope to learn skills which will help them in their career development.

Let me introduce myself, in case you and I did not meet directly during your registration process. My name is Lynn Downie, and I am Coordinator of Career Programs at Presbyterian College. In particular, one of my primary responsibilities is to coordinate with students, employers and faculty intern advisors throughout your internship experience.

During spring and fall semesters, we have internship seminars to discuss the potential learning opportunities and pitfalls of your internship. That isn't possible to do in-person during the summer, so I have created a place we can do this online.

As we begin the semester, please leave a comment including your name, where you are interning and one goal you have for your summer experience. This will give everyone the opportunity to know who else is "along for the ride."

Next week we will have "seminar one, " which will be sharing your first impressions about your internship as you get started. If you sign up to follow this blog, you should receive an invitation in the form of my next entry on this blog. (By-the-way, if you prefer to use a blog format for your journal, that should work fine. Just make sure your faculty intern advisor agrees to accept a blog instead of an emailed document.)

Talk to you soon!
Lynn Downie
Office of Career Programs
Presbyterian College
ldownie@presby.edu
864-833-8381