A Summer in Review: Time to Reflect

Hello loyal followers, my name is Billy and I am a good friend of Rebecca’s from Colgate. First of all, I want to thank Rebecca for asking me to write a guest post for her blog. I have been following it this summer, think it’s a great idea and am happy to be a part of it. In this post, I’ll give a brief of my job this summer (which ended at the end of July), some of the most important lessons learned that I took away from this summer.

            For 10 weeks, from May 23^rd to July 29^th, I worked on behalf of the Global Citizenship & Policy team at a very large healthcare company called Abbott Laboraties. The company is HUGE (has 90,000+ employees worldwide) and there are about 300 interns nationwide every summer. My internship was unique in that I worked at one of Abbott’s NGO partners called CARE International. CARE has been around for more than 60 years and in 2010 alone, it implemented 905 poverty-fighting projects in 87 countries that focus on the empowerment of young girls and women (their key target group). Abbott and CARE has shared a strong partnership for 6 years and have previously worked together in Pakistan, Myanmar, Haiti, and several other countries. My job this summer was to increase the amount of mutual information that exists between Abbott and CARE in two core areas:

1)     On the general philanthropic giving of large pharma and healthcare companies (i.e. where companies give, how much, product vs. money donations, key geographic areas, etc) so that CARE and even Abbott can potentially expand their philanthropic partnerships with these companies.

2)     On the shared resources and priorities that Abbott and CARE both have within India surrounding initiatives of child and maternal health. Abbott and CARE had previously never embarked on a project together in India, but they are now starting a program called the Social Enterprise Initiative in Health, so my duty was to ensure that they have full awareness of one another’s capacity and objectives in the region.

And here are my main takeaways from this summer:

1)     Start researching and applying for internships early in the game. I applied to Abbott just after January, had almost 10 interviews for different positions spread out over 3-4 months, and finally got this job finalized at the end of April. Don’t wait until it’s too late and don’t start searching in April or May.

2)     Use the networks and resources available to you when both applying for jobs and when actually working during the summer. Talk to your parents about what you might want to do (or older siblings) and see where their friends work. Don’t be afraid to reach out to family friends or alums yourself and use your career services center if it’s available to you.

3)     Pursue your passions when applying for internships. Apply for things that are most of interest to you and that align with your strongest interests and career goals.

4)     Find balance when working during the summer. Be active and find variety in your time off from work. Try to get out of town for a weekend or do different things on the weeks. This will help keep you energized and fulfilled with your job.

5)     Be aware of how you present yourself, from the way you dress, to how you speak, the level of eye contact you make with someone, to what you say to friends vs. your managers. Always be positive because you never know when someone might overhear you.

6)     Communication is key. Talk to your managers regularly, look for feedback and try to respond actively to it. E-mailing and regular phone calls were very important to me as I had two managers that I had to keep in contact with on a regular basis. Respond to e-mails promptly.

7)     Think creatively and push yourself. Make your projects slightly more innovative and try to impress your managers with your initiative. Try to take on additional work (ask for it) if you have time to spare.

8)     Stay in contact with professionals that you meet. This is incredibly important as it can lead to additional summer opportunities or permanent employment. Especially do this if your managers encourage you to do so (this is a good sign that they are pleased with your performance!).

9)     Write (by hand) thank you notes to your managers at the end of the summer. These really go a long way and mean a lot to your supervisors.

Thanks for reading and enjoy these last few weeks of summer!

Learning from Networking

One of the most common questions that people have asked me this summer is, "Why do you want to go into ______?" Whether the question comes from my boss as we discuss my future with the company or it initiates a conversation with a HR representative from a major PR company, it is important to cater the answer to whom you are speaking. Although I would like to consider myself well-informed about the differences between marketing, PR, advertising and brand management, the lines sometimes blur in my head and in practice. Other interns might have a set goal of working in a specific industry, but I am still open to this entire realm of jobs. However, when talking to someone that can help connect me to an interview or networking opportunity, I know it is important to express a greater interest in the appropriate industry. For example, I attended an event last week that focused on cosmetics and the fashion industry, which is something that I am not sure I want to enter; however, showing an interest in these industries gained me a few connections and business cards.
A few days ago I went to an event sponsored by Cosmetic Executive Women that specifically targeted young women in the beauty/fashion/retail industries. The Cocktails and Connections: Career Insights event was "geared toward enhancing your career building skills. Some of the industry's top HR experts are on hand to give tips on successful interviewing, improving your resume and cover letter, and how to make yourself a marketable candidate through social media." This was my first networking event ever and I honestly had no idea what to expect. The event consisted of multiple five minute one-on-one conversations with the various HR representatives. From the moment I walked in, I was intimidated by the confidence that the other women displayed and immediately realized that I was the youngest attendee. Thankfully I had the chance to eavesdrop on a few of the conversations prior to having one of my own, so I sort of knew how to start and what should be the focus.
Then came the hardest part - actually having the multiple five minute conversations. I learned a lot of valuable information and received tips to put into practice right away. Here are some of the highlights from the night:

1. Set up a LinkedIn account and start connecting! I thought that LinkedIn was primarily a networking site for those already employed, but I was so wrong. There are groups to help connect you with jobs, university alumni groups and networks for individual companies. These past few days have been spent finalizing my profile and connecting with as many people as possible.

2. Use your Twitter account effectively. It's important to create conversations with companies (or at least show that you are attempting to initiate a dialogue) and not just Tweet "So hungover! Sad the H&H near me is closed. :-/ Need bagels&lox NOW." Because my Twitter account isn't exactly something I would want to share with HR prior to an interview, I keep mine locked. As the summer ends, though, I will go through and delete the questionable Tweets and focus on communicating the image/message that I want to present.

3. Fake it until you make it. I spoke with a young publicist from a reputable PR agency. She explained to me that her PR major helped her understand the industry theoretically, but it took time and effort to understand her role and how to effectively execute her assignments. She Googled and Wikipedia-ed certain aspects of her job so she could perform better.

4. Show enthusiasm for every contact in every industry. As the night went on, I found that showing energetic enthusiasm towards the industry my connection worked for resulted in a more genuine conversation and landed me more business cards. You never know where networking could lead.

Rebecca

What's My Next Step?

I honestly can't believe I've been back at my internship for a whole month already - for better or for worse, the weeks have blended together in a way that it simultaneously feels like my first week and like I've never left. My daily routine has been finalized to the point that I can feel the difference in my schedule when I leave at 8:37 versus 8:40. There are some days when I do feel like just another cog in the machine, but they are balanced out by days of executing department parties (Party Planning Committee of One!) and variations on the standard assignments. Occasionally I am forced to spice things up with ham on my sandwich instead of the regular turkey - hey, you have to find variety somewhere! Honestly, I am having a great summer and feel truly lucky that my bosses ask a lot from me. While a few of my coworkers have mentioned the possibility of returning to the company next summer as a full-time employee (and yes, the possiblity, as in, "We have no control over this, but we like you and hope you like us, too!"), it is an awkward situation to navigate.

First, let me preface this with saying that, no, I am not delusional. I realize that it is a lot harder to get a job than someone at the company expressing their interest in you. This, however, has been on my mind lately and figured this would be a good place to process my thinking. Moving on...

When my coworkers have brought up the possibility of returning to the greater company that I work for (not just necessarily the brand where my current internship is), I have found that it is hard to figure out the "correct" reaction. My experiences here have been fantastic, but my only two summers of real-world work have been at this company. Part of me wants to diversify and explore what other companies have to offer. Part of this reasoning is the classic "The grass is always greener on the other side" mentality; as in, this has been great, but what if something out there is better? Then again, they also say not to put all your eggs in one basket, but that's enough idiomatic parables for today. My current game plan is to express as much interest as possible because there is nothing to lose. I do a little self-censorship in that I choose my words carefully as I would never want anyone to think that I assumed a future job is guaranteed.

For example, one of my standard responses: "I would love to have the opportunity to return to the company. I've really learned so much and it would be great to see how the recent changes help the brand!" (Or something.)

This, I think, is a lot better than: "Yeah, I know this gig is great and stuff, but I want to look at other places, too."

That may seem like a no-brainer, but here is some other advice for how to approach the next step:
1. Schedule a meeting with your HR representative before the end of summer. Mine is already scheduled for August and I'll be sure to update with advice from the conversation. I see this as a great chance to network with someone who will be directly working with my resume in a few short months.
2. If you think it's appropriate, give your resume to a coworker or two. They can help you brainstorm your strengths and show you how to highlight the assignments that you worked on throughout the summer.
3. Take a coworker (or someone you know who works in your industry) out to lunch for a job Q&A. It's not necessary to grill them with questions, but get a sense for where they were when they started out and what to expect in the next year.
4. As I've said before, at the end of your internship, share your contact information with your coworkers. Also be sure to get theirs to keep in touch over the course of your applications and such.

Hope that helps... Remember, I'm still navigating this, too, so any advice you'd like to add, let me know!

Rebecca

Major Office Changes

I am sorry for neglecting you, my little blog, but there have been some very big changes in my office lately. Work has been stressful, exhausting and crazed, leaving me with very little time to update you. You see, during the second week of my internship there were some substantial layoffs in my company. Not only did the majority of departments lose headcount, but there were structural changes that left everyone with additional responsibilities on top of their already heavy workload. Even as an intern, I sensed that major changes were on the horizon and when my boss informed me that she, in addition to two others in the department, were changing positions, I can't say I was surprised. These past few days were filled with moving boxes, new assignments and greater responsibilities. It has been somewhat of an awkward week for me as I attempt to navigate my assignments without burdening my crazed bosses, say goodbye to coworkers and welcome new heads of the department. The tension in my office is tangible and it slowly has trickled down to the bottom of the barrel (me!). While these changes weren't surprising, mostly because I am choosing to work in a rapidly changing and supposedly dying industry, their effects have been.


The leads in my department have always expected work to be performed based on the saying, "It is better to ask permission than to beg for forgiveness." However, even in this short period of time, the protocol appears to be moving towards, "It is better to beg for forgiveness than to ask permission." The high stress levels and workloads leave very little time for questions of little importance or urgency; whereas I would usually ask for some clarifications before, I now perform the work to the best of my ability and rely on past cues to gauge the expected results. Thankfully I have yet to beg for forgiveness, but as larger projects become my responsibility, it is possible that it is in my future. I've noticed that my bosses expect more from me and the need to be independent is greater. Of course, they are always still available, but it is necessary to judge when is the best time to ask for help and what is the greatest need. 


There is a limit to what work an intern can do without prior knowledge of a project or assistance from a coworker. I have felt frustrated this week because of unattainable expectations placed upon me by my bosses. There were a few times that I almost threw my hands up and said, "How the HELL am I supposed to know that? I barely work here!" At that point, I did have a conversation with one of my uninvolved coworkers who explained that these frustrations were credible as our bosses were time-crunched and busy, allowing them to have little time to correctly assign projects. I did the best that I could under limited time and knowledge; I used the resources available to get the assignment done, even if it was a stretch from my domain.


Unfortunately, I am not really sure where this leaves me. I expect that my assignments will continue to grow and I will begin to work under greater pressure to perform. At the end of the day, it is sometimes hard to distinguish the blurred roles of intern and an entry-level position for some people. I'm not at the point yet where I want to bring my work home and stress about potentially imperfect assignments over the weekend. Whether that is the best advice for a new intern, I'm not sure, but it works the best for me.

Week One, Year Two

Hello from my desk in New York City!

It is the fifth day of my summer internship and after a filled week, I figured a blog update was very overdue. I was surprised that my nerves and anxiety about my internship peaked about a week before it started; ultimately, the night before I really did not even feel nervous about the next day. It was a great feeling to be welcomed back into the office, hugging coworkers after a long year away and updating them all on life at school, Prague and New York. While there are other interns in my office, I am the only one in my department (and, as far as I know, the only intern returning to their same position). Last year, I felt that I contributed to my department, but only upon return have I realized that they really valued my efforts and opinions. A lot depends on the success of this summer and the progress that I make as an intern - my bosses have already granted me more independence, suggested speaking with HR about my future with the company, and are planning bigger projects for me in the upcoming weeks.

While everyone might not be able to do a second year as an intern with the same company, it is possible to maintain relationships over email or the phone. Especially for those who are entering their senior year, it is vital to network at every opportunity. This summer's internship happened only because I took the intiative to email my former boss about the potential of a second year. If I had relied on blindly applying to companies, I most likely would not have found such a great fit in the field that I want to work in in the future. It may seem scary at first to email a former coworker or boss after a few months, but I believe that after a good internship experience they want to help you succeed in any way that they can. Keeping up with communication and expressing interest in their field (and company) shows dedication and maturity. This does not mean to fill their inboxes with your resume and send "Happy Monday!" flowers every week - show some restraint. Initially, I sent my boss a friendly "Hello" email, asked her about the company and did not really introduce the possibility of interning there again until the second email. Over the course of the past two years where I have dealt with the "real world" through internships, I think my biggest lesson is always to be proactive, but never expect anything to come from your efforts. It does take time to build a relationship with coworkers and sometimes it can be uncomfortable to ask for favors. However, the rewards can be huge and it is worth it to connect with them on a variety of levels. Even by introducing some of your hobbies or a glimpse into your outside-of-work personality can help forge a better connection. Just remember - a glowing recommendation probably will not come from sharing weekend tales of tequila shots and showing up hungover on a Tuesday. Keep it relatively PG as an intern.

Networking does help and it really can land you a job or internship. Start a conversation with your coworker and you might be surprised where it can lead you. Good luck!

Rebecca

What to Bring on the First Day

In almost all of my daily conversations I find it necessary to include as many movie quotes as possible. I believe that they can explain myself better than I can or, and this only works occasionally, my audience doesn't recognize the quote and they begin to realize how hilarious, intelligent or philosophical I really am. Or sometimes they serve no purpose, but I say them anyway. Whenever it is the first day of school or work, I always reference the classic film, Billy Madison, as the main character accurately sums up my thoughts:

Back to school, back to school, to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool. I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight... 

While I'm not truly concerned about getting in a fight or convincing my dad that I'm not a fool (that ship sailed a long time ago), I do understand Billy's sentiment about preparing oneself mentally and physically for the first day. Yes, I realize that this is a completely ridiculous analysis of a quote from an Adam Sandler comedy, but I provided full warning above that I still quote movies when they serve no purpose. As I mentioned in my post First Day Nerves, I get nervous before the first day of school or work. I have found that preparing myself in advance helps limit my anxiety. 

Although my internship does not start until June 6th, I have already begun organizing what I need for that day. My first day of work outfit is put to the side to ensure that it will be clean for next Monday. While New York City in the summer is painfully hot sometimes, companies usually compensate by setting the air conditioning at Arctic temperatures. In order to avoid frostbite, I keep two to three basic cardigans at my desk at all times. This is probably not surprising at all, but I am quite anal about the pens that I use, so I set a few aside to bring to work. Instead of relying on post-it notes and scrap pieces of paper, I bring my own planner to keep assignments and dates organized; I bought one in the style that I like (one week takes up two consecutive pages), which will make it easier for me to keep track of my tasks. Some people rely just on online calendars and they also work great. I would suggest making one trip to CVS or the grocery store to stock up on desk essentials: portioned snacks, individual packets of Crystal Light or Propel to add to water, eye drops, hand sanitizer, tampons and hand lotion. I also brought one photo to personalize my desk a little bit. Those items may come in hand at any point during an internship. 

In list form:

First day of work outfit

Cardigans (or blazers) 

Pens (this is probably unnecessary unless if you're like me!)

Organizer or planner

Random desk essentials (snacks/toiletries/etc.)

Even with the amount of preparation that I put into my first day of work, it is possible that my essentials vary from others' lists. Also, many companies will provide items from the list above, such as a planner, snacks, toiletries and even pens. It also is easy to ask co-workers for any basics, like a pump of their lotion or packet of sugar until it is possible to restock. 

How far in advance do you prepare for the first day of something? Is there anything that you would add to my list?

Rebecca

Interning After a Semester Abroad

As some of you know, I am currently packing up my souvenirs, clothing and memories from a semester abroad in Prague before I return to the United States tomorrow. While I could describe the contents of my bags, which include a beer mug from a soccer game in Berlin or VIP wristbands from Wednesday nights at Mecca, I would argue that some of the most important things I am bringing home are the new insights into myself and my own abilities. There is a wide range of experiences on any given student's study abroad semester: incredible weekend trips, thought-provoking museums, fun nightlife and classmates from all over the world, just to name a few. I will always have the memories when I think about my unbelievable semester; many of these experiences were new to me and taught me valuable lessons in unexpected ways. As I begin the process of returning home to the United States, moving back to New York City and starting my internship, I wanted to look at how I have grown over the past semester and how it will help me become a better intern/employee. 


One of the hardest aspects of studying abroad for me was pushing myself to explore my home base of Prague. The exhaustion after cramming an entire city into a weekend trip, attending classes, keeping up with errands and maintaining my own sanity by being with friends resulted in a relatively set routine during the school week. Many weeks I only spent Monday through Thursday in Prague and I used those four days as a time for rest and relaxation. At some point during the semester, however, I realized that there was still so much to explore in the city that was left unmentioned in my city tour and guide book. I had to be proactive and fight the urge to be content with missing out on new experiences. I want to push myself once again and apply this mentality at my internship this summer. The marketing department where I intern works closely with the sales and art departments, but I am unfamiliar with these two areas. If it is possible, I want to learn more about how the departments work together and get a little experience in each one. In order for that to be realized, I need to be proactive and ask if that can happen. Just like I had to rely on my own motivation to get out and explore Prague, I will have to do the same at work.


In all honesty, there are times when I can be very stubborn. It is extremely hard for me to admit that I am wrong and ask someone for help. For example, instead of asking for better directions in Krakow when we were lost, my group and I continued to walk in the wrong direction for approximately thirty minutes until someone stepped into a convenience store for a clarification. I know that I have reiterated how important it is to ask for help and seek advice from your bosses, but they serve as reminders for how important this ability is in an intern. However, I definitely did not ask for help as much as I could have last summer; I executed some assignments through trial and error under the directions of my boss. This semester there were times that I learned that not asking for directions was occasionally more beneficial to my personal growth. It might have taken a little longer to walk home to my hostel in Paris when I began the journey in the opposite direction, but I relied on previous experience (knowing that the Seine had to be on our right), external cues (we had to pass the Louvre at some point) and basic instinct ("I think we go this way...") to make it back to our hostel safely and somewhat efficiently. Even though it might not have been the most direct route, we still arrived at our final destination. As a second year intern, I will be expected to perform bigger and more unfamiliar tasks. It will be important to balance asking questions and relying on my own abilities in order to complete my assignments. I still believe in "when in doubt, ask," but don't be afraid to try out some of your new skills.


Have you had any experiences that left you with unexpected applications? 


Rebecca