Goodbye, and Good Luck!

As the semester comes to an end (and I complete my last day of classes as a college student), I would like to thank all of my readers.  I hope each and every one of you took something away from my posts, and that you will keep the advice that I shared in mind as you finish up your current internships, search for new positions, or even for those of you that are graduating, start your professional life.  Remember to make the most of your internship experience.  Do not be afraid to challenge yourself--set goals, learn new skills, ask questions, network with your coworkers and make an impression on your supervisor.  This is your opportunity to develop and showcase your worth to a future employer.  You can do it!

Thanks for reading!

Intern Profile: Caitlin Goettler

Major: Communications/Journalism, Minor: Political Science.

Previous Internships:

NY1 – The Call                                         New York, NY            Jan. 2013-April 2013

Zazoom – Buzz60                                    New York, NY             Sept. 2012-Dec. 2012

U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs               Juneau, AK               June 2012-August 2012 
                                                                                                    June 2011-August 2011

State of Alaska Office of the Governor     Juneau, AK               April 2010-August 2010 

Constituent Relations             

KTOO Public Radio                                  Juneau, AK               June 2008-August 2009

How did you find your internships?

I came about my internships in various ways. Some I found through fliers and the career centers at both my high school and college. Others, like my internships with the Coast Guard and KTOO Public Radio, I found just by sending them a cover letter and my resume and asking them if they had any opportunities in my field.

What new skills have you learned through your internship experience(s)?

I’ve learned a tremendous amount from all of my internship experiences. I’ve had a lot of technical training such as editing, interviewing sources, writing and professional skills. The biggest thing for me, however, was developing my people skills and self-confidence. Because of this, I’ve been able to become an integral part of the team and not just the intern that silently slips in at 9 a.m. and out at 5 p.m. I’ve also been able to maintain connections with mentors from high school even now as a senior in college because of this skill.

Describe a conflict or problem you faced as an intern, and how you coped with or found a solution to that problem.

When I worked for the Office of the Governor my duties included manning the front desk during the lunch hour. This meant addressing Legislators by name when they came in for meetings, while sometimes juggling four or five phone calls. It was really intimidating, and I wasn’t quite ready when I was first left to do the job on my own. Some Legislators had come to see the Governor and I had no idea where to send them or what to do. It was a big mess, and I was really embarrassed. Instead of dwelling on it, though, I immediately talked to my supervisor when she returned from lunch to let her know what had happened and that I needed more training or help before doing the job on my own again, and she completely understood. This taught me that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness or incompetency, but instead shows that you care about the job you’re doing and you want to do it correctly.

What was your favorite part of your internship(s)?

I have a lot of favorites, but most recently at my internship with NY1, I loved doing man-on-the-street interviews. Asking New Yorkers questions about what bugs them was probably one of the most entertaining parts of the job. It also helped me become more confident in approaching people for interviews.


What did you find out about yourself after completing your first internship? 

I found my career, which was one of the most important takeaways. But before my first internship, I was extremely shy, and I hated talking to people on the phone. Afterwards, I came out of my shell a lot. It showed me that I can overcome even personal setbacks.

Did your career goals and/or aspirations shift or change?

I will always attribute my love for journalism to my first internship with KTOO Public Radio. I thought I was going in for an interview and they took me into the studio, put a recorder in my hand and sent me out on my first assignment. Ever since then I have always known exactly what I wanted to do, and I’ve tried to find internships and professional experience to match that.

What advice do you have for new interns?

Be persistent in the job hunt – it’ll show that you’re dedicated and really want it. I once applied for an internship three separate times before I got it. Another time I got an internship over somebody else because I followed up after an interview. I find that a lot of times my peers are worried about being a bother to someone, when in reality people are just busy, and they appreciate a reminder or a follow up email or phone call.

Also I would say it’s important to make the little things count. Be polite, show up on time, and get to work as soon as you sit down at your desk. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten positive comments on internship evaluations just for doing these little things.

Learning LinkedIn

As college students, I am confident that many of you have had some experience using social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  Whether you have experimented with these mediums personally or in the workplace, one cannot deny the power of social media in today’s society.  For professionals, including young interns, one popular social tool that keeps employees across various industries connected is LinkedIn. Similar to Facebook, LinkedIn provides users a platform to create a profile, document their professional experiences, make connections with coworkers and friends, follow industries and/or companies of interest, endorse the skills of those they are connected with, and post job listings, news or alerts that would be relevant to their connections.

If you have not already, I recommend creating an account here.  Below are some tips to keep in mind when developing your page!

1. Upload a professional photo—As always, first impressions are extremely important.  Keep this in mind when selecting a default photo for your LinkedIn page. Obviously, your future employers and coworkers do not want to see a picture of you at a party last weekend.  Instead, select a professional image of yourself for your main photo—preferably a head shot or picture of you dressed in business attire against a solid backdrop. 

2. Include a biography—When creating a LinkedIn profile, do not be afraid to utilize the “Bio” section of your page.   Instead of leaving this component of your profile blank, like many professionals tend to do, provide a brief description of your professional experiences, skills, and goals.  This allows your viewers to gain a better understanding of whom you are and what you have to offer.

3. Connect with people you know (Most of the time)—LinkedIn allows you to connect with many employees across a wide variety of industries.  In addition, the site suggests that you endorse the skills of those you connect with, assuming you can review and assess the work of these individuals.  Therefore, it is smart to form connections with people you have collaborated with in the past, such as classmates, coworkers, professors and supervisors.  If there is someone you would like to connect with that you do not know personally, it is appropriate to send a direct message to that individual or have a connection that you have in common introduce you to one another in person or online.

4. Follow your company/competitors/relevant industry accounts— Similar to your Facebook newsfeed, you will be updated with any relevant information posted by these individuals or companies!

5. Consult with supervisor on how to update your responsibilities—Every LinkedIn profile provides space to list your professional experiences in detail—an in-depth and more detailed resume, if you will.  If you are unsure how to word or describe your responsibilities at your internship for your LinkedIn account, set aside time with your supervisor or manager to work on producing a list together.  

Updating Your Resume

As the semester comes to a close, you probably have limited time left at your internship site.  Before you leave, you should document your experiences and all of the new skills you have learned on the job.  What better way to do this than by updating your resume? Because you have, at the very least, earned your first internship already, chances are you have a resume in place.  Consider these tips and tricks when updating the document before your internship ends.

1. Bullet Responsibilities--Jot down all of the projects you worked on as an intern in the simplest of terms.  Did you help organize an event?  Did you utilize Microsoft Office to create presentations or spreadsheets?  Did you conduct research?  You will probably be surprised by how much work you have completed in such a short period of time.  If you have limited space on your resume already, cut this list down to the top four or five most important accomplishments.

2. Action Words--After this list is complete, amp up your vocabulary by using "action words" like "researched," "constructed," "generated," or "created" when describing your responsibilities.  Using these verbs make you seem more active and engaged in your work.

3. Stay concise--Do not write a novel when describing a project or task that you have worked on.  Remember, a resume (arguably) should be no longer than a page in length, so you have limited space to work with.  Instead, keep each bullet short and to the point and be prepared to speak to the description in an interview setting.

4. Peer Edit--Ask your supervisor or a coworker to look over your updated resume. Most likely, they have updated resumes before and will have suggestions for valuable additions to your document. They can also help you proofread--resumes should ALWAYS be error free.  Another set of eyes never hurt!

5. Customize--When applying for a new internship or job, read and reread the description for the position.  If the internship spot is appealing, try to tailor your experiences in the workplace to the desired job.   For example, if the job requires a lot of work on Microsoft Excel, make sure any work you have done on that program is listed on your resume!

There's An App For That

A few weeks back, I did a post on some of the top services, companies and people to follow on Twitter as a student intern.  While browsing Pinterest (one of my favorite pastimes), I came across this awesome article by insidejobs.com that outlined some of the best smartphone applications for interns to download.  The best part, you ask? They are all FREE!  The list includes apps that will help you stay organized, track popular trends, share documents, charts and presentations, and even find the best spots to stop for a cup of coffee on the way to work!

I have used several of the apps on this list, and have found them so helpful as both an intern and a college student.  Evernote, my personal favorite, allows me to make checklists that I can access on my phone, tablet and computer.  I also swear by the Dropbox app, which is an excellent tool for storing documents, files, videos and images. Similar to Google Drive, the Dropbox app can be shared with people you permit access to--perfect for group projects!  And last, but certainly not least, Pandora Radio is almost always blasting my favorite music.  Who can do work without some tunes?

Check out the rest of the apps in the article and see if any appeal to you.  What do you have to lose?  If they're free, they're for me!  :)

Intern Profile: Meghan Massaroni

Major/Minor: Sports Communication Major, Psychology Minor

Previous internships: Tennis Ireland (Fall 2012), Danbury Westerners Baseball (Summer 2013)

Meg and the 2013 Westeners interns volunteering at summer clinic!

How did you find your internships?

I found out about the Tennis Ireland internship through Marist International Programs when I decided to study abroad. The FIE Dublin, Ireland Program offered me with the opportunity to undertake a six credit internship with the company.

For my Danbury Westerners internship, I met with Gerry McNulty, the Director of the Communication Internship Program at Marist, and spoke to him about internship opportunities for the summer. I applied, had a phone call interview and got the offer. 

What new skills have you learned through your internship experience(s)?

I learned a lot through my internship experiences. One of the main skills I learned is to get as involved as possible and stand out. As an entertainment coordinator/marketing assistant, I learned various marketing techniques, prepared and distributed special flyers, schedules and press releases, and overall played a major role in creation of game production. The cool thing about sports is that everything is very intertwined and networks are very much linked. My internships have definitely helped in teaching me how to get connected with people and broaden my network!

Describe a conflict or problem you faced as an intern, and how you coped with or found a solution to that problem.

There weren't many problems I faced during my internships, but I do have to say as an intern, I think one of the hardest moments for me were the days when I did a lot of repetitive tasks because they got boring at times. Other than that, everyone I worked with was cooperative and fun to be around.

What was your favorite part of your internship(s)?

My favorite part about my internships was meeting new people and working in an industry I truly enjoy. Interacting with people and gaining insight about the profession I want to go into was inspiring and motivating for me. I was able to get a feel for where I want to go in the future with my career.

What did you find out about yourself after completing your first internship?  Did your career goals and/or aspirations shift or change?

I have always had a passion for sports, and after completing my first internship I was able to narrow down the field I want to work in with sports after graduation--Public Relations. Overall, my internship experiences have proved to me that wherever I end up I will be able to take on the real world!

What advice do you have for new interns?

My advice to new interns is to work, work and work even harder. You need to develop connections and relationships with different people and make those people want to help you. An internship can lead to a lot of great experiences, especially in the professional sports field, so you have to start somewhere. Don't be afraid to meet with people, ask questions about their career path and use them as a resource. Always be appreciative and strive to stand out.

Business Dining 101

Business Dining 101

Over the course of your internship, your supervisor or manager may invite you to attend business lunches and/or dinners.  Often, coworkers and clients will be present at these events.  Take these invitations as opportunities to network and demonstrate the knowledge you have gained in your new position.  Whether the meal is to take place at a five star restaurant or the diner around the block, keep in mind these tips and tricks to impress the other guests at the event:

1. Appropriate Dress—Unless instructed otherwise, business professional or business casual attire is appropriate for office related luncheons or dinners. Yes, boys, that may mean a suit and tie!  Sometimes, the event is more casual or professional than what you may wear to work.  If you are still unsure of what to wear, check in with your supervisor or another coworker that is attending the lunch or dinner to discuss the appropriate attire.

2. Table Manners—Keep in mind that you are not eating at your kitchen table at home.  Speak softly, sit up straight, and remember to say please and thank you.   When looking at the menu, avoid ordering the most expensive item (unless encouraged to do so by your manager or supervisor.)  While eating, keep a napkin in your lap, and, of course, do not speak while chewing!  Also remember that finishing your meal is not a race.  Pace yourself and enjoy the conversation at the table.  In other words, you probably don’t want to look like this:

3. Ordering Alcoholic Beverages—Personally, I would avoid ordering alcoholic beverages whenever possible.  Although it may seem acceptable if your coworkers or manager have ordered a drink, alcohol clouds your judgment and lowers inhibition.  As an intern, it is unnecessary to drink on office time.  Instead, stick with a water or fountain soda! 

4. Place Setting—While dining at fancy restaurants, place settings can be a little intimidating.  Which fork do I use for the salad?  Why are there so many utensils?  Where does my bread plate go?  Typically, the small appetizer/bread plates belong on your left side, and the drinking glasses on the right.  Forks can be found on the left side of your plate, with knives and spoons on the right.  While you are eating, work your way inward with the utensils.  Therefore, each course will require a different utensil.

5. The Bill—Because you are an intern, the odds that you will be expected to foot the bill are slim.  However, it is smart to keep some cash in your wallet in case the host is short a few bucks, or you happen to be asked to split the cost of the meal.  While this is highly unlikely, it is better to be prepared than unprepared!