Death Is Number Two?!

I have a HUMONGOUS fear of public speaking.  Just the thought of talking in front of a crowd makes me cringe.   The second I begin to speak, I clam up, my voice shakes and my face turns bright red.  Hours before a presentation, a pit forms in my stomach and my palms start to sweat.  Ironically, I have no problem participating in class, meetings or small group conversation—it is purely the act of standing up and delivering a message to crowd that drive me all sorts of crazy!

Fortunately, I know that I am not the only person who suffers from severe public speaking anxiety.  As an intern, it is usually expected that you speak up in meetings and make presentations to your peers and supervisors.  Through my experiences in both the classroom and the workplace, I have put together a short list of ideas to help subside your nerves!

1.     Breathing Exercises—Before you get up and speak, spend some time working on your breathing patterns.  If you only have a couple of minutes before the presentation, close your eyes and take long, deep breaths. In doing this, you will bring down your heart rate and your nerves will fade away.  Sometimes, tensing up your muscles for a few seconds at a time and then releasing the tension slowly will also help you relax.  If possible, practice these techniques to music that calms you down or inspires you to give your best performance.

2.     Visualization—Mentally preparing for a speech is difficult, but not impossible.  After perfecting your presentation and understanding the message you are going to convey to your audience, take some time to imagine the presentation in your head.  What are you going to wear?  Who is going to be there?  Where are you going to stand?  When will you make hand motions and/or gestures?  How is the audience receiving your message—are they confused?  Intrigued?  Ultimately, if you visualize your version of the “perfect” presentation, chances are that your mental practice will prepare you to ace the actual speech. 

3.     Note cards—Although you may not want to use note cards or “cheat sheets” in a presentation, it is helpful to run through your speech—particularly after you outline your key talking points—with an index card or two reminding you of the information.  If you cannot use your notes or would prefer not to hold the cards during your presentation, lay them down next to a water bottle on a nearby table or podium.  If you make a mistake or forget a fact, statistic or important piece of information, you can go for a sip of water and glance over your notes.  If you do this subtlety, no one will even notice!

4.     Body gestures—When you are speaking, be aware of your body movements.  While some hand motions and pacing back and forth may be appropriate at times, you do not want to distract your audience from the message you are attempting to portray through your words.  This is particularly important when making a presentation with other group members—you do not want to overshadow the others by not being able to keep still!  Use your judgment to determine if and when a gesture is fitting to your speech.   The movements should look clean and accentuate the point you are making, not distract from it.

5.     PRACTICE—This should not come as a surprise!  As we all have been told from a young age, practice makes perfect.  While you should avoid “over-studying” your speech, it is important to review your notes for at least a few days before your presentation.  Practicing can be especially effective if you are able to rehearse in the setting where you will be making your presentation.  This way, you can become comfortable performing the speech in the same environment in which the presentation will be given.

The History of Internships

As we all know, the Internet can be a great resource for student-interns.  A simple Google search can point you to websites that list job openings, give advice to aspiring professionals, or provide important information for interns entering the workforce. 

In my first post, I mentioned that I would designate some of my writing to topics related to internships as discussed in the media.  This got me thinking—how did “internships” originate?  Who was the first “intern?”  How did this concept of working to learn a specific trade come about, and why has this idea become such an important aspect of a college student's education?  As a society, we have continued to put an emphasis on the completion of internships as a stepping stone to securing a career.  In order to understand why this is, we should also understand the history of internships.

While doing research for this post, I referred to one of my favorite intern-related sites, the popular blog “The Intern Queen.”  In addition to providing a space for students to apply for internships in different fields free of charge, intern/career expert and founder of the site Lauren Berger outlines tips for making the most of your high school, college and post grad experiences.  For those interested, you should definitely check it out!  One of Berger's recent posts links interns to a Forbes article from 2009.  The article, which can be found here, outlines the "Evolution of Interns" by explaining how internships have developed from the time of apprenticeships in the 11th and 12th centuries.  If the opportunity presents itself, you should read the article and drop some of your new internship knowledge in conversation with your supervisor.  They will be super impressed.  If your lucky, you will get this reaction:

Have a great weekend!

"I'll Call You Regarding the Email You Sent About The Facebook Post That Made Fun of the Instant Message You Wrote Me Yesterday...."

Adjusting to a new work environment can be both intimidating and nerve-wracking.  Your first day at an internship is a lot like your first day at school.  What am I going to wear?  Where am I going to sit?  Who am I going to talk to?  Is my supervisor going to be friendly?  I hope my coworkers like me!  Don't worry--these thoughts are entirely normal.  However, there IS one way you can make yourself stand out early on in your internship. 

Communication is key in any successful professional setting.  Whether you want to be a doctor, a fashion designer or the CEO of a major company, the ability to communicate effectively will always be a necessary skill.  As millenials, we are familiar with how technology, such as the Internet and other social media, has transformed communication in our society.  But with this in mind, how do we know the best way to relay a message to our peers or supervisors in a new office?  Below, I have outlined a couple of different ways to help differentiate yourself from the crowd and master communication in the workplace.

Tips and Tricks for Effective Technological Communication

1)   Take advantage of intern orientation—Do not be afraid to ask questions about how to use the technology and communication resources that are available to you.   You should use the time you have with HR representatives, IT workers and/or your manager wisely.  This is your chance to learn how the email, phone and communication systems work without inconveniencing anyone down the line.  Orientation is also a great time to ask your superiors which form of technology they use the most to communicate with others.   Of course, technology does not always run smoothly or without problems.  Just in case, write down a list of people you can contact if you have any trouble with your computers, phones or other technological systems in the future. 

2)   Observe the office culture---How do your coworkers and supervisor(s) communicate?  Do they prefer to talk to one another via email, instant messaging or phone?  How often do they meet to discuss work-related issues in person?  It is not unusual for a group of professionals to utilize various communication methods in the workplace.  Although it may take a week or two to grasp, pay attention to the way your manager engages with others.  Chances are that this is the way they prefer others to communicate with them.  For example, if your supervisor uses the company instant messaging system to reach his or her coworker, he or she may respond quicker to you if you utilize that medium as well.

3)    Determine the immediacy of a message and its importance to the receiver—Before relaying a message to a coworker or superior, use your judgment to decide how important the message is and how quickly the receiver needs to be informed of its content.  If your manager is on his or her way to a meeting and needs to know that there is a major switch in the agenda, calling their work phone may be more appropriate than sending them an email minutes before the meeting starts. 

4)   Be specific, concise and clear in your communication—As I am sure you are aware, the tone (or lack thereof) of a message can sometimes skew its intended meaning.  Consequently, it is imperative that you read and reread a message, particularly an email, text or instant message, before hitting send.  The last thing that you want is for the recipient to misinterpret what you are truly trying to say.  When in doubt, use a phone or meet with the other person directly to discuss important information.  This will help avoid any potential confusion and make the communication much more clear. 

5)   Ask to schedule weekly/biweekly meetings with your manager—By making a point to meet with your supervisor in person, you allow yourself the opportunity to ask questions and receive direct feedback in a face-to-face setting.  Weekly meetings are also a great chance to build rapport with your supervisor(s) and get to know him or her outside of the workplace.  In building a relationship with your manager, you are more likely to respect their work ethic and communication style.

Ahoy, Mates! Welcome Aboard the Intern-Ship!

If you have stumbled across this page, chances are you are looking to learn more about the wonderful world of internships.  The reality is, my Peter Pans, you ARE growing up.  The time has come to face the music and gain some practical work experience!

I know what most of you college students are thinking. Why do I have to do one of these “internship” things anyway?  I sit in class 15 hours a week.  Isn’t that enough?  Wait-- I’M NOT BEING PAID FOR THIS?!  But before you get yourself all worked up, there ARE benefits to applying for and accepting an internship.  The truth is, it is no longer enough to graduate college and apply for a job with little to no applicable work experience.  So put the Xbox controller down, turn off the 50^th rerun of the Real Housewives of Orange County, and listen up.

Internships are essential to the success of a college student.  These part-time jobs not only beef up your resume (though it does that too), but also allow you to make connections and build a professional network while putting the skills you have learned and developed in the classroom to use.  The more real-life experience you have to offer an employer, the more marketable of a candidate you become in the hiring process.  Believe me, job recruiters will not be impressed if your only accomplishments in college include beating all 400 levels of Candy Crush and sleeping until 12 p.m. everyday. 

On a more serious note, internships are also important for self-development and personal growth.  For example, an apprenticeship in your field of study allows you to measure your expectations of a job against the reality of the position.  In addition, internships can help you determine whether or not the educational path you are pursuing complements your interests.  After all, the goal is to love your career, right?   

Here, you will find interviews with former and current interns, advice and recommendations from professional internship coordinators, links to and analysis of news articles and other media related to internships, and plenty of anecdotes and stories about my personal internship experiences.  Ultimately, each post will help you learn more about working as an intern, as well as how to maximize your time throughout your individual internship experiences.

Starting a new internship can be both exciting and frightening.  However, do not be afraid--I, your captain, will help you navigate the waters of the internship world.   While every internship experience may not always be smooth sailing, I promise I will not leave you high and dry.