Category Archives: Young Professionals
How to Handle Being Late to an Interview
Not everything always goes as planned. When it comes to interviews everyone always puts the emphasis on how you need to be on time and the importance of showing up in the right outfit with the right attitude. Unfortunately, life happens. Whether it’s that you wake up sick or your car doesnât start, things come up that could hinder getting to or even showing up to your interview. Like I have mentioned before, these blogs are here to help interns everywhere succeed throughout their professional career. While I would always want everything to go perfectly, that is just not how it happens.
Relax
The first thing you need to remember is that you arenât the first person to have to miss an interview or show up late. Just relax and know that most of the time the people you are interviewing with will be flexible as long as you are …
Beyond the IMPACT: Salvador Espinoza
In today’s blog post, Indiana INTERNnet intern Kayla Walke interviews Salvador Espinoza. Salvador was the winner of the 2016 High School Intern of the Year IMPACT Award, and has been nominated for College Intern of the Year multiple times.
Indiana INTERNnet: What are some of the best lessons you learned while interning?
Salvador Espinoza: I think the best lesson I ever learned was to never underestimate the power of an internship. I was 16 years old when I got into my first internship and it was for a manufacturing company. That already doesn’t sound appealing to most teens trying to make a quick buck over the summer, but it sounded like a great opportunity and it ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I was an intern for the same company for 6 years and learned so many things. I learned about marketing, human resources, what …
How to Succeed in a Phone Interview
Last week I gave the best advice I had for an in-person interview. If you missed it or need a refresher you can read it here. While I know that not everyone will have to experience a phone interview, they are becoming more popular and I want to make sure that if you have one, you’re as prepared as possible.
Preparation
Just because you arenât going into an office doesn’t mean that you can just go into it without any preparation. Like any interview, you should be researching the company and starting to get familiar with what the company does, who works for the company, and who is going to be interviewing you. Knowing some of these key elements and mentioning them in your interview could really set you apart from other candidates. You can even use being in a remote location to your advantage and keep a page of …
Beyond the Impact: Gabriella Blauert
Gabriella (Moline) Blauert graduated from Butler University in May with a degree in journalism and moved to Columbus, Ohio. Sheâs currently working as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Pelotonia, a non-profit organization in Columbus whose proceeds go toward cancer research.
Indiana INTERNnet: What are some of the best lessons you learned while interning?
Gabriella Blauert: My internships provided me with opportunities to practically apply the skills I learned in class. I learned how to utilize these skills, while also managing my time effectively. Another important lesson I learned was how to interact in different job settings and how to present myself in a professional way in each one.
IIN: What advice do you have for current interns?
GB: I would tell current interns to not be afraid to go to their supervisor or mentor with big ideas or questions they have. One of the most important …
How to Succeed in an In-Person Interview
When starting off your professional career, interviews are going to become a lot more common than you would hope for. Preparing for an interview and knowing how to set yourself up for success isnât as easy as everyone makes it out to be. Here are some steps to take when preparing for an interview.Â
A few days beforeÂ
Interview preparation should start as soon as possible. You should start with researching the company. This is a great way to get ideas about what the company is doing and where they are headed. Bringing up some key elements during the interview will really help set you apart from other candidates. Start with the companyâs website. Learn about the goals, missions, and future plans for the company, which will help you get an idea of what you could be getting involved in. Now is also a good time to prepare for how …
How to Dress for Your Internship
It can be challenging starting off your professional career and knowing what the dress code is for every event or meeting. What you wear to interviews, meetings and even daily in the office can make an impact on how others view you. Navigating what is appropriate and expected isnât always the easiest which is why I am here to help give you advice most people donât think about.
Interviewing and starting your job
Most know that you should dress for the job you want. This means looking the part for the interview. Walking in with a nice and professional outfit will not only help you make a great first impression but will help you create a strong reputation within the office. Take note on your first couple of days to see what other people are wearing. Itâs important to look nice, but you should avoid standing out for looking too …
How to Come Back Productive After a Break
Whether itâs a three-day weekend or a full week off, breaks during school are always needed and always celebrated. Breaks throughout the semester are great ways to regroup and relax, but getting back into a school routine can get pretty tough. Learning how to come back after a break and staying on top of things is important. While you should reward yourself and take a few days off, when it gets closer to class starting back up again, you should start getting in the right mindset.
Relax and reward yourself
Every break is a chance to release some of the stress from school and give yourself time to relax. Make sure to take the time you need to unwind and refresh. It could be staying in bed all day or spending the day shopping, do something that you have been wanting to do. Taking enough time off will actually have …
How to Recover After a Bad Grade
Not every test you take is going to give you the grade you wanted or expected. Life can get crazy, and sometimes not everything goes as planned. When you receive a grade that isnât what you were hoping for, it can seem like everything is going wrong and that you will never be able to bounce back. I am here to debunk that myth and give some tips on how to overcome a bad grade.
Learn from it
The biggest take away from getting a bad grade is that you can learn so much from it. If you studied and still got a bad grade, maybe its time for some new study habits. If you are in need of some study tips you can check out my past blog here. This grade also gives you an insight into where you need to focus more time.
Donât dwell
Getting a bad …
How to Survive Midterms
Itâs that time againâŠmidterms! I know no one is ever excited about all the projects and exams coming up, but going in with a clear mindset can help you make the best of what is to come. Whether this is your first college midterm season or last, you can never be too prepared.
Stay healthy
This might just be something that is common at my university but by the time midterms come around, everyone is super sick. It might just be the weather or how stressed everyone is, but it feels like you canât take an exam without 10 people sneezing and sniffling every 15 seconds. There is nothing worse than trying to take a challenging exam when all you want to do is go back to bed because you donât feel good. Make sure you are doing all the precautions like washing your hands, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, …
What To Do If Your Internship Isnât The Best
Recently, Allison wrote a blog post about what to do if an intern isnât doing their best. I think we should also talk about what to do if your internship experience isnât the best. Unfortunately, even though every internship posted on our site must be approved by a staff member, some internships are not what you were hoping they would be.
Remember itâs temporary
Internships are great because they are only temporary, which allows you to see what work environments you do or donât like. Some days will be harder than others, but remember that you donât have to be there forever. Take every opportunity you can to learn and network as much as you can. Just because you donât like the place you are at doesnât mean the experience is a waste of time.
Donât burn any bridges
You might think that because you’re âjust an internâ you can …
Intern Spotlight: Laura Knight
Hello, my name is Laura Knight. I am a senior at Indiana University, majoring in Policy Studies with a focus in Criminal Justice. I previously majored in Social Work at Ivy Tech Community College before transferring to IUPUI. My current major will allow me to pursue policy advocacy and research, while keeping the door open to graduate school or law school.
Before Ivy Tech & IUPUI, I attended high school in Wapakoneta, Ohio. This is a small town nestled in northwestern Ohio, where Drive Your Tractor to School Day was a regular, yearly event. During this time in my life I was involved in French club, Spanish club, cross country and track, and a rabbit breeder with 4-H. After high school I attended Ohio Dominican University for a short while, quickly recognizing collegiate studies was not a focus for me in 2008.
As a non-traditional student, Iâve …
Study Tips for Fall Semester
While the semester might seem like itâs going alright at the moment, you know that feeling never sticks. Class has been in session for a few weeks now and most people have gotten into a routine. Then, something happens: you’re aware of an upcoming exam and donât have the slightest clue how to study because you took the summer off. This is where I come in. Now that I’m in my sophomore year, I’ve gained my fair share of good and bad grades, which is why I want to encourage habits that will improve your grades.
DONâT put it off
You might think two weeks until an exam is a lot of time – it isnât, I promise. When you consider other classes, homework, and life in general, studying for a future exam always seems to end up on the back burner. As soon as you know you have an …
Career Fair Survival Guide for Students
Itâs that time again! School has been in session for a little bit now, you are in a routine, and things seem okay. Then, it hits you. The smell of free swag, pamphlets, and the feeling of uncomfortable conversations overcome you. Yep. Thatâs right. Itâs career fair time. Itâs no secret that a lot of people try to avoid career fairs because they either donât want to put in the effort of dressing professionally, networking, or just going through the whole process of what a career fair really entails. I am here to prove that myth wrong. Fun fact: career fairs can be used for more than just class credit and free stuff! Career fairs are a really great way to see amazing possibilities that could lead to future careers. It is a time to network in an environment designed for you.
Career fairs can be scary, but I have …
What I’ve Learned Outside the Classroom
If you’ve been keeping up with my blog posts throughout the summer (and now into the fall) you’ll see that I often mention how so much learning happens outside of the classroom. Internships, for example, allow students to be a part of the workforce and get hands-on experience before they graduate. While I understand the important roles school and education play in our lives, it should be noted that learning doesnât just happen in the classroom.
Youâre dressed, but is it to impress?
While in college you’re basically able to show up in whatever you want. Interning is different. You donât get to have comfy days with t-shirts and sweatshirts. While youâre at work, you must follow the dress code every day. This also applies for interviews and beyond. Make sure that everyone who sees you can tell that you’re there for a reason.
The handshake
It wasnât until …
Achieving Work-Life Balance
At 19, I didnât think I would have to understand what this whole âwork-life balanceâ thing really is. But I’ve learned not every day is a piece of cake. It’s better to know that now, instead of thinking everything is going to be exactly how you want it to be. Some days are easier than others, but that’s just how life goes. Balancing 18 credit hours, an on-campus job, and an internship hasnât been the smoothest thing, but I’ve slowly established a routine. I know I’m not the only student going through something similar and wanted to share some lessons I learned throughout this process.
Accept the Bad Days
Sometimes life just gets in the way and nothing is how you planned. Thatâs okay! There are two things I like to remember on bad days. First, youâve survived 100 percent of your previous bad days. Second, you never have to …