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5 Steps to a Legendary Internship
5 Steps to a Legendary Internship
If you have ever watched the hit TV sitcom How I Met Your Mother, you would know that Barney Stinson is the paragon of determination and success at singlehood. From his competitiveness to his magic tricks, Barney has evolved from a one-dimensional womanizer to the eloquent and creative âsometimes, sensitive â âMr. Awesome.â Finding a parallel with internship success might seem like a stretch. Some may even say it could not be done. To that I offer two words: âChallenge accepted.â So, here are the 5 steps to a legendary internship:
1) Suit up!
As Barney explained in the episode Single Stamina, he suits up âto distinguish (himself) from the millions of T-shirt and jeans lemmings out there.â Throughout an internship, you too want to distinguish yourself â from previous interns, current interns/coworkers, and your casual self. A sharply dressed young …
Quiet but Mighty, Part V
Three introverted CEOs and what you can learn from them
This is a blog by Susan Cain, author of QUIET: The Power of Introverts in a World that Canât Stop Talking. You can find the original article posted on Psychology Today here. This is the final installment in the Quiet but Mighty blog series exploring ways introverts can remain true to themselves and still experience a satisfying professional life.
Many people believe that extroverts are more “natural” leaders than introverts, but recent groundbreaking research out of the Wharton and Harvard business schools suggests that introverts often outperform extroverts as leaders. Here are three examples of outstanding quiet CEOs:
1. Douglas Conant, the much-celebrated and beloved former CEO of Campbell Soup. In addition to famously turning around his company, Conant is well-known for his quietly humane touch. Like many introverts, he’s interested in building alliances one person at a time. For …
Quiet but Mighty, Part IV
Finding the right role in the theater of business
This is a guest post by Kaleb Lantrip, a student at IUPUI and a self-proclaimed introvert. This is Part IV in the five-part Quiet but Mighty blog series exploring ways introverts can remain true to themselves and still experience a satisfying professional life.
If all the world is a stage, and all the men and women merely agents, then how does one who likes performing background and scenery work to be noticed?
I have met individuals who possess better qualifications and instincts for the stage of business, but I have my own skills and values to offer. I am a shameless introvert. I am not ambitious, but I am willing to provide a hard day’s work for a noble production. The trick is getting myself behind the curtain. Establishing myself as a trustworthy and able worker is key.
There is a narrow window of …
Quiet but Mighty, Part III
Maintaining Balance: Working effectively, managing office presence
This is Part III in the five-part Quiet but Mighty blog series exploring ways introverts can remain true to themselves and still experience a satisfying professional life.
Life is an exercise in balance in many capacities, including within your internship or job. As an introvert, itâs important to learn how to cater to your personal work preferences as well as how to stretch yourself. Below are a few thoughts as you begin developing into the best worker you can be.
Create your best working environment
As an intern, you probably donât have much choice when it comes to the location and set-up of your workstation. However, there are little things you can do with the resources provided that can make you more comfortable and productive.
To avoid distractions, situate your computer or work materials to face away from a heavily-traveled walkway. …
Quiet but Mighty, Part II
Modesty and Marketability: Can they co-exist?
This is Part II in the five-part Quiet but Mighty blog series exploring ways introverts can remain true to themselves and still experience a satisfying professional life.
Ever find yourself thinking: âI want a good job, but how can I showcase my abilities when Iâm not comfortable tooting my own horn?â
Youâre not alone. Modesty is a hallmark characteristic of the introvert population and one that is much-admired; however, it is often considered counterproductive in the competitive job market.
One piece of career advice that I struggle with is âselling yourself.â This concept tends to invoke fear in those of us who try to avoid the spotlight.
The simple truth is people donât like solicitors. Solicitors sensationalize and feign enthusiasm in order to sell a product for the sole purpose of advancing their own self interests. People do, however, like teammates â those …
Internships: A Constant State of Arrival
Last Monday, I arrived at the doorstep of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, ready to begin my internship with the Indiana INTERNnet, with a combination of anxiety and excitement. Is that not true of any adventure one is about to embark upon: knowing that nothing holds you back from failing; nothing holds you back from succeeding? The thrill of approaching the edge of a cliff in anticipation of jumping is suddenly contrasted by the gut feeling that claws you back to safety. Fortunately for me, this was not my first internship, and I did not have to fight that instinct too strongly for too long, but rather used it to propel me forward.
From the moment I walked in, I was greeted not only with smiling faces, but also with a finely choreographed office set up. Whether it was the signs that welcomed me onto the team or the cubicle …
Quiet but Mighty, Part I
NetWORK: âdoingâ rather than âtalkingâ
This is Part I in the five-part Quiet but Mighty blog series exploring ways introverts can remain true to themselves and still experience a satisfying professional life.
May I be frank? I hate the word ânetworking.â
Especially as an introvert, and especially as someone who is easily frustrated by the formalities of corporate America. Not to mention, Iâm flat-out bad at what most people consider ânetworking.â
There are a lot of great tips from career counselors you should employ. But have you ever noticed that career advice is often geared toward the extroverted population â networking advice in particular? So, this post (and this entire series) is designed to serve as an alternative voice for those quiet, task-oriented worker bees thirsting for customized and workable career-building ideas. As we go through the week, I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments section.
…
The value of proactivity prior to graduation
One quality youâll see employers calling for in many job descriptions is âself-starter.â If youâve completed a couple internships, youâre likely qualified in that regard.
But what if you went a step further and started your own internship of sorts, where you are both the supervisor and the intern?
If youâre looking to add more âmeatâ to your portfolio, speculative work (or âspec workâ) is a great way to learn-while-doing, and youâre completely in control. Iâm not referring to the controversial spec work in the graphic design field. The spec work Iâm advocating is where you come up with an idea from scratch, plan the project, complete the tasks and evaluate the work all on your own time. You arenât working within the limits of company protocol or a class rubric and you arenât answering to a supervisor or professor. You can tailor the project to fill any holes you …
Virtual internships: a case study
This is a Q&A with Ativio Executive Vice President Susan Nierste about how their company benefits from virtual internships. Be sure to also check out our blog about the potential of virtual internships.
1.  How long has Ativio been offering virtual internships? How many interns do you typically work with at one time?
We started in Fall 2011. More than 500 United States (domestic and foreign), African and Indian students have participated in the internship. The number of students working at the same time on teams varies. Our team sizes range between 8 – 12 on a team, plus team management.
2. Can you briefly explain how your virtual internships work? What work do your interns complete?
We have different levels of participation within the virtual team environment. We start out by teaching a class on how to work within international virtual team environments at area Indiana universities. In the classroom, the team works on a static project with …
Five Simple Truths About Internships
This guest post is written by Elizabeth P. Cipolla, a business communications professional specializing in the areas of leadership training, creative recruitment strategies, professional development and executive coaching for more than 13 years. Cipolla is featured weekly in the Jamestown Post-Journal’s business section, where this column was published orginally on March 10, 2013.
Each year, millions of students and adults race to find the perfect internship in the industry of their dreams. What many fail to understand is the simple truth behind what they can do to get the most out of their experience at any internship assignment, every time.
Truth No. 1: Despite what you’ve been told, studying hard and getting good grades is not the only path to career success.
As a seasoned human resource management professional, I can assure you that savvy hiring managers want something more than good grades. In fact, many will not even consider hiring a …
âNever too old to learnâ
This is a guest post by Marie Dunlap, former intern at Stone City Counseling. She was a psychology student at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College who graduated on Dec. 15, 2012. She is 63 years old.
As a psychology major considering a career in mental health, I was able to do my internship at Stone City Counseling Center, in my hometown of Bedford, Ind. Stone City Counseling (SCC) is a small, private practice.
My internship supervisor was Becky Kleihege, who holds a bachelorâs degree from Butler and a masterâs degree from Indiana University Bloomington. Over the course of my internship I became familiar with hers and the other therapistâs credentials. More than that, she was a wonderful mentor, which seems a little strange, considering Iâm senior to her by quite a few years! But weâre never too old to learn.
Becky held several positions before coming to SCC. Because of that she …
The potential of virtual internships
Are you an employer low on office space? Do business nationally or internationally? Office located far away from major cities or college towns?
Are you a student with an academic course load that doesnât lend itself to an office internship? Canât find any internships near your campus?
If you answered âyes,â a virtual internship could be a great option for you. Itâs a trend that is picking up steam because the benefits are numerous. In 2012, there were 58 new virtual internship positions posted to our website.
Virtual internships are a great way for employers to nurture talent in soon-to-be professionals and for students to secure full-time employment post-graduation. Take it from our friends at Ativio, an information technology and business process outsourcing solutions company in Indianapolis.
âWe work in virtual environments all the time,â said Susan Nierste, vice president of business affairs. âWe know what we need as a …
Top 100 Twitter Accounts Job Seekers Must Follow in 2013
The following post was originally written in late 2012 by our friends @YouTern, led by @YouTernMark. They offer great advice for both intern and job-seekers. If you’re on Twitter, please follow them, and don’t forget — @IndianaINTERN is active on Twitter, too!
Let’s face it⊠there are many self-proclaimed career gurus, ninjas and experts on Twitter. So, how do you know where to turn for the really good advice? In alphabetical order and with abundant respect, here are YouTern’s Top 100 for 2013âŠ
@Absolutely_Abby Always positive; a genuine soul and teacher.
@alevit Alexandra delivers some of the best career advice in the business.
@AlisonDoyle Always beneficial information for job and internship seekers on About.com.
@AllisonCheston A career expert, author and blogger; highly valued advice.
@AmyatCiti A terrific reputation on Twitter – and a welcome voice from the corporate side.
@amyruberg A college and career consultant who “gets it” – …
Thoughts from a former TPMA intern
Editor’s Note: Thomas P. Miller and Associates  (TPMA) is and Indianapolis-based company with a mission to align people, technology and initiatives to enhance the economic value of communities, educational institutions and companies. Former TPMA Intern Calli Duggins reflects on her internship and what she learned while at TPMA. Duggins is now a graduate student at IUPUI.
Working with TPMA as an intern was a critical part of my professional development during my undergraduate work at Butler University. Prior to this internship, I had interned at a large non-profit organization and a state government agency. While both of those experiences were valuable because they introduced me into the work environment and helped me improve my interpersonal skills, TPMA afforded me an incredibly well-rounded experience.
The projects assigned to me in the first summer included the development of a new website for TPMA and the creation of community asset inventories to be used in …
Internship tips from a Journalism-major-turned-English-major
This is a blog post from Kelli Vorndran, the Communications and Media Intern for EmployIndy. Kelli will graduate from IUPUI in the spring with a bachelorâs degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing.
Most of todayâs college students understand the value of an internship. Interning has become so commonplace that many employers actually expect to see this kind of experience on a college gradâs resume. In addition to this newer idea of a ârequiredâ internship, I was eager to enter the professional world as an intern just to gain experience.
One thing that may turn students away from an internship is the idea that it is all workÂâwith no pay. This is never the case! As clichĂ© as it sounds, an internship pays you in experience, if not only as a rĂ©sumĂ© booster. If you are lucky enough to land a paid internship, hooray! Bask in it for a …