Tag Archives: Indiana
Shaping Futures by Improving a Local Community
Katie McGinnis is an incoming senior at Indiana University Bloomington graduating in May of 2019. She is majoring in Media Advertising with a minor in Marketing. Katie is currently working at Helmer Scientific as a Marketing Communications Intern for her second summer with the company.Ā
On Saturday, July 28th, I joined other interns and Helmer Scientific team members to volunteer with the Indianapolis Intercollegiate YMCA volunteers and staff to transform the Laurelwood Community in Indianapolis. The Intercollegiate YMCA works with four universities to provide experiences that enhance students overall. They especially focus on leadership development programs for the students they work with.
The Laurelwood Community in Indianapolis consists of around 160 units in a low-income neighborhood. Before the Indianapolis Intercollegiate YMCA began their efforts in the community, Laurelwood had been long considered one of the roughest communities in Indianapolis. After ten years of partnering with the YMCA, the community …
Keep in Touch: A Guide to Following Up
You faced your fears and attended a networking event ā perhaps it was one of Indiana INTERNnetās summer engagement events ā and made a great connection. You feel as though you navigated the conversation successfully, kept your stories relevant, and bonded with the person. You even went so far as to remember to ask for their card, so you have all the information necessary to follow up with them. How do you go about doing it?
Following up with someone, whether it is a stranger you met at a conference or a past supervisor you had for an internship, does not have to feel awkward. It can seem daunting to put yourself out on a limb and reach out to someone that you donāt know well or that you havenāt spoken to lately. The main thing that will help in either of those situations is to be confident in what …
Takeaways From Intern Day at The Childrenās Museum of Indianapolis
Interns and supervisors from around Indianapolis came together on May 31 for Intern Day at The Childrenās Museum of Indianapolis. This event was the first of five summer intern engagement events hosted by Indiana INTERNnet in partnership with local organizations.
The event kicked off with a networking game, designed to get interns mingling. The objective? Get to know two new people from outside of each oneās organization and be entered to win tickets to the museumās exclusive collections tour. Afterwards, the attendees filed into the Lilly Theater for the eventās career development program, presented by Samantha Martin, assistant director of the Career Services Center at Ball State University.
Martin emphasized the power of storytelling, an uncommon notion in most professional development talks. She understands that networking is not easy, and often young professionals are not sure how to approach situations where theyāre asked the dreaded, āTell me about yourself.ā That …
Post-Graduation Internships
Perhaps you were busy with other responsibilities during undergrad and you didnāt have time for an internship. Or maybe you changed majors part of the way through your college career, and it set you back a little bit. Many students pursue internship positions during college, and assume that once they graduate, they will be done with them. While that is the case most of the time, there is nothing wrong with accepting an internship post-graduation. Hereās why:
The job market can be tough, especially if youāre are seeking employment in a small city where there is lots of competition ā namely, your fellow graduates. Full-time positions can be scarce, depending on the economy, your profession and the area in which you live. An internship can help to provide you with some money and additional experience as you search for a salaried role.
Oftentimes, graduates instinctively accept job offers that do …
Dress For Success: Dressing For An Interview
One thing that I always struggle with the day of an interview is the age-old question: āWhat am I going to wear?ā Iāve walked into rooms where Iāve been the best dressed and the worst dressed, although I prefer the latter.Ā Attire is a problem that affects every professional, even people who have been in the workforce for years.Ā Here are some important things to remember when choosing that perfect interview outfit.
Make an impression.Ā Your attire shapes the first impression you give to potential employers, so itās extremely important to make the right impression. I always like to make sure that my outfit accurately represents the professional I am. I want my outfit to say āIām competent, qualified, and can make a great impact on your company.ā The way you dress should represent the way that you feel about your abilities as a professional. Showing up in jeans and …
My Experience With A Virtual Internship
Between taking 18 credit hours, having two in-person internships, and keeping a healthy social life, college has seemed like a whirlwind. However, to further my professional development and career goals, I wanted to have as many experiences as I possibly could. So, I logged into IndianaINTERN.net and found an amazing virtual internship that Iām still active with today!
My virtual internship is with Indy Displays, an ecommerce display booth company, as the digital content strategist intern. In this role, Iām doing some graphic design work, as well as writing content for their blog to promote their company. This position is wonderful for me, because it allows me to earn extra money while growing my skills in a way that works well for my busy schedule.
The best part of this internship is that Iām able to work on skills that I would otherwise be lacking. For example, I had planned …
Meet Our Spring 2018 Intern!
Iām thrilled to be joining Indiana INTERNnet this semester as the communication and special events intern! I am currently a junior at IUPUI studying journalism with a concentration in public relations. Iām originally from #TheRegion (Northwest Indiana), but have since transplanted to Indy and instantly fell in love. One of the best things about going to school at an urban campus is that there are SO many opportunities for professional development and growth.Ā Not only do I get to learn about interesting topics in school, but I also get to directly use those skills in my work environment.
Interning has been the theme of my college career. In the past three years, Iāve held seven positions with experiences ranging from IT/technology support, graphic design and even event planning. Through these internships, Iāve learned what I love, what I donāt love, and the ins and outs of so many different areas. …
Indianaās Best: Fall Festivities
With the growth of local pride and demand for “homegrown” products, there are many opportunities to experience true Hoosier culture. Whether it’s restaurants, attractions, shops or anything in between, we’ll showcase some of our favorite gems that make Indiana a great place to live and work.
Pumpkin spice lattes, campfires and a crisp coolness in the air. Tisā the season of autumn. The unusually warm weather weāve been having canāt spoil that wonderful fall feeling. I will eat pumpkin cookies and don cozy sweaters while itās 80 degrees outside (no shame in my autumn game). However, I feel the cold wind blowing this way next week with temperatures in the 60-70 range. Grab your boots and fleece jackets, folks, weāre going to some of Indianaās best fall festivities!
Pumpkin patches and apple orchards
Letās start with the obvious fall activity: picking pumpkins and apples from local farms. While …
Interns Connect for Indy’s Future
Last Friday, the Indy Chamber hosted Indy Intern Connection in partnership with Indiana INTERNnet at the Fountain Square Theatre Building. Employers and interns from all over the city were invited to hang out on the rooftop garden, play duckpin bowling, and network.
The Director of Policy & Civic Engagement at the Indy Chamber and Indiana INTERNnet Board of Directors Member, Matt Impink, played a big part in organizing the event. He said that one of the main goals of the event was to encourage connections between interns, who will ideally be the future professionals of Indiana. He, and many other groups in Indiana, hope to encourage young HoosiersĀ to continue to live and work here. This combats the ābrain drainā issueāthat many of Indianaās best and brightest leave Indiana to work elsewhere.
Many interns were from Indiana, but there was a decent handful who werenāt. In addition to encouraging current Indiana …
Indianaās Best: Holiday Happenings
With the growth of local pride and demand for “homegrown” products, there are many opportunities to experience true Hoosier culture. Whether it’s restaurants, attractions, shops or anything in between, we’ll showcase some of our favorite gems that make Indiana a great place to live and work.
The holiday season in Indianapolis always starts with a flash! The Circle of Lights is a wonderful tree-lighting tradition that happens the day after Thanksgiving. Although the Soldier & Sailors Monument isnāt actually a tree, it does a great job of creating holiday cheer for the millions of gatherers each year. It can seem like a breath of fresh air from all of the crazy Black Friday shopping that occurs earlier in the day. Donāt worry if you missed the ceremonial lighting, you can still marvel at the pretty lights by visiting Monument Circle.
There are plenty of other exciting holiday sites to …
Relax During Winter Break
As final papers, projects, exams and fall internships come to an end, students are left feeling an odd combination of relief and exhaustion. Take time during winter break to relax and decompress. Hereās a list of some soothing activities to leave you feeling recharged and ready for the spring semester:
1. Catch up with family and friends
If you go back to your hometown during winter break, plan an activity to catch up with old friends. Spend time baking with your grandparents, or catch a movie with your siblings. It can be difficult to coordinate plans between breaks, so savor the time you have at home.
2. Read a book
Find a cozy spot, grab some hot cocoa and read something that isnāt required for class. The New York Times compiled a list of the top 10 books from 2016
3. Sleep
After I finished my finals, …
One, Two, Three. Is EARN Indiana for me?
In 2013, Indiana INTERNnet (IIN) began partnering with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) to facilitate its Employment Aid Readiness Network (EARN) Indiana program. EARN Indiana reimburses employers with an approved internship up to 50 percent of each eligible internās wage.
EARN Indiana doesnāt just benefit employers. The program provides eligible students with a wide variety of positions offering competitive pay and valuable experience. These internships can be used to explore career interests, develop transferable skills, apply academic coursework to the professional world, examine career interests and even earn college credit.
ā[EARN Indiana] opens up so many positions that will be able to pay you competitively all while gaining tremendous needed experience,ā said Johnny Slivka, HR Marketing Intern for Milliner & Associates and EARN Indiana-eligible student.
In order to be eligible for an EARN Indiana internship, a student must:
Be an Indiana resident Not have a bachelorās degree prior …
The Reality of the Post-Graduation Job Search
When I first graduated from IUPUI, I thought finding a job would be a breeze. I graduated with high distinction, completed two internships and held a part-time customer service job through college. In class, I was told that the public relations industry was growing rapidly. I thought I would walk across the stage at commencement with a diploma in one hand and a new career on the horizon.
Well, life doesnāt always work out perfectly because the next thing I knew it was September, and I was still unemployed.
Just when I was feeling discouraged, my luck had turned around. First, Karissa Bash, Programs Assistant for Indiana INTERNnet, asked if I would write a guest blog post. I had multiple classes with Karissa at IUPUI, so I was happy to help her out.
After she heard I was still looking for a full-time position, she recommended that I apply to …
Ben Verdi: Making an IMPACT
Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on Feb. 3, 2016, at the 10th Annual IMPACT Awards luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nomineesā successes.
These are their stories.
Ben Verdi is a second-year graduate student at Indiana University (Bloomington). He served as a Governorās Public Service summer intern with the Department of Workforce Development.
Indiana INTERNnet: How did you become interested in government work?
Ben Verdi: I got interested in government for the same reasons I was initially interested in public service. I want to lend every skill and talent I’ve been fortunate enough to cultivate back to my community and country at large. Government work appeals to me as a wonderful way to go about making that kind of a difference in people’s lives, but it’s not the only way. People can be involved in public service …
Career Ready: Strengthening Indianaās Talent Pipeline
Indiana INTERNnet, Indiana Commission for Higher Education, and Purdue University joined forces to coordinate a session during the HR Indiana Annual Conference. The session, Career Ready: Strengthening Indianaās Talent Pipeline, occurred on Wednesday, the final day of the conference. Indiana INTERNnet was honored to share the podium with brilliant minds who are shaping and strengthening Indiana’s talent pipeline for career readiness.
A few of Indianaās esteemed influencers in the world of education, public affairs, workforce policy, and business shared their insights on plans to help Indianaās economy grow. Teresa Lubbers, the Commissioner for Indianaās Commission for Higher Education (CHE), discussed invaluable strategies that CHE is pursuing to ensure Indianaās post-secondary education system is aligned to meet the needs of students and the state. She addressed key values of career alignment, competency and completion that will carry CHEās goals to the fullest extent of success in our community.
The Indiana …