Now that we've discussed interviewing once, let's do it again WITH Michelle's take. Of Michelle's top 10 tips for successful interviews (available here ), which tips stuck out to you? I found myself resonating with #1. Being able to reflect on ourselves in addition to the organization helps us better recognize what we can offer to the organization. By taking a step back, I found myself better able to envision that future. Also, the STAR method (Tip #7) was pretty great, and it helped me conceptualize how to consider offering an answer with that method in mind. Next, give Big Interview a try (as noted on our assignment portal). You'll have to create an account, which took me all of 15 seconds. Once you're on, you'll note that there's a lot to explore there. I'd recommend at leave clicking on "Practice" and trying a few " General mock interview " questions. It's pretty cool because you have a human asking you the q...
To tackle the obvious, the new Covid situation has moved my internship work entirely to home, and this was challenging for me because it forced me to be even more independent and self-reliant. Before, I had office hours where I would go in and work only on my internship projects, but now I have to schedule time for myself to make sure I get everything done. This was also difficult because the amount of work picked up at the end of the semester. Currently, I’m editing 7 different student research articles, and I underestimated the amount of time I need to put the amount of detail that I want into these edits. However, that time crunch has taught me how to work quickly and efficiently to still complete my tasks with an acceptable amount of quality. One of my recent successes is publishing an article on the school website. The article was for announcing the McNair awards given to the scholars because the current conditions prevented us from hosting the actual award ceremony. I enjoyed this opportunity because it taught me a little bit about reportive writing, which is a skill I’ve always been interested in but hadn’t yet had a chance to explore. One skillset I’ve been working on through my internship is my web design/editing skills. I learned how to edit the school website and cleaned up some of the pages for the McNair program. I’m grateful for these chances to expand my skills and experience, so now I feel prepared to do a little bit of everything, or at least learn more about things I’ve already have experience with.
ReplyDeleteAbby, the McNair website is looking great! Nice work! Yes, if this Covid-19 term has taught me anything about my work ethic, it's that time needs to be set aside, scheduled and utilized (at least for me.). In short, I hear you. Seven McNair article is a lot! I'd love to learn more about what types of edits you're doing--local edits, global edits, etc.
DeleteCool about the reportage, too. The more genres you can write/edit in, the more versatile you could be in the workplace.
With Covid, I lost the opportunity to work more closely with the other interns and my site coordinator as well as a set time during the week to work specifically only projects. This has allowed me to be more comfortable and confident working on my own, but I do miss being able to talk through ideas in person with other people. My main project was alumni outreach, and this involved not only getting stories from alumni but also getting alumni to visit campus more which is not a possibility for the foreseeable future. I’ve also not been able to use the school computers to use Adobe Creative Cloud that allow me to format promotional material, but I’m doing what I can on my personal laptop. However, with this extra time I’ve been able to work with the software more. While I don’t feel confident enough to list these skills I’m learning on my resume, I did decide to take a class next fall that goes more in depth with this software and by getting used to using it now, I’ll hopefully be able to do well in the class next semester and list it on my resume before I graduate.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about the tech limitations. Oh how I wish you could list these platforms on your resume, but a good call to become more proficient before doing so. Perhaps you'll be ahead of the curve given your background. Good that you're growing more "comfortable and confident" working independently. I think I am, too. So much trust is involved in these arrangements, of course, but keeping an open line of communication related to expectations can be a big help.
DeleteWith my new internship, I have gained a better understanding of not just how to accomplish goals on my own, but setting them as well. At the beginning of this semester, while I was at the news station, I was working with reporters and other interns and general staff to figure out the best ways to follow reporters and see what exactly went into each story from the creation of it to the completed project to even some updates on previously covered events. I was more following people around, feeling almost like a lost puppy, while trying to impress them and show them I could be of value to their team.
ReplyDeleteNow, as I work from home, I am doing all of that on my own while still getting help from my new coordinator. I will admit, and everyone can definitely understand, that COVID has been an extremely tremulous time for me, but now that things seem to be settling I feel more confident and reliant on my abilities to create good stories. I feel like I am mastering my story writing abilities. A recent success of mine would be my most recent article at the Chippewa Valley Writer's guild, where I reached out and coordinated several different interviews for a story I did on how local stores were doing during this time. It taught me not only how important communication can be, but also that you can't force people into an interview. It was a good experience for me, and I am proud of the article because it is one of the biggest projects I have undertaken in a professional format.
For others reading this, here's a link to Hayley's most recent article, which got some great buzz and tons of readers: http://www.cvwritersguild.org/writing-the-valley-1/2020/4/16/local-artists-and-publishers-put-community-first
DeleteIt's been such a pleasure to watch your writing grow throughout the year in various places, etc. I want to give you props for reaching out to various sources for a single article. That's the kind of (virtual) shoe leather reporting that makes a good story great.
My internship has evolved a lot over this semester. I feel like I have learned a lot of new skills including things like website updating and article writing. I’ve also been able to really bond with my internship advisor which has made the experience all the better.
ReplyDeleteMy current struggles have a lot to do with not being able to have face to face contact with anyone. It was nice getting to work right next to my advisor but now all we can do is call each other. It’s just not the same. In addition, a lot of the work I do involves talking to people within JONAH and it has been extremely difficult to get a hold of people during this time. Everyone is so busy, and it was hard to get responses to my emails and calls. In addition, I just find it more awkward to talk over the phone and I like face to face contact more.
I have had some successes though. I recently worked with my advisor in publishing four new articles for the JONAH newsletter. It definitely took a while, but we finally got it all accomplished.
I am mastering quite a few skills, but I think that communication is one of the biggest ones. With everything going on, it is hard to stay motivated and on top of things. But I do my best to make sure I am staying in contact with my advisor and getting done everything that needs to be done.
Wow, Alaina! Four articles is great! I'd love to see them sometime. Yes, I hear you about folks not getting back, etc. I've had the same problem. I think there are various factors, but being flexible and acknowledging the complexities of this moment is probably a good strategy. Everyone knows you're trying at least! I, too, prefer face-to-face meetings. I always have a little less success with phone interviews because there's no ambiance to draw upon when writing the scene. But they can still be fruitful, for sure, as I'm sure you've learned.
DeleteOne of the best skills I have developed from my internship is consistency and attention to deadlines. On our first project and in our first few weeks, it was difficult to find a rhythm in the process of interviewing, writing articles, and at the same time remembering to post on social media. When we did get that pattern down, Covid sort of threw a wrench into the machine and we've been stepping back into the former rhythm slowly but surely. Regardless of that situation, I think that consistency has been a strength overall, and that consistency is not only good for me personally but good for everybody involved. I wouldn't say I have any significant struggles with my experience right now--the most notable struggle I'm facing that's related to my internship is that I've been finding it more difficult to contact students and receive replies (in spite of the semester being online), but I'm chalking that up to most of us being a bit overwhelmed in the scope of our situation. Something I've been really pleased with is the team I'm working with and the communication between us. I feel really comfortable asking questions and reaching out now that time has passed and I'm more acclimated to the role.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you feel comfortable with your team! And you express a concern shared by others: getting responses has been difficult during this time. I know your site advisor has really appreciated your many efforts. You've done great work for the department. Thank you! I'd love to keep hearing about how the department could more effectively use social media, which is probably the best way to connect with students.
DeleteI don't have an internship anymore, so I guess I don't really know how to answer this question. I will say that I am still thankful to have worked at the news station and value the connections I have made there. It was a valuable experience and I think it is unique that I was able to work at the news station during the beginning of a pandemic. While working at the news station, I learned how to be flexible. I didn't have a specific routine. One day I would write articles and shadow reporters, other days I was busy editing videos for the upcoming show! I'm currently looking for summer jobs, and almost all of my interviewers have asked me about the news station. I explained my responsiblities and when asked about skills, I explained flexibility as a valuable skill. I've basically accepted that any job I get over the summer will be affected by the coronavirus and there is no way to predict what is going to happen, so the ability to be flexible is extremely important!
ReplyDeleteMy internship has less work now with COVID-19. I think it is an interesting time to have an internship and see how a business copes with emergencies. I think this is something we could all probably add to our resumes in a big way, flexible! I enjoy working with Anna but a lot of the time we are not in communication and I am just working on my big project solo, (history of the symphony). I think this can be good in my resume because it shows that I can work on my own, and do what my boss expects of me. However, I do regret not being able to go in the office and be apart of more activities. The symphony is no longer doing concerts and that is most of what my internship revolved around so its been a time of change in expectations. I think the biggest struggle for me right now is time management. I always feel like I have so much work to do. I update my google calendar at least once a day and have been getting through, but online classes and a remote job, and a remote internship all changing at once has been hard to figure out. I miss being around people, but I do appreciate the amount of support that people have shown through this time, including my internship. I have an easy time reaching out with questions and feel comfortable asking for help through a confidence found in and around this time.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you--or any student--is doing this. So many changes so fast. I assure you, your professors are right there with you! I loved what you said about watching a business cope in an emergency. As difficult as this moment is, you are right: there are lessons to be learned here as well. Way to see some sort of silver lining in this storm. Perhaps, too, we can all com away from this with a deeper understanding of empathy. I'm glad you've been able to find meaning here, too.
DeleteI feel super fortunate that I am still able to continue my internship with Volume One from home during the pandemic. The work I did at V1 while school was still in session was still rather remote; I'd be at the V1 offices, but working off to the side by myself for three hours, so in that way, things haven't really changed all that much. However, I'm finding it a little bit harder to stay involved in the atmosphere from home. I've worked on a couple of articles from home since the quarantine started, but not nearly as many as I had while I was in Eau Claire, and I think--total upheaval of organization due to corona notwithstanding--this is because I don't get the chance to have face-to-face interaction with my site supervisors anymore. If one of them wanted to assign me an article two months ago, I'd chat with them at their desk, they'd give me the rundown and a contact to use, and I'd be on my way in a matter of minutes. Now, we have to play email tag to communicate so things obviously take a little longer to do.
ReplyDeleteDespite this, I feel really good about the work I've done from home so far. My site supervisors are still really happy with what I'm doing, and we're working on seeing if it's feasible for me to stay on as a remote intern during the summer, since they feel like I got cheated with the semester ending early. I've written articles about big, important-ish things that have come up in the wake of the pandemic, and that's really cool! I've learned to write about things that I don't understand, and have established a means of researching them in order to describe them better to readers who also might not understand them. I had a Zoom call with a couple of sources to get a more gratifying quote from them for an article. It's been going really well, and despite the circumstances, I'm happy with what I've been getting out of my internship.
Olivia, it's been such a pleasure to read your work in V1! I know it's valued immensely both within the department and beyond. If you could manage a summer continuation, that would be great! If you can leave this internship with a healthy handful of clippings on important topics (not to mention a new set of skills), that's not bad! It's so fun to click on an article and see you there! Sometimes I don't even notice you're the writer until the end. Though, of course, your style is solely your own.
DeleteI think one of the biggest evolutions I’ve seen in my internship experience is my increased independence. At the beginning, I felt like I was flailing around at times, and I found myself asking a lot more questions and wanting verification on most steps of what I did. I was hesitant before reaching out to authors with interview questions, and less comfortable even with littler things like formatting. I think I’ve grown a lot more comfortable with the general process of writing an article for the CVWG website now, from doing background research, crafting questions, reaching out, and eventually combining all that into the final article. Obviously I still have learning to do, but I’m glad that I’ve grown in that process! Additionally, when we were all in person, we were able to touch base in person weekly, and now it’s sort of evolved to the point of email check-ins. I miss the face-to-face, but I’m thankful we can still keep in touch and on track somehow!
ReplyDeleteCurrently, I’m back in the waiting period. I’m hoping to hear back from this author soon, but this internship has also helped me grow in patience and the ability to maximize my in-between times! I’m not quite sure how I want to go about formatting my next project (some of the Priory testimonials), but I think for that I may just have to sit down and start writing/combining and refine from there. I think one recent success was the poetry essay I got to write for the website. I really enjoyed writing that piece, and I got a number of encouraging comments from others, too. I think overall, this internship has helped me grow more comfortable with the process of writing articles in general, especially interviews, as well as given me experience working independently with some creative freedom (while still keeping in touch with other team members to help the organization as a whole). I'm grateful for all the learning this experience has offered me!
Trying to communicate through zoom and other video platforms has proved more challenging than I originally expected. Living back at home has reminded me how bad reception is in small-town Wisconsin. This has created a new challenge because verbal communication is often more comfortable to me than written. This quarantine has caused me to be more reliant on written forms of communication such as email, which has allowed me to get more comfortable with that kind of platform. Another evolution was changing where and how I work on my internship. At the start of the Covid-19 crisis, I found it nearly impossible to complete any work. Partly due to the future but also partly due to my pattern of doing schoolwork. A large fraction my work gets completed in coffee-shops or libraries since I have always found it hard to focus at home. Not being able to go to my normal “work zone” was a major mental barrier for me. Now I feel like I’m finally able to start working from home. I’ve created a comfortable working spot, and found a whiteboard where I can create a daily checklist.
ReplyDeleteGood strategies. I have a white board about three feet from my computer right now, and it does help! I also miss coffee shops, etc., but I admit, it's been harder for me to frequent them for work purposes even before the virus (the kids like to have me within earshot...ha.).
DeleteCool about the written communications. We are all finding our ways to adapt. I'd love to see one of your most recent pieces for the department. Will it be in a newsletter or is on the website, etc?
I now know that my job is very mobile. Ha! But really, one of the great benefits of having a writing job is certainly the ability to work remote. I prefer being in an office setting but this is working out pretty well; albeit not my ideal way.
ReplyDeleteI struggle with keeping up on the work in front of me in a logistical manner. I tend to lump everything into one big task, panic and not do it; rather watch The Office.
A recent success is that I figured out a way to perform my job with complete efficacy from home. A lot of this is by shedding the shyness and just asking questions at every turn. I'm an intern, not a full-time employee that fully knows the ropes. So, I'm definitely getting way better at communicating my questions.
"I tend to lump everything into one big task, panic and not do it; rather watch The Office." Paul, this is currently my life exactly. (Although some days I substitute The Office for Parks and Rec.). I wonder if this says something about our own personal coping mechanisms.
DeleteI'm glad you're feeling more comfortable asking questions. So much of our success, I find, is linked to knowing the target we're aiming toward. I know you're doing good work over there, and they're lucky to have you. Hope that Strunk and White is still coming in handy!
Coming to the end of the semester, I am developing a concrete sense of being able to interview in a more conversational tone and be able to look more in depth into my articles. I think a main struggle for me with writing articles is attempting to get across to the reader why I am writing the story I am. Through my internship at the Heyde Center, I am definitely growing in my capacity to be more confident in my writing style. I've mainly been staying in contact with my internship director via email, which wasn't completely different from before with the exception of a few monthly meetings. I think the biggest struggle right now for me is that I have no events to attend at the Heyde Center, the events being the major piece of my articles in that I got to interview the artist in person, see their personality in their performances and then tie it all together. Having to do interviews purely over email is a little nerve-wracking because of the lack of tone and the inability to have a personal connectivity that you would get from interviewing in person. Besides that, this has been a pretty good transition for me in terms of before COVID-19 and during.
ReplyDeleteEmail interviews certainly have their upsides and downsides. Upside: you hav every word right there! Downside: no chance for authentic interaction or flow of conversation.
DeleteToo, I understand the difficult of writing for an art center when there are no events to promote. Is thee any other thing you might write about for them? Anything that might add to your skills to be listed on your resume? Anything you might pitch to your supervisor?
Over the course of the semester even with the Covid-19, my internship experience has not changed all that much due to the experience often rallying around independent work to begin with. I have managed to talk with my site director via phone and have also worked and completed a project for WestCap. I have gained experience overall in the area of maintaining a disciplined independent work schedule that was not nearly as structured as what I had hoped for in the beginning, however, I have learned more time management and now feel confident that I can succeed in an independent learning environment.
ReplyDeleteI have found the my struggles originally were the unstructured environment, however I will reflect that, it was a necessary struggle that I as a person had to go through to understand how the real world works for jobs.
My accomplishments during this experience rally around the completed project that I have worked on through the course of the semester. I feel that I have provided an interesting and overall good project that I hope will be of great use for my site director.
Some of the skills that I have honed in on are my discipline and consistency skills which have grown. I also have developed better skills for presentation development. I hope that in the future I can use these skills in other experiences to come.