Tag Archives: Allison Gaffney
How to survive your first month of classes
Ah, the month of August. The air is getting cooler, the corn is growing tall, the humidity is disappearing…and itâs time to go back to school. As you make the transition from swimming pools and sunbathing to lecture halls and homework, you may be in need of a couple tips to help you survive that first month back.
Show up to class
Itâs always extremely tempting to blow off the first few weeks of class, but once you finally decide to show up, youâll realize youâve already dug yourself into a hole. Those classes in the beginning will provide you with an overview of the course and the expectations youâll need to meet if you want to succeed. If you arenât there for those first few days, youâll miss that information. Plus, college is expensive! You donât want to pay for something that you arenât even utilizing.
…
Internship Description Refresh
Youâve posted your internship onto IndianaINTERN.net, and you start waiting for the applications to roll in. However, after a few weeks youâve yet to get a response. What could be going on?
If you find yourself in this predicament, the first place you should check is your internshipâs description. Poorly written and vague descriptions leave students unclear of what your internship has to offer. Your internshipâs description needs to clearly state what it entails and what type of student you are looking for. It should attract students to work for your company and leave them eager to apply.
Promote your organization
The description section of your internship is the perfect place to include details about your organization. Share some information about what your company does, where itâs located, any awards it may have received, etc. Really sell your organization to potential applicants.
In this section, you can also include information …
Four Email Examples That Will Keep Your Network Strong
As spring internships begin to wrap up, one of the most important things  you can do before departing is to record your supervisorâs, mentorâs, fellow co-workersâ, etc. contact information. The connections  you make during your internship can become extremely valuable down the line.
But collecting contacts isnât enough. You have to actually stay in touch with them! The Intern Queen recommends reaching out to your professional contacts at least three times per year. This will help ensure that your connections remain strong.
Use these email examples if youâre struggling to figure out what to say:
____________________________________________
“A good network is like a garden â if you want it to thrive, you have to put in a little effort.”
____________________________________________
You notice your connection accomplished something
Hi XXXX,
I happened to  see on LinkedIn that you received a promotion! Congratulations! What does …
Internship Woes? Speak Up!
After weeks of searching, applying and interviewing, you finally receive an internship offer! Youâre super excited about the projects youâre going to complete and the people youâll be working with. However, after the first month of interning, you realize that your role and responsibilities are not what you expected. You might feel like your skills are not being utilized or developed, but what can you do?
Talk to your internship supervisor
Your supervisor is the person who is tasked with providing you with the resources you need to have a successful internship. If youâre unhappy, theyâre the first person you should speak with. Review your internshipâs description, and if it doesnât match up with the work youâre doing, let them know.
Express your eagerness to take on more projects. Then, work with your supervisor to come up with a workplan so you have a structured outline of what you …
Dress to Impress for Less
Earlier this year at one of Indiana INTERNnetâs intern engagement events, Pete the Planner explained that after graduation, youâre going to need to spend quite a bit of money to develop a professional wardrobe. You canât show up to job interviews wearing oversized college sweatshirts, jeans and Converse shoes! But, what if you donât have the money for a snazzy suit? Luckily, there are plenty of ways to find affordable and stylish options.
Thrift Stores
You can find many hidden gems at your local thrift store! Places like Goodwill offer a variety of menâs and womenâs suit separates, dresses, shoes and ties. Since blazers are about $5, slacks are $4 and a full suit is $10, you may be able to afford alterations. Tailoring can totally transform your look and have people thinking you spent hundreds. ShhâŠyour secret is safe with me!
Consignment/Resale Stores
Most of my professional …
So, You Received an Internship Offer â Now What?
After weeks, if not months applying, you receive the call youâve been looking for: you got the internship! Before saying âyes,â there are a couple of things you should do to make sure that your internship experience is going to be a great one!
Confirm details
Make sure that you are on the same page about your pay rate and schedule you will be working. Determine what your first and last days will be, and mention any planned vacations you may have. This will help your internship supervisor plan ahead for the days you will be absent.
Also, if your company doesnât have a private parking lot, ask for parking information. Some companies can provide a monthly parking stipend to interns, but some may not be able to. If you will be on your own for parking, ask for the most affordable options, and reserve your …
Donât Become Stressed Out, Burnt Out and Cranky
On Wednesdays during the fall semester of my senior year of college, I would intern until 5 p.m., go to a night class until 9 p.m. and then do homework until 12 a.m. The other days of the week, I was either interning or in class. On the weekends, I worked part time at a department store.
I needed an internship for experience and to graduate. I needed to go to class to graduate. I needed a part-time job to pay to graduate. Plus, I had to do all of this while maintaining relationships my family and friends.
I remember scrolling through Twitter one night, seeing this graphic and thinking, âYES! This is exactly how I feel!â
By October, I was stressed out, burnt out and cranky. When I would be at work or with my loved ones, I would be thinking about homework or my internship. I realized …
Intern-to-Hire: Madison Stis
Madison Stis was nominated for the 2017 IMPACT Awards for her outstanding work at her internship with the Indiana State Fair Commission. After her Employment Office internship, she was hired as a full-time assistant manager of human resources. Stis graduated from Indiana University with a major in health administration and a minor in human resource management.
Indiana INTERNnet: Describe your internship with The Indiana State Fair (ISF). What was the most valuable experience?
Madison Stis: My internship at the ISF was the best experience I couldâve had. I was shown major aspects of human resources in a very short time period and received excellent hands-on experience. Mark Anderson, the director of human resources at the ISF, really helped me grow and realize human resources was the field I wanted to pursue. The most valuable experience I had at the ISF was the ability to hire and schedule the employees …
4 Essential Emails Youâll Send During the Internship Search
While youâre waiting to hear back from employers during your internship search, it can be easy to forget that communication goes both ways. Employers appreciate the little things like a thank you email after an interview. Plus, an email that takes you five minutes to write can make a huge impression and help you stand out. Below is a list of the four essential emails youâll need during your internship search.
The âpost â interviewâ email
Regardless of if your interview was casual and over lunch, or a grueling hour â long panel, you should always send a thank you email. Sometimes, if the top two candidates are neck and neck, the final decision could be based off something as small as whether or not someone thanked the interviewers. You donât want to have an amazing interview, only to lose the position to someone else because you never sent a …
What to Consider Before Applying to a Virtual Internship
With the growth of technological resources like Skype and Google Docs, an increasing number of virtual internships are popping up. Virtual internships are internships that allow interns to work remotely with periodic check-ins. Some employers who host virtual internships will have occasional face-to-face meetings, while others will check in via video call, phone calls, emails, etc.
Virtual internships allow interns to have a bit more freedom when it comes to their working hours. It also allows interns to work for a company that may be too far to commute to. For example, someone who lives in Bloomington could intern remotely for an organization in Valparaiso! However, with great freedom, comes great responsibility. Here are some things to keep in mind if youâre thinking about applying to a virtual internship:
How much time do you have?
If you already have a lot of things on your plate, you may want to …
New Web Site Features Provide Convenience and Encourage Connections
There is much more to the updated IndianaINTERN.net (IIN) than meets the eye! Along with a fresh new look, weâve added multiple features to the site to enhance the experience for students, employers and educators. These additions make it easier for students and employers to connect.
New features include:
In-Site Messaging
This new feature allows employers to conveniently message students without ever leaving the site. IINâs in-site messaging also makes it easy for employers to recruit applicants. Registered employers can search for interns by keyword, school, major, location and more. After finding students who fulfill the internshipâs needs, employers can send those students a message inviting them to apply.
For example, an employer with a marketing internship in Indianapolis could search for students on the web site who are marketing majors and live in Marion County. Then, theyâre able to view the studentsâ profiles and resumes, and send more information …
Make a Great First Impression on IndianaINTERN.net
When I think of first impressions, I often think of face-to-face communication. However, first impressions happen every day on IndianaINTERN.net (IIN)! When you apply to internships on IIN, employers utilize your resume, cover letter and your student profile to see if youâll make a great fit. If you donât apply to internships on the site, employers are still able to view your profile and resume. With all of these opportunities to stand out, there shouldnât be any excuse to leave your IIN profile bare!
When you apply to an internship without completing your profile or attaching your resume, employers have to reach out to ask for more information. That takes time, so sometimes employers completely ignore those applicants.
So, if you donât want that to happen to youâŠcomplete your profile! Here are some steps to make your profile stand out:
In your dashboard, click âManage Your Profileâ
Verify that the …
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. Hereâs 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 isnât required for class. The New York Times compiled a list of the top 10 books from 2016
3. Sleep
After I finished my finals, …
Office Life in Five Gifs from ‘The Office’
Completing projects at your internship is one thing, but adapting to office life is a whole different story. It may seem like such a tiny detail in the bigger picture of your internship, but the small skills you learn through working in an office like communication, teamwork and time management will help you in your future career. Here are some tips and gifs from The Office to get you excited about living the office life!
There will be days that feel longer than others
Sitting at a desk for four to eight hours per day is a lot different than sitting in hour and a half lectures throughout the week. Some days will fly by, while others will drag on for a what feels like an eternity. If you find yourself getting distracted or burnt out, get up from your desk for few minutes. Taking a short break from …
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 doesnât 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 …