Think About It - one more time

 Please respond to this question when you have wrapped up your internship:

For the past four weeks, you have been deeply involved in the work world.  You have been immersed in a corporate culture, shadowed professionals, chatted with co-workers, and tried out many new "hats."  What did it all mean?

In the proverbial "25 words of less" (okay maybe 50 words), distill the essence of your internship experience.  What meant the most to you?  Maybe your mentor made a comment that really resonated. Perhaps it was something you observed in a co-worker that provided a "eureka moment."  A task that seemed mundane when assigned may have proved to be profound in a way you never expected.

Whatever it is, tell us what you will take away from PRIME 2018.

Think About It - week 3

To respond to this week's post, pay conscious attention to the corporate culture at your internship site for a day or two.  Corporate culture refers to the "personality" of a workplace.  It defines "how things get done around here."  The culture of an organization guides the way employees think, act, and feel at work. A good fit between an employee and the culture almost guarantees success and happiness and, one could argue, may make the difference between a job and a career.

Please read the short article "Six Components of a Great Corporate Culture at https://hbr.org/2013/05/six-components-of-culture.
 
The author argues that a good corporate culture is vital to the success of any company and lists the six things he thinks are most important to building that culture. Throughout the article he offers links to articles that expand and support his ideas.  He and other authors I've read maintain that understanding an organization's culture is one of the most important things you can do when searching for a career.

Choose two or three of the components of culture mentioned in the article and describe your internship's culture in these areas.  Then talk about how this culture fits with what you would look for in a work environment.  All else being equal (in other words, if the work were the kind of work you want to do), is this the place for you?

Don't forget to come back to read, comment and answer questions.

Reflect on yesterday's group activity - 2

Take a few minutes to reflect on the time you spent yesterday in the Arlington Courthouse and Detention Center.  Choose one important idea, bit of information, fact, or skill you learned. Spend a few sentences explaining why you chose to comment on it. (You do not need to comment on anyone else's post unless you feel moved to do so.)

Think About It - week 2

Respond to this post after you have spent at least one full week at your internship.  If you like, start your comment with a few sentences summarizing your tasks so far.  Devote the remainder of your response to this "thinking assignment":

Choose an adult who works with you at your internship. This might be your mentor, but it may be someone else at your work site. Discover the official title of the job he or she holds. Write a short paragraph about the day-to-day tasks you observe this person doing. Include your opinion about the level of satisfaction he or she seems to derive from the job. You may base your opinion on your own observations and/or on conversations with the person you are observing. Is this satisfaction intrinsic to the job itself or related more to job environment, co-workers, etc.?  Is it, perhaps, most related to the person's outlook on life? 

In your last paragraph, consider briefly whether this job is something you could imagine yourself doing as  career.  As you justify your answer, are you at all surprised by what you "hear yourself saying"?  Do you think your answer would be the same if this job were located elsewhere (i.e. in a different city or a different type of business).  

Don't forget to come back and read your fellow interns' comments throughout the coming week and comment on at least two of them.  Remember to keep your comments positive and supportive.  (Problems and concerns should be addressed to me by phone or email.)  Be sure to check back later to answer any questions others may have posed for you. This is an interactive forum.

Reflect on yesterday's group activity

Take a few minutes to reflect on your time at the Thinkabit Lab this morning, both the guided and free activities.  Choose one important idea, bit of information, fact, or skill you learned. Spend a few sentences explaining why you chose to comment on it. (You do not need to comment on anyone else's post unless you feel moved to do so.)

Think About It - Week 1

By now, you have all spent two or three full days at your internships, getting to know the "lay of the land."  Comment on this post no later than July 7. 

Write a short summary of your first impressions of your internship.  React to the work environment, your mentor, you co-workers, the tasks assigned to you so far and any plans you and your mentor have made for the rest of your time together.  Discuss ways in which the internship has - and has not - met your expectations. How do you think this will change in the weeks ahead?

 Don't forget to come back and read your fellow interns' comments throughout the coming week and react to at least two of them.  Keep your comments positive and supportive.  (Problems and concern should be discussed with me by phone or email.)  Be sure to check back alter to answer questions others may have left for you.  ReflectingonPRIME is an interactive forum.

Start thinking

What part of Jim's talk on "doing the work that needs doing resonated with you most? How will you use it in your work as an intern this summer?