My Last Chapter As A Penn Stater

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This week’s intern insight comes to us from Katie Beach (Business – Class of 2013) who is
currently completing an internship at the Masonic Villages.

This semester I was fortunate enough to earn an internship at Masonic Villages within the Irem Clubhouse in Dallas, PA. I will be graduating this May with a bachelor’s degree in Business.

Throughout college I have focused on hospitality management by working for different
organizations. By doing so, I built great networking through people I’ve met. Within that
network, I was able to connect with one of my colleague’s father, who is the executive director at Masonic Village. Through him I acquired a 300 hour internship for the spring semester.

The internship turned out to be everything I was looking for. It is a three level internship which means I work with front of the house, back of the house, and the event/sales department. Being so involved with hospitality, I did not know exactly what kinds of jobs to seek post graduation.

Within front of the house, I am able to see how the restaurant runs on a day to day basis. In back of the house, I am able to see how food and beverage ordering works. The events and sales department shows me more of a financial stand point of the organization, yet at the same time I see beautiful events planned from beginning to end.

The most interesting aspect for me so far is the approval of the liquor licensing within the restaurant and pub. There was a litigation going on for about a year up until the approval of
Masonic’s licensing this spring. This taught me a lot about the legal side of owning and
operating a business that involves alcohol. Along with that, I have implemented spreadsheets that compare business sales before the liquor license to now. The objectives I am learning day by day will carry on with me to life after college.

My advice to future students seeking an internship is finding something you love to do. This is a huge step in figuring out what you want your career to be. Through my internship, I built great references and friends at the same time.

Penn State is truly one of the best universities to attend. Adding a good work background and quality internship, you will set yourself up for a positive future.

Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone!

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This week’s guest blogger is Dr. Albert Lozano, Director of Academic Affairs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.  Before becoming DAA, Dr. Lozano was an engineering faculty member at Penn State Wilkes-Barre for fifteen years.  A native of Barcelona, Spain, who first moved to the United States in 1996, he has personal insights on stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

As you are getting ready to consider an internship, I would like to challenge all of you to step out of your comfort zone when selecting or applying to that dreaded internship you are required to take.  I challenge you to voluntarily put yourself in a place in which you are not totally
comfortable.  I am not talking about doing something that is contrary to your values; I am
talking about going beyond your normal environment to face new challenges.

You are probably asking, “Why would I want to do this? Why would I want to choose an internship that gets me nervous and stressed?”

Maybe you are considering doing an internship at a department you’re familiar with on our campus; it is nice to work in a known environment, with people you already know.   Maybe you are considering an internship at different department in the company in which you already work part-time or with a family member; it is less scary if you already know somebody there. These are not bad ideas, but once again, my challenge is to step out of your comfort zone and do something new and different.

Your comfort zone; buildings, people, or job responsibilities is a place with little room for
surprises. Your comfort zone is a place in which you feel safe in predicting what will happen next.   In choosing an internship, overcome your fears and do something new; something that scares you.

Choose that internship in which you have to talk in public every week. Apply to that internship that you were told would be a very steep learning curve.

You will not fully believe in yourself until you have overcome your fears.  You will not know what your fears totally are until you put them to the test.  It may be scary, you may be frightened, but once you conquer your fears you will feel extremely satisfied. More importantly, stepping out of your comfort zone will be a test of your real strengths as a professional and a human being.  You may be surprised about what you discover about yourself.  This is what allows all of us to grow up and to grow confidence in ourselves.  And this is exactly what you should be looking to do during an internship experience.

Will you accept my challenge?   Believe me when I say, it will be worth it.

You Don’t Want To Skip An Important Step

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This week’s new post category, former intern tales, comes to us from Tim Graham
(Information Sciences & Technology – Class of 2013) who is a former intern on campus in the Information Technology Services department.

What if you knew of a surefire way to gain an edge over your peers in today’s competitive job market?  You would do it, right?  Well, an internship can give you that competitive edge.  Where else can you gain on-the-job experience and learn more about the field you are planning to
enter, all before graduating?  Just to give you an idea of how helpful an internship can be, I will tell you a little bit about my internship experience.

It may not be easy to find an internship, and you want to make sure you find the right
internship for what you want to do.  Sometimes an internship opportunity can be right in front of you, and other times it might be half-way across the country.  However, I would never let
distance discourage you from following what you want to do.  Before I took my internship, I
considered many different companies, some of which were located all the way in the Midwest.  One day while talking with my advisor, I was told about a great opportunity for a local internship that I could not pass up.  My internship ended up being right here at Penn State Wilkes-Barre in the Information Technology Services department.

During my time as Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s ITS intern, I learned many valuable skills that I will be able to take with me to any job.  From the leadership skills that Caroline Chronowski
exhibited as the Director of ITS to the important lessons taught to me about computer
networking by Jeff Chiampi, my internship was a great learning experience.  With the detailed on-the-job training with hardware and audio-visual equipment I received from Adam Sutliff, I was able to expand on many lessons I had learned in my previous Information Sciences and Technology (IST) courses.  Susan Hales was of immense help when it came to expanding my knowledge of database and website design that I had received from many of my IST courses.  The entire ITS team at Penn State Wilkes-Barre was instrumental in making my internship a priceless learning experience that expanded upon almost every aspect of my IST coursework.

When all is said and done, an internship can be the deciding factor between you and your
competition when it comes to landing a job.  Why not give yourself every advantage?  If your
degree requires an internship, don’t pick an easy one just to put a check in the box; pick a
challenging one.  Choose an internship that will help you build on the foundation of knowledge that you gained from your coursework.  Sometimes your internship can even turn into an offer of employment.

Remember, if all this internship stuff seems too daunting, there are many sources of help
available here at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.  Just make an appointment with Jill Laing in Career Services or your advisor and I am sure they would be happy to help.  College isn’t the end of your learning experience; it is just the first step.  Think of an internship as that second step in lifelong learning.  So, when you are mulling over the idea of an internship, just ask yourself: I don’t want to skip an important step, do I?

Your Time To Shine

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This week’s intern insight comes to us from Cory Blowers (Administration of Justice – Class of 2013) who is currently completing an internship at a municipal police department.

Without a doubt, an internship is perhaps the most unique experience you will encounter
during your Penn State career. Not only can internships be very rewarding and exciting, but they can also provide you with valuable insight and hands-on training in the career field you wish to explore beyond graduation.

Cory At Police CampWhen I began my internship at a municipal police
department, I had little idea what I was getting
myself into. What I did know, however, was that working in law enforcement had been my childhood dream. Needless to say, I was beyond excited. For the very first time in my life, I was going to be able to work side-by-side with police officers as they responded to calls, made arrests, conducted traffic stops, and completed police reports. More
importantly, my internship would be a great way to find out if police work was right for me. Although my role as an
intern meant that my involvement would be strictly limited to “observing”, I was still afforded the opportunity to
experience the thrill of the job first-hand.

Admittedly, the first few weeks of my internship were rough. As with any new work
environment, there will always be a period of adjustment; that unspecified amount of time it takes you to transform from an unknown outsider to a trusted insider in your co-worker’s eyes. During my transformation, I found myself getting discouraged with my internship, as I thought I might never be seen as an equal by the other officers. Gradually over time, however, this changed, and I found that the more time I spent with the officers, the more respect we built for each other. If you become discouraged early during your internship, be patient and give it time. Your new co-workers will likely see you (and treat you) as an outsider initially until they learn more about you. Being open, honest, and friendly, as well as asking pertinent questions and showing genuine interest in the job will go a long way here, making your internship experience pay off immensely!

Wherever you choose to intern, take it from me: An internship requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Up until this point in my college career, I’ve never experienced this much
responsibility from a school-related study. From contacting potential field sites and interviewing, to completing assigned course work and meeting deadlines, your ability to conduct yourself as a professional will certainly be put to the test. Most importantly, you should always treat your internship as if it were a real job. Although your internship will likely be unpaid, your agency’s supervisors will expect you to perform as an employee; you will be responsible for showing up for your internship on time, effectively completing tasks, and actively contributing to the agency’s overall mission.

Don’t be scared though…this is your time to shine! Internships are designed to make you jump feet first into your career field for a reason: to prepare you for life after college. And while your school advisors and field site supervisors will be there to guide you along the way, the
responsibility rests with you to make the most out of your internship. Besides, who knows – you might just end up employed by your agency after you graduate! Best of luck!

Big Window Of Inspiration & Ideas

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This week’s intern insight comes to us from Jordan Levandowski (Business – Class of 2013) who is currently completing an internship on campus with the Marketing Communications office. Jordan’s personal internship blog can be found at: Let Me Introduce Myself, Jordan The Intern.

Hey everyone, my name is Jordan Levandowski and I am a Marketing Communications intern at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. This internship is not only a lot of fun but the environment that I work in is inspiring and motivating. I have heard stories and had conversations with friends who have or had an internship, and some of their experiences are not very inspiring, and do not sound very interesting at all. For example, they said that they got there everyday at the same time, were stuck in a building without windows, and sat at a computer all day. Not only does that sound like zero fun at all, but to me an internship is the foundation to your success in life.

MarCom WindowAt my internship, I do all my work in my internship supervisor Rachel’s office; which is full of knowledge, experience, and a great big  window that when you look outside, you see half of the campus and students going to their classes. Having this scenery for one is beautiful, but it’s also what helps me discover inspiration for the assignments that I am working on. Getting away from my laptop and looking out the window at the magnificent view tends to clear my mind and I am able to come up with new ideas. There is also music playing every day, all day. This is very important in my opinion because it helps ideas come to your head – it allows you to become more creative instead of the room being silent and boring. The atmosphere that you work in can determine the type of work that you do and how you perform – that I strongly believe in.

 My advisor Rachel is a lot of fun to work with and is the kind of boss that everyone would want to work for. She is the kind of person who is understanding, expects work to get done and done well, but wants you to have fun while doing it, and she is always there for questions or whenever I have a problem. Rachel always has a positive attitude and from being around her, it shows that she enjoys her job and what she does. I enjoy doing my internship for her, and I know previous interns have said the same thing.

Although I have only been at my internship for a few weeks so far, I have completed quite a few assignments. I am currently working on a personal blog of that will be open to everyone to view and will cover numerous topics including my internship and life itself. I wrote an article for the local newspapers on March College Matters on campus community service, which was very interesting to research and was also my first article written for a newspaper. Ongoing is my work on the March social media calendar for Facebook and Twitter. I also wrote media releases for a Film Series and Great Books that Penn State Wilkes-Barre is holding. Additionally I’ve attended events around campus and taken PR pictures.

Overall, I really enjoy my internship at Penn State Wilkes-Barre as a Marketing Communications intern. As mentioned above, I have only been here for a few weeks and have already learned a lot from Rachel and enjoy just being here and experiencing it. For anyone who does not have an internship, plans on having one in the future and is in the business major, I would highly suggest applying for this internship; you will have such a great experience.

Summer Internships: Your Time To Shine

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This week’s guest blog is courtesy of Dr. Jonathan U. Dougherty, Director – Corporate
Knowledge Center for James G. Davis Construction Corporation, Rockville, MD.  Dr. Dougherty, a Penn State alum, recently spoke on “Networking with Practitioners: Kickin’ Butt and Takin’ Business Cards”, as part of the campus Alumni Speakers Series. Additionally, Dr. Dougherty has been announced as the 2013 Penn State Wilkes-Barre Commencement Speaker. To start your own conversation with Dr. Dougherty about summer internships or networking, follow him on Twitter – @JUDougherty. 

As I sit to write this blog post, I really want to stress the importance of a summer internship.  There is a world of difference between a summer job at the local ice cream stand or mini golf course and a meaningful summer internship in your chosen field of study, unless of course your degree is in dairy science or turf grass management.

A summer internship experience is your time to shine in a business environment that sees dozens of applicants every day.  The only difference is you got the chance; you’re not an
applicant anymore; you’re the real deal; you were hired.  So, my best advice to all of those who get an internship is simple: Enjoy the Opportunity and Don’t Screw It Up!

Interns need to be consummate professionals.  Anyone who tells you that people don’t judge a book by a cover is flat out lying to you.  Should people judge others by their appearance?
Probably not, but the harsh reality is that they do.  If you are going to succeed in your internship (and your profession), you need to act the part, dress for the role, and have a winning attitude.  It seems simple, but in my years in academia and industry, I have seen interns fail because they lack these three simple characteristics.

Act the Part

  • use the knowledge you’ve learned in school and apply it
  • have the courage to ask questions and admit when you need help
  • be humble and appreciative

Dress for the Role

  • wear clothes and accessories that match your role
  • take note of how full-time employees dress and mimic them (they’ve been there a lot longer than you and understand the social norms of the business)

Have a Winning Attitude

  • be personable and respectful
  • smile
  • be an active listener
  • you can’t fake it – you’ve got to want it

A summer internship is like a 3 month long interview.  It is the best way for you to evaluate a company and for them in turn to evaluate you.  Take advantage of that opportunity!  Talk to your supervisors, upper management, and people outside your project team; find out what the company is really like; determine if this is a place you see yourself working for the long term.  Oh, and like I said before, Don’t Screw It Up, I mean it’s only the rest of your life you’re dealing with here.

Reconsidering The Ideal

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This week’s intern insight comes to us from Ceili Jones (Business – Class of 2013) who is
currently completing an internship at The Institute for Public Policy and Economic
Development.

I was always that girl.  You know the one who has a plan and knows exactly what she wants to be when she’s sixteen?  Yeah, that was me. When I came to Penn State; I knew exactly what my major was going to be, where I was going to intern over the summers, and what companies I would apply for when I graduated.

That all changed sophomore year when all of the “why don’t you choose something more
useful?” or “don’t make your hobby your job!” comments finally got to me.  I found I hated the subject I once loved, and had very limited options after graduation.  So, I changed my major… twice.  This was upsetting for someone like me who thought I had everything mapped out.  But, with the benefit of hindsight, I know it was a great learning experience.

I find I am going through a similar situation now.  When I finally decided I was going to major in Business Administration, I thought I found my ideal field in marketing research.  Now that I am halfway through my research internship at The Institute for Public Policy and Economic
Development, I am reconsidering my definition of “ideal.”  The work I am completing, while
informative, is quite drab and the environment is a stark difference to my previous jobs.

Even though I’m discovering where my passions don’t lie, I am learning things that will be
beneficial to me at any future position I may hold.  The research methodologies and standard formatting practices will help me in any field.  The companies I am working for and the projects I am working on, will be impressive to any prospective employer.

Most importantly, I am learning just how crucial communication is in the work place.  I know, its cliché, but it is true.  There is nothing more frustrating than having to rephrase a question five times to get the answer you want.  That frustration, though, allows me to refine my
communication skills, and superb communication skills are marketable in any profession.  I may have found that this is exactly what I don’t want to do, but I am learning, and that’s what really matters.

Five Things You Need To Know About Internships

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From time to time, we run across articles that peak our interest and we find worth sharing with our audience at large. This week’s post is just that. We like to call this the “Research, Exploration & Discovery” portion of our blog. Our hope is that these articles foster conversation between our readers.

Five Things You Need To Know About Internships
(Link Source: Forbes & Alexander Taub)

Ready For The Real World…For Now!

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This week’s intern insight comes to us from Dana Bunns (Political Science – Class of 2015) who is currently completing an internship on campus with the Career Services office.

Graduating college and entering the real world is a little terrifying but completely inevitable.

With the current unemployment rate at 9.7% nationally, it is a bit hard for me to convince myself that I won’t be joining the 15.3 million unemployed Americans after my run at Penn State is over.

However, through my internship at Career Services, I’ve realized that if I want a job enough, I can get one. My underestimation of the job listings and opportunities that Penn State gives us students has officially worn off. Obviously graduating and landing my dream job (of which I am still unsure) most likely will not happen. But after talking with Alumni Speaker, Michael Tracy, I feel a lot more confident as I enter the job market. (Which is developing a Hotel California
complex as older Americans continue to work over the societies set retirement age.) I am
beginning to be comfortable with the idea of exploring different careers. Exploring will be a
serious learning experience both professionally and personally, as I expect to find out a lot more about myself on these ventures. Each will definitely be necessary to figure out what
exactly my dream job is and where I am supposed to be.

My new found excitement is bubbling over as the Spring Career Fair trip is slowly creeping around the corner. With all of the employers that are attending, there is bound to be an
overwhelming feeling but summer jobs/internships are priority this year as I prepare for
University Park next semester.  I am very pleased with this new outlook I have for myself, and I’m actually beginning to feel ready for the real world… for now!

Embrace The Internship You Find

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This week’s intern insight comes to us from Lindsey Howell (Business – Class of 2013) who is currently completing an internship at the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce.

Hello! My name is Lindsey. I am a SENIOR!!! at Penn State Wilkes-Barre majoring in Business Management/Marketing. Currently, I have an internship at the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce where I am learning all about their marketing practices.

My job in the marketing department is to communicate the value of the Chamber of Commerce to both our chamber members and the public. I accomplish this through writing press releases about events, developing events (specifically ones that encourage networking between members), creating spectacular invitations, making the website look stupendous, and any other office work that needs to be done.

Hint: learning to do office work (phone calls, writing letters, using the copier, and yes even knowing how to work a typewriter) will come in handy for your future job…that is what I am hoping anyway.

Having an internship is probably the best thing you can do to prepare for the workplace. Taking classes is great because you get the theory of everything, but an internship gives you hands on experience and lets you implement everything that you have learned in your classes. You will be able to create the ideas that you dream about during your class period! Of course there are always things that will come up that you did not learn in school, but you get to learn them as you go, and you will become better because of them.

My best advice is to embrace the internship you find. Once you do that, you will discover what you truly enjoy about your field, and will learn to conquer anything you struggle with. This internship was not easy for me at first. I am not a very extroverted person, and my job entailed meeting people at gatherings as well as talking with people on the phone. My first instinct is to hide in a corner, but this internship has forced me to learn how to converse with others.

Whatever you do, don’t hold yourself back. That is what being a Penn Stater is all about!