The Importance of Internships

By Stephanie Larson      

      When you think of an internship, what is the first thing that comes to mind? From my personal experience, it seems people are often apt to think of an internship as a way to get one’s foot in the door with a particular company and something to add to a resume. Although those are certainly benefits of participating in an internship, I really want to highlight the fact that internships offer many other advantages.

         My first internship was with Liberal Arts Career Development (LACD).  This internship helped me to meet new people, make wonderful connections, hone in on my editing and writing skills, and so much more! 

         Just in case you are not convinced to take up an internship, here is a list of benefits that internships offer. This list is from an article titled “Why are Internships so Important” that can be found here. The advantages are as follows:

•               The opportunity to "test drive" a career 


•               Chances to network

•               Establishing relationships with mentors

•               Possible college credit or certification

•               An introduction to the field's culture and etiquette 


•               Accumulating new skills

•               Gaining a "real world" perspective on an occupation

This list is anything but comprehensive. Can you think of any other benefits that were not listed?

CRI

Hillel Sapir

In the last two weeks John, my supervisor, and I have worked over 200 hours so that we could finish all our data analysis in time for our annual meeting with our CRI supervisor, Dr. Kathryn Bowen.  Completing all this data was one of the most enjoyable and stressful activities in which I have ever taken part.  It truly was amazing to see all the program staff and our hard work take form and become something which we could all proud.  Of course the work and time to create such a document was intensive.  Many of the control number and national statistics were not available in the forms we needed, and therefore we had to calculate all our baseline numbers from the census bureau.  Once we had entered all our data into databases and calculated all our own statistics and numbers, the creation of the presentation was quite simple, though time consuming.  It took a few days to take our data, transcribe the numbers into viable graphs and charts and then create a presentation.

On Monday the 25^th, the entire Indiana evaluation division and grant program staff attended our annual meeting at Columbus, IN.  This meet was to help disseminate and introduce each grant’s findings to the other respective Indiana grants.  It also allowed for our evaluation and program staff to meet with Dr. Bowen.  Following this six hour meeting, everyone drove back to Bloomington for dinner.

On Tuesday Dr. Bowen conducted individual evaluations for each CRI employee.  As I am currently an Intern, I introduced Jennifer Lockman, one of the Tennessee CRI members to the city of Bloomington.  Following these evaluation meetings, Dr. Bowen interviewed me for hire.  Having worked for CRI for the past 3 months, Dr. Bowen had seen much of my work, but an interview is still one of the most important aspects of hire.  During the interview I was asked questions concerning my educational background, my application of knowledge, my social abilities, future goals and aspirations, and time commitment.  With the help of letters of recommendation, Dr. Bowen offered me a full time position as a research assistant. 

A Balancing Act

 By Jayne Harris    

     With two jobs, two internships, and moving weekend on the horizon, I’ve been pulling my hair out in a frenzied attempt to cram everything into a much-too-short 24-hour day.  Far too many things to do, too many places to be, and too many people to make happy…but you’ve heard it all before.  Every college student is stretched to the limit and overwhelmed (and if you’re not, share your secrets), but it’s hard not to feel alone on your most stressful days.  With the first day of the semester less than a month away, we all need the tools to tackle stress and stay in touch with reality. 

     They always say hindsight is 20/20 – and truer words have never been spoken.  I wish I knew my first few semesters of college what I know now in terms of time management and organizing my schedule.  By including everything, even workouts, cleaning, and sometimes showers on my schedule, I found I can accomplish more in a day than I imagined was humanly possible.  On those days that you feel like the world and time is against you, it’s not only important to schedule meticulously, but also to remember yourself and the importance of your health and well-being. 

     On my worst days, I never let stress become an excuse to eat poorly or skip exercise.  Good nutrition is a key to feeling healthy under stress and the endorphins released during exercise are a much better pick-me-up than the caffeine in soda or coffee.  At the end of your day, take 30 minutes for yourself before bed to read (not a textbook!), paint your nails, or watch TV – whatever you want to do.  It’s important to take time for yourself in order to manage your stress and remember that you’re worth it.  Additionally, I plan to start turning ignoring every text and e-mail that my phone receives after 9:00pm.  By only taking phone calls, you’re ensuring the communication is necessary…no texts just to see what’s up or spam e-mails!  And when you feel completely overwhelmed, alone, and all of your friends are busy, remember that sometimes you are your own best friend – you know yourself better than anybody else does.  Trust yourself and remember: if you know you won’t be worried about it two weeks from today, try not to worry about it now and keep your sights on the finish line.

Week 7

By: Adam Brockman  In my final week of my internship I spent most of my time on patrol learning a lot.  We had a lot of stops most of which ended in an arrest because the people were driving while suspended or didn't even have a license at all.  We also went on a few domestic calls which didn't amount to much.  We also were on constant patrol for a man who ran a meth lab and is wanted on a warrant.  The guy was involved in a massive foot pursuit a few weeks back and got away so everyone wants to get him pretty bad.  There wasn't a whole lot of excitement this week and I will have much more to add in my final paper and an overview of everything that I did this summer.

Beat the Heat

By Stephanie Larson 

Unless you have found yourself a very cool rock to live under, you are probably aware of the fact that it is very hot out right now. It is so hot that when I stepped outside for class yesterday, my glasses actually fogged up. 

         I don’t know about you, but this heat is terribly detrimental to my productivity.  It just feels too hot to do anything but sleep or swim or, if you are like me and do not have ready access to a pool, stand under the sprinkler.

         As much fun as it is to use this heat as an excuse to lounge around, you really are wasting valuable time that could be put to better use. So, in light of the heat wave, I have put together a few ideas to help you beat the heat and still be productive.

1) Find some place cool. The public library is one of the first places that comes to mind. Most libraries have air conditioning, so you are provided with a cool place to sit and work for absolutely no cost to you. If you want to grab a treat while you work, why not try a coffee shop. Most coffee shops are air conditioned and provide guests with ample space to sit and work while enjoying their drinks. A quick Google search can help you find cool zones in your area.

2) Gather your materials. Now that you have found a place to cool off, gather papers or material you will need to work.  Most cool zones provide you with free access to the Internet, so don’t forget to bring your laptop.

3) Arrive at your cool zone and get to work! Could you ask for a better opportunity to work on your resume, conduct online job searches, or read career articles. Are you one of those people who somehow magically ends up on a social network the moment you turn on your computer? Why not use your cool down time to update your social networks so that they synch with your current career goals? If you are in a social network kind of mood, make sure to visit the LACD Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for some great career advice and job/internship postings. If you are looking to gain insight into career development, why not check out LACD’s career handbook? It can be found on the LACD website and is absolutely free to read.

Stay cool and don’t forget to drink plenty of water!

Open-iated

By Jayne Harris


I'm certain that I'm not the only person who's felt that sharp pang of humiliation after sharing an opinion or idea - only to be told that it's "stupid", "wouldn't work", or for it to be ignored completely.  Why would somebody ask for your opinion or idea if they're not open to it?  After thinking that perhaps my opinion was wrong and my ideas were ridiculous, I realized that an opinion simply cannot be wrong and while an idea may have flaws, it is still valuable.  I started to observe people in meeting and business settings, taking note of the traits exhibited by those who seemed to have a natural command of the room.  These people had a tendency to show the same traits and had similar habits in their verbal and non-verbal communication.  Determined that my opinions and ideas wouldn't be undermined again, I took note:

1)  Powerful people take up more space.  It's as simple as spreading your papers out on a table when you go into a meeting and not timidly confining yourself to a tiny 10x10 inch section.
2)  You don't need to qualify your opinions and ideas.  When you state them, do so confidently and concisely without saying "Well I think that maybe...", "I suppose it could I guess if..." or any other phrases that weaken your statement and distract from your words (this includes verbal fillers such as um and like).
3)  If it's a big meeting, consider standing up when you speak to command attention and ensure that all eyes (and more importantly ears) are on you.
4)  When you're not speaking, make sure you're taking notes or looking at the current speaker - it shows you're paying attention and being respectful, which will likely be reciprocated on your turn.
5)  Practice!  Even if you only have a two-minute window to share your ideas, you can make the most of your time by speaking concisely and not stumbling over your words.

Above all, don't be one of those people who belittle the opinions and ideas of others.  Being open to input can benefit your company/project and improve the outcome.  Open-iated, not opinionated!

CRI

Hillel Sapir

First of all I would like to apologize for not posting sooner.  My schedule has been incredibly hectic and busy, as one of my bosses is arriving Monday the 25th.  She will be in Bloomington analyzing the work cites and research being conducted by CRI for the entirety of next week.  Due to this my supervisor, John, and I have been frantically finalizing all our current data.  For example, John and I worked for 18 hours yesterday analyzing a plethora of data; everything from comparing our patient's physiological health marks to national statistical averages to regression plots so as to predict future outcomes and results.  Currently we are analyzing more then 15 different types of resources per patient, some of these resources, such as instances of services, if printed out, would be classified as small books. 

On Monday, John and I will be presenting our current baseline data and research to not only our boss, but to all the other grant programs within all of Centerstone. 

Don't Panic: Anxiety and Interviews

By Stephanie Larson 

      Do you remember your first interview? I know I sure do! I was 13 at the time, and although I was interviewing for an unpaid volunteer position, the idea of doing something I had never done before was absolutely terrifying.

         I did not experience much anxiety the week before the interview. In fact, I was not at all concerned. I was scheduled to interview shortly after school let out so my mind had the luxury of focusing on summer things. It was not until the day before the interview that the fear set in. I could not get any sleep that night, and when it was finally time for me to get up, I looked awful. And, to make matters worse, I skipped breakfast.

         During the drive to the interview, I fell asleep in the car. By the time we arrived, and my mother had managed to wake me up, my hair, only on one side, was a mess.

         Although I was a mess, I did manage to arrive 15 minutes early. Since I was early, I had to wait in another room until it was my turn. My stomach had started making these horrible grumbling noises, and in the quite of the waiting room, I felt like everyone must have heard it. As I sat there, with my roaring belly, I went over the interview in my head. I thought of all the things I was not prepared for and all the mistakes I could make. By the time my name was called I thought I was going to faint.

         By the time I got into the interview I do not think I could have felt worse. I sat down, and went through all of the formalities of the beginning process of an interview smoothly. I was still pretty nervous at that point. I was shaking so much, I hardly had to physically move my arm when shaking my interviewer’s hand.

         When the interview was over, and I stepped back into my mother’s car, I felt like a great weight had been lifted off of me. I was still tired, but I felt relieved. I had survived my first interview, and it was not as bad as I thought it would be. I wanted the volunteer position, I was able to articulate the reasons why I wanted the position, and I learned as much as I could about the volunteer opportunity to demonstrate that I knew what I was doing.

         In case you were wondering, I did get the volunteer position after all. I volunteered in that position for 4 years (until I graduated high school and came out to Purdue) and loved every minute of it!

         I learned a lot from my first interview, but I think the most valuable lesson had to do with anxiety. Getting yourself worked up is not healthy and will not benefit you in the long run. Take a deep breath, and remember you have made it this far. Get a good night’s sleep. Eat a good breakfast, and walk into the interview confident and prepared. The new Liberal Arts Career Handbook is a great resource to help you organize yourself and feel confident for your interview. The handbook is free, and has interview practice questions, and many other great career resources that can help you feel better prepared for your interview. 

         I have been on several interviews since my first. Some have been for jobs while the majority have been for volunteer opportunities. Although I have never felt completely calm, I have definitely learned to relax and manage my nerves to a reasonable level.

         For those of you who can relate to my experience, here is a good article about how to manage interview anxiety. The article lists different points to keep in mind when you start to feel nervous.

Background Check?!

By Jayne Harris

The thought of a current or future employer running a background check on you is incredibly daunting, even if like me, you've never even had a speeding ticket.  Screening applicants is becoming increasingly common, along with the review of social networking sites like facebook and Twitter.  I was under the misconception that a background check revealed your past residences and any criminal history, but if you read the small print, you're more than likely granting an employer the right to look at your credit reports, work history, and in some instances, medical records.  Your credit history and medical records can't actually hurt your chances of employment though, right?  Wrong - some employers will view poor credit as a reflection of irresponsible behavior (especially if the job involves access to the companies finances) and serious medical problems may lead an employer to not hire a candidate as it could increase their health insurance costs.  It seems invasive and excessive, but if you thoroughly know your background there will be no surprises and you can be prepared to talk honestly about your history.

Heather Huhman recommends "running a background check on yourself" to make sure your history is correct and that there aren't errors in your past employment.  She also stresses the importance of being honest on your resume, as a background check will reveal untruthful information.  While her article details background checks in the realm of employment, it's not unheard of for graduate (and select undergraduate) schools to screen their candidates.  Do they factor background checks into their final decisions?  Apparently only if there is history of a violent crime that could pose a threat to the safety of other students - it varies from school to school.  

They say if you don't know your past, you don't know your future - in this case, that seems incredibly true!  Have you had a background check from an employer or school?  Share your experience.

Week 6

By: Adam Brockman  This week was one of my busier weeks in my internship I had work 3 days an a shooting class the other 2.  I started the week off in K9 training which as I have talked about before is very interesting to say the least.  Those dogs are extremely intense and hard working.  Tuesday I worked as a bailiff at the court house which is also very interesting because I can sit and observe the other side of the law and see how people plead guilty or not.  On Wednesday and Thursday I had my Carbine shooting class.  A Carbine is any weapon on a .223 caliber platform.  We were using an M4 long rifle.  The instructor was one of the best instructors in the world, Pat Rogers.  He has been all over the world and taught some of the best shooters in the world. I learned a lot from this class over the 2 day period and learned a lot of practical application for how I can use this in my career choice.  At the end of the class we did qualification on our rifles and I finished as the top shooter in the class.  It was a good feeling to know that I had done that because this was the first formal training I have had on a Carbine.  I finished up my week in the Jail last night from 6p- 2a.  The jail is a little slow but it is very good learning experience for how to work with criminals.  It is the most dangerous place in the county because everyone there is a criminal. 

Think Before You Post

By Stephanie Larson 

    Last week I wrote a post about social networks. This post got me thinking about social network etiquette and the best ways to go about balancing your professional career with the fun that comes with social networking.

    According to an article by Miriam Salpeter, which can be found here, about 89% of employers conduct online searches on potential employees. This means that if you are not careful with your social media, every word and picture you post is out there for your potential employer to see.

In order to help others avoid the pitfalls of using social networks, I have compiled a list of the social tips that will help you avoid making mistakes that have the potential to negatively interfere with a potential career.

1) If you have not done this already, you should make your profile private. By making your profile private, those who are not Facebook friends with you are unable to see your posts or photos. Although one would think that the privacy setting gives you more freedom to post as you like, remember that you still ought to continue using proper etiquette. Although you may view your Facebook friends as just that, friends, there is no telling which Facebook friends may become valuable components of your career network in the future. Here is a link on how to make your profile private.

 2) Did you know that you can choose who amoung your friends gets to see your posts and pictures? Jayne, my fellow LACD intern showed me this nifty trick, and although it does require some work, it is very helpful for those who use Facebook for both career and social purposes. Your friends may want to hear that you are in a relationship with Susie, but I doubt those in your career network really care. Here is a link on how to do this. The answer is listed under the section “What are friend lists, and how do I create them?”.

3) Make sure you know your Facebook friends. Although your profile may be squeaky clean, the fact that you are friends with a guy who has a profile picture that features him smoking a bong may be a deterrent for an employer.

4) Before you post a public picture ask yourself whether you would feel comfortable showing these pictures to a well-respected adult or potential employer. I highly doubt you would walk into an interview and hand your potential employer pictures of you in your shortest shorts and lowest cut top, doing body shots at a bar. Why then would you publically post those pictures on the Internet for everyone to see?

5) Use the same logic from point four when you post an update. Would you write that same expletive riddled status update if you knew your professor or potential employer would read it? Probably not. If you feel the need to communicate something using expletives, you should probably just avoid the subject entirely.

5) Do not publically rant about a company, coworker, or employer. This is anything but professional and makes employers weary about hiring you.

6) Censor the information you post on your “About Me” section. Write relevant information that you would use to introduce yourself to others. Think of this page as a way of making a first impression. Would you go up to someone and tell him/her that your interests include getting drunk and smoking pot? Hopefully not! 

For more tips on social network etiquette, make sure to read the article “Social Media Etiquette for College Students”, which can be found here.

Week 5

By: Adam Brockman This week in my internship I have had many very experiences and some of which have been the hardest experiences in my life. Our county receive a call from Carrol county for assistance on a search and recovery of a victim in lake freeman. I was somewhat previously informed of the details of the case but did not realize the effect it would have on me. I got up at 5 a.m. Tuesday morning to head to lake Freeman to look for my lost teammate. We found him in the water and I was able to identify him for the sheriffs office. I wrapped up on that scene and went home where I tried to relax. After a few hours at home I got a call to come back in to work because another body had been found in the river. I arrived on scene to observe the investigation. I fisnshed my night at 3 am after a bomb squad call out.
This was one of the longest days of my life. After 23 hours of being up and very drained I headed home a bit rattled from a day like that but took solace in the fact that it only reinforced my certainty that I am going into the correct career field. I also witnessed my first autopsy and worked in detectives this week but those seem like minor things after I had experienced what Tuesday brought.

Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job?

By Jayne Harris

...when asked this during an interview this past week, I explained that I wasn't receiving enough hours for summer.  It's better than telling the truth (see #2 in the article linked below), but I could have prepared a stronger answer if I had been anticipating the question.  Questions that catch you off guard can 'make or break' your interview - from my experience as a hiring manager, I've compiled some of the worst interview answers ever given:

"Your application was rather vague, could you elaborate on your extracurricular involvement?"
I'm Bob Smith, I'm 20, I go to Purdue, I'm studying science, I like sports.
Yes, I know.  Your application told me ALL of these things.

"Why are you interested in this job?"
I just really need money right now, I'm trying to pay off an underage drinking ticket.
...TMI

"You interview was at 3:00.  Do you mind telling my why you're 10 minutes late?"
Yeah I thought it was at 3:30 so I'm early.
To be cliche, I wasn't born yesterday!   

Why would people give answers of this nature?  Perhaps they were caught off guard (or really need an appointment with LACD!), but these thoughtless answers cost them the job.  Granted, it's a part-time job, giving many people the feeling they don't need to act in an "adult" professional manner; however, your level of professionalism should always be high, regardless of whether you're interviewing at McDonald's or Microsoft.  Instead of telling me they need money to pay off a drinking ticket, candidate #2 could have said, "I would like to have a part-time job in college.  It would help with expenses and improve my time-management skills as a student and employee" - very candid and honest, yet professional. 

Read "What You Should Never Say in a Job Interview" by Alison Green.  You may think some of them are obvious, but it can only improve your interview performance.

CRI

Hillel Sapir

During the past week I spent the first few days completing the SAMSHA patient information.  Once I had completed documenting the final few patients, I began working on the analysis plan for the BE Well Program.  An analysis plan is a written document which specifically states how the data we collect will be used to answer our program evaluation questions.  The analysis plan details how each program question is to be answered using the clinical data.  My supervisor and I spent the majority of two days closely examining all the data and resources so that we could determine how they would apply to different program questions.  Once we determined the specific application of each data type, we then had to select a statistical analysis which would further answer the questions (simple descriptive statistics and frequencies, paired t-test, regressions, chi square, etc).

The last day of the week I spent my time meeting with program staff and other evaluation groups.  One aspect of work that many people over look is the human variable.  Almost any job can be made possible or impossible by the people with which one works.  If relationships within the work place are fluid and friendly, the office place can be a very enjoyable place, but if the relationships are not agreeable one may find many problems.  I began planning lunches with many other program staff members with whom I work for exactly these reasons.  Being in the social scene throughout my undergraduate program, I have come to realize that people are a lot more friendly when they realize that people recognize their contributions and that they are people outside of their job.  I spent a few hours making a completely homemade meal, which I brought to work this morning for our lunch.  During lunch we did not speak at all concerning our work, but instead simply enjoyed each others company, allowing the program staff and our evaluation group to recognize each other as individual people, not simply CRI or Centerstone workers.

How to Work Your Social Network

 By Stephanie Larson        

      This week Google launched its new social networking platform Google Plus (Google+). However, unless you were one of the lucky people to receive an invitation, you will have to wait with the rest of us for the public release of the network.

         Although Google+ is currently limited in its availability, it does not mean that your social networking options are numbered. Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and LinkedIn are just the beginning of a vast list of social networks available to Internet users.

         Although these social media platforms provide an excellent way to keep in touch with friends and family as well as share your personal life, social networks have also become an essential tool in today’s competitive job market.

         Did you know that Twitter can be used as a way to find job and internship listings or that Facebook can be a great way to network with potential employers? I know that before I started my internship with LACD I was completely unaware of the many ways social networks can be used to aid career development.

         I have put together a list of articles that discuss various social network platforms and how they can be used to help with career development. You can find articles here, here and here. If you have not already read it, then also make sure to add Jayne’s blog post “Get Your Foot ‘In the Door’” to your reading list as it provides you with a description of a very nifty social networking tool for Facebook. And, for those of you who want to be ahead of the social network crowd, here is a link that discusses the new Google+ network.

Happy reading!