I have been so distracted lately, and it has been very hard to focus. We have been hit hard by circumstances that have affected operations and it has been so easy to get derailed. Thank goodness for our new interns! As an example of how distracted I am, this semester I just gave the interns our strategic goals (one picked the consumer side and the other picked the corporate side) and I told them to determine the best ways to move forward. In the past, I gave much structure and direction, and often Jennifer and I were disappointed at the lack of creativity and innovation. The internships became this task oriented project - which is not what we believe that it should be about. Don't get me wrong: I would LOVE to hand off some of the tasks that drive me crazy (managing distribution lists, sending follow up messages, keeping resources up-to-date, etc.), but I have seen that when someone has a chance to implement their own ideas they either take on the challenge or try to hide as much as possible. My hope is that the interns will make it their goal to understand Verify-ED and Val-ID-ate, and get out there to interact with the public (physically and online) to truly learn the art of networking. This is a skill that is not taught in the classroom, yet it is THE secret to much success.
This semester will either be a roaring success or a blazing disaster. I am crossing my fingers for the success side!!
Showing posts with label interns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interns. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Reviews and Reflections
After a bit of a hiatus, I am back online. I wish I could say that I am refreshed, but I feel more run down than ever.
Let's think about our first jobs. I am not talking about working at a summer camp as a lifeguard or even Mickey D's - but your first real job where your input was required in order to make decisions. Do you remember if your first job was reactive or active? By that I mean: were you a decision-maker or did you wait until someone told you what to do?
In our environment, since there are so many balls in the air, we seek team members who do not need to be told what to do in detail. We seek people who have enthusiasm and the self-direction to convert that enthusiasm into results. Unfortunately, we don't have the money to further encourage this, but we have been lucky to find people who have seen the benefits of working with us to develop their problem solving and implementation skills.
Recently we received feedback that this total lack of hand-holding and "looking over the shoulder" was not appreciated, that we are boring. I couldn't help but chuckle because it is interesting how those who do not have the ability to take a project to the next level and look to others for "entertainment" would find anything that is not spoon-fed either "boring" or "too hard".
I struggle with this mentality with my 10-year old. We challenge our children to "think out of the box" and give the teachers more than the minimum requirements. THIS is how you excel - and this is how you grow. Waiting around for someone to tell you every "how" puts you in a position of subservience and dependence.
Regardless of the negativity, I am proud of our environment at Verify-ED. We let people make mistakes and we encourage everyone to go beyond the minimum. Unfortunately, most do not take the challenge. We are usually able to weed out the people who need lots of hand-holding during the interview process. It is amazing that just by asking an open-ended question that requires some research you can find out those who are seeking a position that requires and in and out box vs. those who want to show you that they have the ability to find solutions. We state a GOAL and then we basically leave it at that. We recognize that we are dependent upon the energies of others - and we have seen some great projects falter as a result. But, we have also seen great team members who have chosen to continue to contribute beyond their term of employment here - and THAT is all the reward for which any employer can hope!
To all our past and current team members - THANK YOU!!
Let's think about our first jobs. I am not talking about working at a summer camp as a lifeguard or even Mickey D's - but your first real job where your input was required in order to make decisions. Do you remember if your first job was reactive or active? By that I mean: were you a decision-maker or did you wait until someone told you what to do?
In our environment, since there are so many balls in the air, we seek team members who do not need to be told what to do in detail. We seek people who have enthusiasm and the self-direction to convert that enthusiasm into results. Unfortunately, we don't have the money to further encourage this, but we have been lucky to find people who have seen the benefits of working with us to develop their problem solving and implementation skills.
Recently we received feedback that this total lack of hand-holding and "looking over the shoulder" was not appreciated, that we are boring. I couldn't help but chuckle because it is interesting how those who do not have the ability to take a project to the next level and look to others for "entertainment" would find anything that is not spoon-fed either "boring" or "too hard".
I struggle with this mentality with my 10-year old. We challenge our children to "think out of the box" and give the teachers more than the minimum requirements. THIS is how you excel - and this is how you grow. Waiting around for someone to tell you every "how" puts you in a position of subservience and dependence.
Regardless of the negativity, I am proud of our environment at Verify-ED. We let people make mistakes and we encourage everyone to go beyond the minimum. Unfortunately, most do not take the challenge. We are usually able to weed out the people who need lots of hand-holding during the interview process. It is amazing that just by asking an open-ended question that requires some research you can find out those who are seeking a position that requires and in and out box vs. those who want to show you that they have the ability to find solutions. We state a GOAL and then we basically leave it at that. We recognize that we are dependent upon the energies of others - and we have seen some great projects falter as a result. But, we have also seen great team members who have chosen to continue to contribute beyond their term of employment here - and THAT is all the reward for which any employer can hope!
To all our past and current team members - THANK YOU!!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Our Karate Kid, Becky-san!
Our faithful intern Becky just got her first full-time, post-grad, PAYING job. It was a strenuous process, but she was very patient and the company that hired her seems stable in this crazy economy.
Interestingly, though, during her interview process Becky experienced just the thing that we are trying to help job seekers manage. They asked her for her social security number pre-job offer. So many job seekers are anxious, so no one is going to rock the boat by responding to such a request with, "why do you need it?", but they should! After working with us, Becky knew that she did not have to provide her SSN at such an early stage - but she was not prepared to say "no" - and I totally understand that. Key to our success is giving the consumer the tools that will help them confidently say, "at this point in the process I would rather not provide my social security number, but I can easily provide proof of whatever you need my SSN to research."
It also seems that Becky's internship work is what helped her clinch the job! Her hands-on management of our data and the research that she had to do provided her with the skills that the company needed - and she exuded confidence! Her quote: "So, even the smallest tasks can make the biggest impressions with a prospective employer. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"
I try to tell our interns that their tasks may seem menial, but the process of managing data is extremely important. I cannot seem to successfully convey the point that consistency is critical, but I keep trying.
Sometimes I feel like Mr. Miyagi with Daniel-son when I harangue: wax on, wax off; post to LinkedIn, post to Facebook. But my hope is that just like Becky they will look back and realize that the skills they are getting now will help them win that tournament!!....I mean, help them establish great careers ;-)
Interestingly, though, during her interview process Becky experienced just the thing that we are trying to help job seekers manage. They asked her for her social security number pre-job offer. So many job seekers are anxious, so no one is going to rock the boat by responding to such a request with, "why do you need it?", but they should! After working with us, Becky knew that she did not have to provide her SSN at such an early stage - but she was not prepared to say "no" - and I totally understand that. Key to our success is giving the consumer the tools that will help them confidently say, "at this point in the process I would rather not provide my social security number, but I can easily provide proof of whatever you need my SSN to research."
It also seems that Becky's internship work is what helped her clinch the job! Her hands-on management of our data and the research that she had to do provided her with the skills that the company needed - and she exuded confidence! Her quote: "So, even the smallest tasks can make the biggest impressions with a prospective employer. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"
I try to tell our interns that their tasks may seem menial, but the process of managing data is extremely important. I cannot seem to successfully convey the point that consistency is critical, but I keep trying.
Sometimes I feel like Mr. Miyagi with Daniel-son when I harangue: wax on, wax off; post to LinkedIn, post to Facebook. But my hope is that just like Becky they will look back and realize that the skills they are getting now will help them win that tournament!!....I mean, help them establish great careers ;-)
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