Until I came to college, I never truly understood all the lessons my mom passed down to me. From sending hand-written thank you cards to treating everyone with respect, I’ve picked up some important life lessons that I’m now finding are especially important in the job search. I’d like to dedicate this post to my mom who has played a hugely important role in my personal and professional career development.
My mom’s advice to me often comes from her own experiences. Working in the workforce development field for over 30 years, she’s become an expert in all job-search related areas. Before I left for college, I’d hear parts of stories that I’d hear about ten times over again in the following months. Yet, these lessons have remained with me and continue to shape how I act. I can’t even remember how many times I was in situations at internship sites where I thought, “My mom was right! This is what I should do in this situation.” Here are some tips that I’ve found to be particularly helpful.
1) Communicate upwards.
While interning, your boss probably won’t know everything that you’re doing. Some of the tasks you do may be directly for her, while others may be for other people. Remember what you do! Busy bosses don’t always have time to keep track of what their interns are doing on a daily basis. Periodically, inform your boss of what you’ve been doing in the order of importance. This serves 2 purposes. Your boss has a written record of what you are spending your time doing and you simultaneously build your credibility within the organization.
2) Do lunch. Often.
Accept invitations to have lunch with others. Think of this as an investment into your future. Unless your work has an upcoming deadline requiring you to work through lunch, take the time to go to lunch with people you work with. You can learn more about the culture of the business, ask about any assignments that you might have questions on, and most importantly, create more dimensions to your personality. This is something I’ve found to be hard to do, as I know I tend to be “all business, all the time.” Going to lunch allows others to get to know you on a more personal level.
3) Treat everyone like you’d treat your own boss.
When you’re an intern, everyone is your boss. Really. This is extremely important. The receptionist you pass on your way to your cubicle every morning could be the deciding factor on whether or not you get to return the following summer. Asking if you can help file documents, make copies, or pick up lunch for staff members are ways you can make good impressions on people.
Having a mom working in employment and training has helped me make small changes that have big, lasting results. I hope you find these tips helpful!