Katrina's blog
Class of 2010, Communications Major, Graphic Design Minor, from Green Bay, WI

So I walk into my shift at the office armed with an overwhelming list of things to do, each with a specific (and fast-approaching) deadline. I sit down at a computer, pull out my notes and begin to type. Just as I do this, one of my supervisors approaches me with a big smile and says, “I have a great opportunity for you!” After hearing what she has planned, I don’t hesitate to set my lengthy agenda aside to participate in the chance of a lifetime.

Well, maybe not the “chance of a lifetime,” but at least a rare opportunity to attend a stimulating lecture, meet some interesting people and learn a thing or two.

The point of this story is that I would NEVER have attended that lecture, met those people OR learned what I did that day if I had not been FLEXIBLE.

Being flexible is extremely important, especially to those in a Communications-related field. In this line of work, people can change their minds and deadlines can emerge at the drop of a hat. Thus, one must always PLAN to be flexible, even if it means veering off course for a few hours.

So go ahead, attend that lecture you’ve been wanting to hear, and introduce yourself to those people you’ve never met. You just may be surprised at what being flexible has to offer.

As a Communications major at St. Norbert College, I have spent the last four semesters studying, well, communication. During this time I have learned how communication occurs in everyday situations, as well as how the roles we play affect the outcomes of these situations.

Working in the Office of Communications, I am assuming the role of “intern.” This means I am sharing the office with my employers, in addition to my fellow interns. Because I am sharing this space with others, it is very important to consider how I interact with everyone, and how my actions will impact these people.

For example, being courteous of my own and other’s desk space will most likely have a positive impact on the other members of the office. A general rule is that, if someone has stacks of papers or notes near his or her work area, they should be kept there, and not moved. Moving these items may lead to confusion or misplacement that could be costly to a publication, especially if the notes were, say, from an interview, or meeting, and cannot be duplicated.

Noise is another issue. With up to five people working in the same enclosed space at any given time, each person’s noise can easily affect the work of others, especially when the noise is unavoidable. Examples of unavoidable noise are answering a phone call, or instructing visitors to other parts of the office. In both of these instances, important as they are, one must remember to be respectful of others who may be trying to get some work done.

However, space and noise are just two aspects of such a work environment. As an intern in the Office of Communications, it is my responsibility to do my best to control these elements, both for my own sake, and for the sake of my coworkers and employers. The best way to do this is to be courteous, because it is, undoubtedly, the polite thing to do.

Any internship experience comes with the feeling that one is part of something important and professional – an organization. As such, one should feel free to contribute his or her own ideas. After all, the worst that could happen is that they would be rejected, but at least they were put out there for employers to consider.

As an intern in the Office of Communications, I feel that I have always been encouraged to contribute new ideas, whether it is an idea for how to edit a particular magazine paragraph, or an idea for how to present a report to my supervisors. Usually my suggestions are welcomed, but sometimes they are not quite what my supervisors are looking for, and are thus turned down. However, I believe occasions like these have taught me to not be afraid of sharing my own thoughts and ideas. They have helped me become more confident in presenting myself as a hardworking student employee with great ideas to share.

In both an internship and a “real world” job, accuracy is key. Employers expect to RECEIVE information that is error-free. The public expects to READ information that is error-free. As an intern in an office that is mainly by the people, for the people, perfection is paramount in all the work that I do. There is absolutely no room for mistakes.

To prevent mistakes from popping up in any office publication, I set the spell checker aside and personally proofread it multiple times. Whether an article for the magazine, a feature of the e-newsletter, or a press release, I run through a mental checklist each time to make sure I have…

…spelled names correctly (“Lyn,” “Lynn” and “Lynne” are all different spellings of the same name).

…spelled city and state names correctly (especially tricky ones, like “Cheyenne, Wyoming”).

…matched the correct titles to the correct people (“Dr.” versus “professor”).

…punctuated sentences and names correctly (like where to put the periods in “Ph.D.” and when to use a semicolon to separate complex sentences).

…used the correct word for what it is I really want to say (“due” and “do” are both real words, but mean different things, so I need to pick the correct word based on what it is I want to say).

Remember, just because spell checkers come equipped in most typing programs does NOT mean they are one hundred percent reliable. After all, THEY are not the ones sitting in classrooms learning the many conventions of the English language!

I definitely think it is beneficial for interns to keep in touch with their employers. This includes in-office meetings when I check in with all supervisors on the days I work, and e-mails concerning projects, changes in work hours, and other issues in the office. E-mails are the best and easiest way to keep up with fellow workers, as well.