Katrina's blog
Class of 2009, Communications Major, Graphic Design Minor, from Green Bay, WI

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.

Papers, papers, everywhere!

That’s how I feel sometimes when I come into the office and I’m working on several different projects at once. But when the paper piles start to take over my desk space, I know it’s time to take a deep breath and just sort everything out.

As an intern, knowing that one day I will be presenting my work at a job interview, I have learned the importance of keeping my projects and workspace organized. But it’s important to find a system that works for you. As for me, I have a dual electronic and paper filing system with folders for each project, a color-coded calendar for deadlines, and an over calendar for each semester.

I definitely think it is beneficial for interns to stay organized. You never know when you might need to find something…

I definitely think it is beneficial for interns to take advantage of working extra hours. This not only helps with continuity, but it makes the experience more realistic, as jobs in the real world will obviously be more than ten hours a week!

When I am assigned to a new project, I always want it to be the best work I can possibly do. I know that if it really is my best work, it means someone else will appreciate it. It means I did what I was supposed to do and I did it correctly. It usually means I get to see my work in a final, published form. And, most importantly, it means all my hard work has paid off.

So once I’ve done the work…what do I do with it?

Well, since I started working in the office, I have been keeping a portfolio of all the projects I have done so far, and how they look in their final, (usually) published form. From magazine stories, to newspaper clippings, to creating emergency telephone labels for each person in the office, I store all my finished work in a special place where I know it is safely waiting for me to one day use it for a job interview. Then, as my supervisors say, I can “pull it out and say, ‘Look; this is what I’ve done and this is how the finished product looks.’”

Throughout this internship experience and into the future, I will keep up with this portfolio habit. I have seen how valuable it is to keep a portfolio, and I definitely think it is an extra step that will one day benefit any intern. After all, if you’ve done the work, why not show it off?

One goal of an internship experience in the Office of Communications is to expose interns to a variety of tasks in different Communications-related professions. Since May 2007, I have been involved not only in standard office procedures, but also in the production of magazines, campus-wide e-mails, electronic newsletters and media relations projects. With such a varied background of both print and public relations experiences, I believe that this wide range of Communications-related projects has made me a more well-rounded candidate for a position in any Communications-related field.

No matter what profession your internship is in or where you are thinking about applying for an internship, I definitely think it is beneficial for interns to stay involved in a variety of office activities, no matter what they are. With the prospect of presenting a variety of experiences to future employers, who wouldn’t want to?