It's time to set the record straight about interns. I can't vouch for every intern. I can tell you in the eight years since I started my professional career I can count more outstanding interns then years of work experience on my resume.
If this were facebook I would @ tag each of them at this point in the post. It isn't and there is no need to perpetuate that facebook mania of "friending" everyone you have every heard mentioned.
The point I want to make is about the quality of work done by these young people, their tenacity and accountability, all in the name of tasting a profession of interest.
Two interns I worked with most recently created the event, Caution: Gingerbread Construction from scratch to raise money for On Belay.
Right now I am working with a women who is professionally accomplished and eager to pursue a career as a professional climbing guide. She is kicking butt and taking names to put on an ice climbing festival for over 200 people.
These women impacted their internships in profound ways at no direct cost to the organization's hosting them and in exchange they gained meaningful professional experience.
This is what internships are meant to be.
In the interest of "the feedback sandwich", I put the best stories first.
I have also been witness to interns who are brought into organizations with the promise of a quality educational experience, read internship and what they got was all together different.
Upon arrival the fresh intern is ask to perform all sorts of tasks which have nothing to do with their internships. The intern becomes the catch all for the crap other people don't have time or interest in doing. This is not an internship.
To illustrate my point I'll share a moment of my professional career that I am not proud, don't worry it ends well.
It was the summer of 2007, the week before I put on a Kayak Regatta for 35 donors to a small nonprofit. This Regatta was a-typical. Think traveling drummers, massage therapists, lobster bakes and island with no running water or electricity.
Logistically intense? Yeah you could say that.
I was at least a few Americano's into my day. My summer intern
(who later played violin at my wedding processional) and our organization's second summer intern popped their heads into my office to ask if they could help.
My brain was working overtime...donations logged, special dietary needs to report, where are those face paints...all swirling the moment the girls offered to help.
"Uhhhh. Ummm. Just take my dog for a walk ok!" And I shut my office door.
Click for unbearably cute dog photo
A few moments later there was a knock on my door, it was my intern.
"Can we talk?" she said.
I could tell from the look on her face I was out of line. She walked in and I asked her directly,
"OK, how bad was that? Honestly."
She smiled sweetly, paused.
"You know Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada...
"THAT BAD!" I exclaimed and started laughing, so did she.
"Yup." She said between giggles "And, just so you know Catherine is afraid of dogs."
I pulled $20 from my wallet, apologized for being a jerk and sent the girls to grab themselves a coffee and something sweet while I collected myself and thought of an appropriate way for them to support the event planning efforts.
I won't argue, there are unflattering, unappealing tasks in every job and they need to get done. My suggestion, lay that out ahead of time and tackle those tasks as a team.
Don't take interns for granted. Love them , appreciate them, treat them well.
To all the under appreciated interns out there, may the light within me honor the light with in you.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Attention Job Seekers.
No not me, I am still content running my business here in New Hampshire.
This is the second time in six months I've worked with an organization as part of a hiring team. In the summer of 2010 I managed the hiring of a part-time program staff person for a small nonprofit. Right now I am in the middle of the search process for an Executive Director, again for a small nonprofit.
When applications arrived this summer for a part-time program coordinator, my expectations were rooted by entry level nature of the position. I was pleasantly surprised by the caliber of the candidates and simultaneously shocked at the number of applications which were assembled carelessly. I wrote off the amazement reminding myself, you are hiring for an entry level position. I won't leave you wondering, we hired an extraordinary young women who has mastered her job and then some in less then six months.
I am back to the hiring game. This time the stakes are higher. I am on a team working to fill the shoes of women who started her work with this institution doing part-time administrative duties and today she is now a power house fundraiser, manager and leader.
This hire is a year in the making. The group brainstormed, planned, convened ad hoc committees and in December the posting went out. Credit where it is due, we received many strong applications. In addition we received others that stopped me in my tracks, several applications arrived screaming for a reminder about simple measures which can make or break an application.
I am not a career coach or a veteran HR professional.
I have a background in visual arts drilled into my brain, an obsession with detail and the ability to find value and intrigue in a-typical candidates, so long as they present themselves well.
Here are a handful of tips I wrote down while reflecting on these two hiring processes, share them, use them personally or to help evaluate your next hire.
1) Don't try to be cute
I love the color pink, dresses and small bossy dogs. I am completely turned off by applications: on colored paper, which included clip art graphics, catchy slogans or cheesy fonts. Even if you are working with small children or animals a hiring committee expects professional applicants, be one.
2) Formatting Nightmares: Don't be one
Imagine twenty plus applications (resumes, cover letters, letters of reference) sitting in your inbox. Now imagine opening the documents to find these documents are a formatting disaster. Regardless of the content these candidates start out at a deficit or don't start the process at all.
What can you do?
Save as a PDF! It's simple and will ensure what you see on the screen is what the hiring team sees.
Use bold, underline or italicized text for emphasis when appropriate and if you use it be consistent.
(Ex: Bold one company you worked for....bold them all)
Only send what your asked for and offer access to further information if requested. A pile of attachments takes time to print and organize, if you weren't asked to provide them you are likely adding more work and frustrating someone.
3) Proof Read
No one is perfect. Second only to my mother, I am pretty sure I am the world's worst speller so I am especially attentive in grant writing, applications and professional writing to triple check for errors. Cook dinner for a trusted friend, babysit for a professor, bake cookies for a co-worker....bottom line make sure your eyes are not the only eyes to fall on these documents.
4) Right Resume, Right Time
This one may cause you to sigh deeply and stop reading...I'm not sure who perpetuated the idea that one resume works for every job but it doesn't in my world. Consider carefully the wording of the job you are applying to, highlight the skills you have that match that job specifically. Edit your resume so it presents the education and experience that will serve you well in the position for which you are applying.
5) Your time and mine
If you are applying for jobs that doesn't just mean sending out applications and going back to business as usual. After your applications go out, be attentive to your email and voice mail messages. If you know you will be away or unavailable, be proactive and include a note in your application with the details on when you will return or how to contact you while you are away. Return calls or emails within 24 hours, great general rule of business and critical in a hiring process.
6) First rule of sales: Know the product
Applying for a new job is about sales. You are selling yourself to a future employers with the promise of being a future sales person for their company or organization. You will find lots of information out there about how to present yourself and significantly less about the impotence of knowing the company or organization you would like to work for.
Do your research - check their website, look at staff profiles, check their social media sites for photos, comments and any other information that can provide insight into the culture, values and vision of the company.
7) Voice on the machine
Like many people many I only have one phone, a cell phone and I hold great disdain for cutesy voicemails messages. I outgrew my taste for entertaining voice mails in highs school. This isn't a judgment just fact, I spent untold hours of my youth recording creative, musical messages on my home answering machine. Be sure your contact information and associated replies are professional.
I'll sign off with a lucky seven. Happy hiring, good luck applying and feel free to add your own best practices in the comments section of this blog.
This is the second time in six months I've worked with an organization as part of a hiring team. In the summer of 2010 I managed the hiring of a part-time program staff person for a small nonprofit. Right now I am in the middle of the search process for an Executive Director, again for a small nonprofit.
When applications arrived this summer for a part-time program coordinator, my expectations were rooted by entry level nature of the position. I was pleasantly surprised by the caliber of the candidates and simultaneously shocked at the number of applications which were assembled carelessly. I wrote off the amazement reminding myself, you are hiring for an entry level position. I won't leave you wondering, we hired an extraordinary young women who has mastered her job and then some in less then six months.
I am back to the hiring game. This time the stakes are higher. I am on a team working to fill the shoes of women who started her work with this institution doing part-time administrative duties and today she is now a power house fundraiser, manager and leader.
This hire is a year in the making. The group brainstormed, planned, convened ad hoc committees and in December the posting went out. Credit where it is due, we received many strong applications. In addition we received others that stopped me in my tracks, several applications arrived screaming for a reminder about simple measures which can make or break an application.
I am not a career coach or a veteran HR professional.
I have a background in visual arts drilled into my brain, an obsession with detail and the ability to find value and intrigue in a-typical candidates, so long as they present themselves well.
Here are a handful of tips I wrote down while reflecting on these two hiring processes, share them, use them personally or to help evaluate your next hire.
1) Don't try to be cute
I love the color pink, dresses and small bossy dogs. I am completely turned off by applications: on colored paper, which included clip art graphics, catchy slogans or cheesy fonts. Even if you are working with small children or animals a hiring committee expects professional applicants, be one.
2) Formatting Nightmares: Don't be one
Imagine twenty plus applications (resumes, cover letters, letters of reference) sitting in your inbox. Now imagine opening the documents to find these documents are a formatting disaster. Regardless of the content these candidates start out at a deficit or don't start the process at all.
What can you do?
Save as a PDF! It's simple and will ensure what you see on the screen is what the hiring team sees.
Use bold, underline or italicized text for emphasis when appropriate and if you use it be consistent.
(Ex: Bold one company you worked for....bold them all)
Only send what your asked for and offer access to further information if requested. A pile of attachments takes time to print and organize, if you weren't asked to provide them you are likely adding more work and frustrating someone.
3) Proof Read
No one is perfect. Second only to my mother, I am pretty sure I am the world's worst speller so I am especially attentive in grant writing, applications and professional writing to triple check for errors. Cook dinner for a trusted friend, babysit for a professor, bake cookies for a co-worker....bottom line make sure your eyes are not the only eyes to fall on these documents.
4) Right Resume, Right Time
This one may cause you to sigh deeply and stop reading...I'm not sure who perpetuated the idea that one resume works for every job but it doesn't in my world. Consider carefully the wording of the job you are applying to, highlight the skills you have that match that job specifically. Edit your resume so it presents the education and experience that will serve you well in the position for which you are applying.
5) Your time and mine
If you are applying for jobs that doesn't just mean sending out applications and going back to business as usual. After your applications go out, be attentive to your email and voice mail messages. If you know you will be away or unavailable, be proactive and include a note in your application with the details on when you will return or how to contact you while you are away. Return calls or emails within 24 hours, great general rule of business and critical in a hiring process.
6) First rule of sales: Know the product
Applying for a new job is about sales. You are selling yourself to a future employers with the promise of being a future sales person for their company or organization. You will find lots of information out there about how to present yourself and significantly less about the impotence of knowing the company or organization you would like to work for.
Do your research - check their website, look at staff profiles, check their social media sites for photos, comments and any other information that can provide insight into the culture, values and vision of the company.
7) Voice on the machine
Like many people many I only have one phone, a cell phone and I hold great disdain for cutesy voicemails messages. I outgrew my taste for entertaining voice mails in highs school. This isn't a judgment just fact, I spent untold hours of my youth recording creative, musical messages on my home answering machine. Be sure your contact information and associated replies are professional.
I'll sign off with a lucky seven. Happy hiring, good luck applying and feel free to add your own best practices in the comments section of this blog.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The true cost of "picking your brian"?
I am fortunate to love what I do for work. When I began working with nonprofits the lines of work and pleasure melded into a beautiful gray. I was in my early twenties and boundaries were by my definition, always fluid.
Sometime in my late twenties I woke to realize that you can love your work and still be paid well for what you do. This realization launched a somewhat painful process of training myself to define boundaries and recognized a phase my husband coined when I was giving to much away " You are not a nonprofit!".
After all of that learning I still find I contend with the challenge of giving away my work some what regularly. Let me set the scene for you...
I arrive a birthday for my friend's three year old son, say my hellos and begin making small talk with another guest I've never met before. We exchange typical pleasantries and then we get to work. I share the story of starting my consultanting business and watch the eyes across from me light up. I barely eek much more then consulting, fundraising and nonprofits before my new friend is on an exuberant tear about the capital campaign the community center is looking to embark on and how much they could benefit from someone with my skills and really don't have the funds to hire the support.
The next ten minutes are a bit of blur - founder challenges, budget issues and then we get to the
punch line...
"You know, we should get coffee. I'd love to pick your brain about some of these details, do you have a card on you?"
And suddenly years of training, boundary setting and relearning is challenged in a single moment of brunch and birthday cake.
Sometime in my late twenties I woke to realize that you can love your work and still be paid well for what you do. This realization launched a somewhat painful process of training myself to define boundaries and recognized a phase my husband coined when I was giving to much away " You are not a nonprofit!".
After all of that learning I still find I contend with the challenge of giving away my work some what regularly. Let me set the scene for you...
I arrive a birthday for my friend's three year old son, say my hellos and begin making small talk with another guest I've never met before. We exchange typical pleasantries and then we get to work. I share the story of starting my consultanting business and watch the eyes across from me light up. I barely eek much more then consulting, fundraising and nonprofits before my new friend is on an exuberant tear about the capital campaign the community center is looking to embark on and how much they could benefit from someone with my skills and really don't have the funds to hire the support.
The next ten minutes are a bit of blur - founder challenges, budget issues and then we get to the
punch line...
"You know, we should get coffee. I'd love to pick your brain about some of these details, do you have a card on you?"
And suddenly years of training, boundary setting and relearning is challenged in a single moment of brunch and birthday cake.
After investing hours, I developed specific approach to handle these situations.
When asked about “picking my brain” I typically stop people mid sentence and tell them about a group of my colleagues (who are fabulous) who get together once a month or so to share ideas. Everyone comes to the event with something to share on the topic of that meeting (new idea, tool they want to learn, issue they are wrestling with etc). Each of the participants shares and is present to listen and give feedback.
Those who are in it for the wrong reasons have lots of excuses for why they can’t possibly make that work …that’s my cue to encourage them to be in touch when they have time and start their research on a few great websites for nonprofits.
People who are genuine and committed get excited about the idea and are willing to invest their time to help others and themselves. Even if they can’t make the group event I will take time with them because they passed my investment test.
How much time do you budget for "brainstorming"? How do you decide which projects are worth your time at no cost?Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Being Epic
The planning for Epicman is underway, this will be the third year my friend's Will and Seth have embarked on an adventure most people find unfathomable. Shortly after watching a video clip from their newest "EpicFriend" Flip I got a holiday email detailing the 2010 adventures of another friend of mine.
Confession, I hate holiday letters written in the third person which detail accounts of people's lives you would know about if you spend time with them and you don't need to know about if you don't...
But I read on. I smiled through my cynicism after reading detailed accounts of all of the islands they paddled their kayaks to this summer and their plan for 2011. Why?
I gave up the Grinch after realizing the true value in Epicman. The brand "Epicman" is not about the jaw-dropping feat slated for 4/19/11 and it isn't about paddling to and island, it is about finding something that asked you to challenge yourself to be better then you thought you could be.
Maybe that crux is riding waves in the winter; climbing technical rock faces; 24 hours of sun salutations; an ultra-run.... or maybe that crux is finding the courage to get on your bike after an injury; trusting adaptive skis when you can't walk or just following that feeling you get when know you are about to do something extraordinary.
Whatever it is for you - go find it. Live it. Be Epic.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Travel induced food hoarding.
My alarm is set for eight hours from now. Our journey to Lima will happen in two flights. There are climbing plans to finalize, gear to double check, away messages to activate and my biggest concern is food.
Once upon a time airlines fed you while you traveled in their care. I learned from a savy childhood friend, on a surf trip to Mexico, if you tell them you are vegan you get great food. Turns out she was right; yogurt and granola, real cheese and crackers, cereal with soy milk...seriously!
Some years later my husband and I left Boston on separate flights to San Fransisco, to climb in Yosemite, I arrived first and headed straight for food. My flight left at the crack of dawn and it was sometime after three eastern time when we arrived, I had pretzels and ginger ale on the flight.
Apparently my meager in-flight offerings were luxurious, Erik arrived sweaty, eyes glazed, almost unable to speak, apparently he was offered only water on his seven plus hour Alaska Air flight.
I am convinced this experience changed me. I confess I have become a travel induced food hoarder.
The carry-on contents for tomorrow's departure include the following:
Spelt Bagels with tofu cream cheese (2)
Sweet and salty granola bards (4)
Individual hummus and cracker packs (4)
Organic fruit leathers (4)
Nectarines (3)
Baby Bella Cheeses (2)
Soy rice crisps (1 bag divided into two zip locks)
C Boost Smoothie 16 oz (1 for pre flight chugging)
Emergen-C packets (10)
Salted almonds (1/2 pound)
I can get through long layovers, delayed or canceled flights, crying children, obnoxious seat mates with the right sustenance. If you run your travel days on plastic cups of diet soda and mini bags of pretzels, try this once but caution it is habit forming.
Once upon a time airlines fed you while you traveled in their care. I learned from a savy childhood friend, on a surf trip to Mexico, if you tell them you are vegan you get great food. Turns out she was right; yogurt and granola, real cheese and crackers, cereal with soy milk...seriously!
Some years later my husband and I left Boston on separate flights to San Fransisco, to climb in Yosemite, I arrived first and headed straight for food. My flight left at the crack of dawn and it was sometime after three eastern time when we arrived, I had pretzels and ginger ale on the flight.
Apparently my meager in-flight offerings were luxurious, Erik arrived sweaty, eyes glazed, almost unable to speak, apparently he was offered only water on his seven plus hour Alaska Air flight.
I am convinced this experience changed me. I confess I have become a travel induced food hoarder.
The carry-on contents for tomorrow's departure include the following:
Spelt Bagels with tofu cream cheese (2)
Sweet and salty granola bards (4)
Individual hummus and cracker packs (4)
Organic fruit leathers (4)
Nectarines (3)
Baby Bella Cheeses (2)
Soy rice crisps (1 bag divided into two zip locks)
C Boost Smoothie 16 oz (1 for pre flight chugging)
Emergen-C packets (10)
Salted almonds (1/2 pound)
I can get through long layovers, delayed or canceled flights, crying children, obnoxious seat mates with the right sustenance. If you run your travel days on plastic cups of diet soda and mini bags of pretzels, try this once but caution it is habit forming.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Happy Birthday to Me
28 years old! I've spent the weekend doing all the things I love with a menagerie of friends who I am inspired by, in awe of and grateful for everyday.
This is my first blog posting in over three months...sounds like confessional right?
I feel a bit like that this morning. Honestly, I have felt like that on many birthday morning. I look at birthdays as the ultimate time for reflection and opportunity to launch an exploration of what is possible.
In my early twenties I made a habit of writing myself a letter the evening before my birthday and saving it to open on the next birthday. The letters often talked about the place I was at the time I wrote them, where I hoped to be and what commitments I would make to myself over the coming year. There was something about sealing the envelope and tucking into a file box along side my birth certificate and passport that gave it tremendous weight.
I don't recall why or when exactly I stopped writing myself birthday letters but I did. This morning I woke up compelled to return to the process. So before I jump on my bike for an endless birthday ride in the sun I am going to write myself a letter, sign it, seal it and tuck it away until next year.
This is my first blog posting in over three months...sounds like confessional right?
I feel a bit like that this morning. Honestly, I have felt like that on many birthday morning. I look at birthdays as the ultimate time for reflection and opportunity to launch an exploration of what is possible.
In my early twenties I made a habit of writing myself a letter the evening before my birthday and saving it to open on the next birthday. The letters often talked about the place I was at the time I wrote them, where I hoped to be and what commitments I would make to myself over the coming year. There was something about sealing the envelope and tucking into a file box along side my birth certificate and passport that gave it tremendous weight.
I don't recall why or when exactly I stopped writing myself birthday letters but I did. This morning I woke up compelled to return to the process. So before I jump on my bike for an endless birthday ride in the sun I am going to write myself a letter, sign it, seal it and tuck it away until next year.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Call of Benefits and a Steady Paycheck
This morning I walked my dog along the sandy banks of the Saco River and sipped a cup of tea before heading to the office.
Sometime in the early afternoon I will leave the office for an hour or two to complete today’s portion of my twelve-week triathlon-training program. When I return to the office I may bring my laptop to the table on the porch and throw the ball for the beloved Boston Terrier as I work on logistics for an upcoming event I am coordinating.
I work for myself and regularly forget the decadence of a morning like the one I described. The details of that day get lost in the less appealing aspects of self-employment.
On the days when the balance is shifted in the other direction, I may drive 300 + miles, clock 14 hour day, sleep in bed that isn’t my own and answer emails from the front seat of my car. My head will fill with worries about getting it all done, paying my health insurance, growing the business too fast or not growing at all.
On those days the cry of a consistent paycheck, a benefits package and the hum of a typical schedule is deafening. Those are the days that have reduced me to a puddle of tears more then once.
I don’t think this struggle goes away when you work for yourself. There are always going to be well paying jobs with a benefits package and a regular schedule to raise the question of whether the good days are valuable enough to persist when the hours are long, the future is uncertain and you feel like you are working alone.
Recently I was riding my bike with friend and mentor**. As we made our way up a steep climb the voice in my head escaped for a moment, “Urgh, this hurts!”
He calmly looked at me and asked, “Uncomfortable or unbearable?”
I thought for a moment. “Uncomfortable.” I answered
“Good,” he replied firmly “keep peddling.”
**Thanks to PD who is 20 years my senior, has the cadence of a hummingbird, the legs to out-sprint me and wisdom that extends beyond the bicycle.
Sometime in the early afternoon I will leave the office for an hour or two to complete today’s portion of my twelve-week triathlon-training program. When I return to the office I may bring my laptop to the table on the porch and throw the ball for the beloved Boston Terrier as I work on logistics for an upcoming event I am coordinating.
I work for myself and regularly forget the decadence of a morning like the one I described. The details of that day get lost in the less appealing aspects of self-employment.
On the days when the balance is shifted in the other direction, I may drive 300 + miles, clock 14 hour day, sleep in bed that isn’t my own and answer emails from the front seat of my car. My head will fill with worries about getting it all done, paying my health insurance, growing the business too fast or not growing at all.
On those days the cry of a consistent paycheck, a benefits package and the hum of a typical schedule is deafening. Those are the days that have reduced me to a puddle of tears more then once.
I don’t think this struggle goes away when you work for yourself. There are always going to be well paying jobs with a benefits package and a regular schedule to raise the question of whether the good days are valuable enough to persist when the hours are long, the future is uncertain and you feel like you are working alone.
Recently I was riding my bike with friend and mentor**. As we made our way up a steep climb the voice in my head escaped for a moment, “Urgh, this hurts!”
He calmly looked at me and asked, “Uncomfortable or unbearable?”
I thought for a moment. “Uncomfortable.” I answered
“Good,” he replied firmly “keep peddling.”
**Thanks to PD who is 20 years my senior, has the cadence of a hummingbird, the legs to out-sprint me and wisdom that extends beyond the bicycle.
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