Sleepless in Seattle- Literally.

Normally, I like to talk about things in chronological order. I keep a list of everything I've done, and then blog about it, in chunks of weeks at a time. Tonight, that is not an option. All my notes are on some plane right now, heading toward Chicago. I'm not going there. I'm going to Denver. My bags will make it to Pittsburgh eventually I guess. They better. My brand new Magic Bullet is in there. So is all the rest of my personal belongings.

I have had the worst experience with United Airlines. Three weeks ago, I changed my flight from Tuesday the 27th to Friday the 23rd. It took a long time and $150, but I did it.

Then today, I went to do my e-check in, only to find that there was no sort of confirmation on my ticket. So I had another phone call, this one 40 minutes long, to solve the problem. Apparently the gentleman from 3 weeks ago never processed my credit card transaction, or updated the online itinerary.

So I got my two bags checked and my boarding pass printed. The plan is to go from Seattle to Chicago to Pittsburgh.

Then I get to SeaTac, and my flight is delayed an hour and a half. Just enough to miss my connecting flight to Pittsburgh by 15 minutes.

The first guy I talk to, he is really unhelpful. I almost feel like he's laughing at my misfortune. He informs me that I will have a confirmed seat on a flight leaving Chicago at 5 pm tomorrow. This means no getting to Pittsburgh until about 9 pm tomorrow night. This means a 7 hour trip is turning into a 24 hour affair.

I accepted this sad fate and sat down. I talked to a lady with an adorable Yorkie for about two hours. She is a retired school teacher, and specializes in kids with autism. I believe I was supposed to meet her tonight. I also have a passion for dogs and autism awareness. She has a house on the Oregon coast, and she is headed to St. Louis to visit her mother. She lives in Ohio these days. She was nice as could be. So talkative and positive. Glad to have met her.

I decided to give another, nicer seeming man a try. This guy was able to get me to Pittsburgh by 3 pm tomorrow. The only downside is I'm stuck at SeaTac until 530 AM. Then I will head to Denver, and on to Pittsburgh from there.

The second man was very helpful. He even gave me $150 to use toward a future United flight. I am very unsure of whether I will ever fly with them again. I probably won't TRY to, but if it happens to be convenient, I suppose it will come in handy.

I wish this could have gone more smoothly. All I have wanted for weeks and weeks is to be with my family, friends, and my man! I was looking forward to a fun Saturday with a big lunch with my family at my grandma's or something. But I guess we'll have to move it to dinner.

Three Awesome Days.

The week of June 21st was a fun and busy week for me! Monday, the 21st started out as a long day, jam-packed with activity.

I began the day with training on a new social marketing platform. The conference was a memorable experience- four of us, our four Macs, crammed into one office, using one desk, with an iPhone on speaker as the means of communication between us and the representative. Very cozy. During the training, we noticed a few things that the platform would NOT help us do. The cool thing is, though, that the developers of the program are so willing to please their customers, that they actually asked what we wanted their program to be able to do.... and told the programmers to work on it! Now THAT'S customer service. I wish I could just call up the companies I like and directly influence their product. Social Media is making it easier to do that kind of thing, but this was a really spectacular example.

After the meeting, my boss met with me briefly. He asked what my thoughts were on "continuing the internship after" I "leave Seattle." I felt my eyes open widely and my jaw drop a bit, and accepted that offer promptly. Of course, I am VERY interested in any way I can continue work related to my field. The time I've spent at Nology has made me a better writer- (Check out a writing sample here)- more concise and a bit more professional sounding. I certainly don't sound professional here- this is my personal blog, and I am a very down-to-earth, easy going gal. But I am excited to continue the internship even after I leave, as it will improve my writing skills- skills that can NEVER be perfected.

The rest of my day included Twitter engagement for an account I mainly manage, compiling a list of contacts using software that provides a database of journalists in uncountable publication, and started forming Twitter lists for a new client/project.

My day didn't quit being educational after work... No. I hopped in a car with two girls from work and headed to Issaquah to hear Chris Pirillo give a presentation on social media use for small businesses. Even though it was an introductory course and I already understood social media's value, it was wonderful to hear someone as knowledgeable as him talk about it! The event was hosted by SMC Seattle. Chris' main highlights included the fact that social media is used to grow and learn communities, and is a fantastic way to connect with potential customers.

Quotes I liked:

"The worst question is a question unasked."

"You WANT people to steal your stuff." (as in, your stuff is so good, it's going to go viral.)

-Chris Pirillo.

After this informational seminar, Cindy and the girls picked me up and we went to the Cheesecake Factory to celebrate the twins' 17th birthdays! I know its gluttonous... but I LOVE the Cheesecake Factory. Mmm.

Tuesday of this week (June 22nd) was one of the best days I've had out here, hands down.

We started the day off with our weekly staff meeting, which I always enjoy. It's nice to have everyone in the same room and get on the same page. On this day, one thing that was discussed that really interested me was the need to show our clients how "we pay for ourselves". The need to prove your worth in numbers, and therefore in dollars and cents, is extremely important, and Nology has risen to that challenge. Overall, I would say our clients seem extremely impressed and pleased with our reporting, and things are going well. But listening to everyone talk about how we could make ourselves stronger & even more credible was enlightening.

Later that day, I met with my boss, Leigh, to discuss my progress as an intern. I hadn't felt I was getting much feedback. I am treated more like an employee than an intern (which I like very much, but) sometimes I'm not sure if I'm on the right track and I need guidance. I was a bit nervous before my meeting, as I was not sure what to expect.

The meeting couldn't have gone better! Leigh's feedback was very positive, and we again discussed continued employment for when I return home. I was so flattered and felt relieved to know that the crew at Nology felt like I was a contributing member. When I asked Leigh how I could improve, he gave me two bits of advice that I would like to pass on to everybody, especially those wishing to get an internship or are just embarking on their first job:

1. NEVER stop learning. BE CURIOUS! Read as much as you can. Even silly stuff. You never know when it will be useful in some way.

2. Focus is everything.

I have little trouble with advice #1... I'm a nosy, inquisitive, curious kid. I'm never satisfied. I always have to know more. #2.... I need to work on still. But I'm not doing too poorly.

The next day was an exciting day, but the excitement came AFTER interning. I met with Rod at the Purple Cafe and we met Jen Gehrt & Colleen Moffitt, co-founders of Communique PR, the other company I interviewed with for a summer internship. I was so thankful to meet them. They are two of the sharpest women I've ever met and I really look up to them and what they've done. It was nice to introduce myself in person, and awesome to get to know them better.

After snacking at Purple, Rod took me to a place called Consumer Opinion Services. AKA, a focus group for his company, PEMCO Insurance. I sat on the hidden side of a 2 way mirror and watched a group of 25-30 people answer questions about insurance policies- they were polled on whether or not they liked the idea of the various policies. PEMCO currently offers NONE of the policies, and the focus group was to obtain sentiment on the various services PEMCO may want to offer. None of the participants had PEMCO as their provider. 10 of them were asked to stay after the questionnaire and participate in a roundtable discussion. THIS was what was really neat to watch. I love watching people discuss and argue and come to a conclusion. And it's neat to know that a company is going to alter their policies a little bit all because of 30 people who took some time out of their day to participate in a discussion.

Between listening to Chris Pirillo, getting excellent feedback from my boss, meeting some people I really look up to, and listening in on marketing research, I'd have to say it was a pretty awesome three days. And educational, too. I LOVE when awesome and educational coincide. It needs to happen more often.

What Doesn't Kill You Definitely Makes You Stronger!

Yesterday, my boss encouraged me to keep writing in my blog. I knew I should have been doing this, but hearing somebody else suggest it was the extra push I needed transfer my writing to my blog. But because of some stuff I published, things turned a bit sour for me today.

I guess I got in trouble today. That's weird for me to say, because I rarely get in trouble. I'm boring. The only time I really remember getting in trouble at school was in the 1st grade when I got caught walking out of the boys bathroom. (My friend Michael was about to flush a styrofoam cup down one of the toilets, and as a seven year old I just HAD to see that!)

Anyway, of course I apologized and fixed the content immediately.

There were two problems that were brought to my attention.

1.) The main problem was that I overstepped some lines of confidentiality in a blog post. This is of course inappropriate and I changed the content of my post immediately to better respect client confidentiality. Upon accepting the internship, I signed a document staying I would honor client confidentiality. Of course. This is nothing but reasonable.

In our weekly staff meetings, we first discuss our list of current clients. Some of these clients have an (NDA) at the end of their name, meaning that we have a Non-Disclosure Agreement with them-- aka, we can't tell anyone they're our clients. The rest, we are allowed to discuss.

Today I learned there is a difference between saying "Client X is our client" to a curious passer-by and saying "Client X is our client" on a blog. I go to great lengths to follow instructions, so now that I am aware it was inappropriate, it won't happen again. Fortunately, it was quite simple to go through my post and edit the writing to address this issue.

But then there's number 2, which is longer and gets me into a tangent about something else!

2. I was asked to not blog about the tools I use in my job. I can see some reasoning to this… if my company pays good money to use an amazing program to aid in their work, that should probably be kept confidential so competitors don't buy the same product and get on our playing field.

However, I was asked not to blog about even the free tools that are helpful in my job. This, I have a huge problem with. I love social media, because it's just that- it's social. It's to be shared. I think everyone should be aware of what they have access to at their very fingertips. I think being secretive about a free, easy to use tool is dishonest and goes against the strong commitment to sharing that social media has created for many people.

These free tools shouldn't be seen as competitive advantages- they should just be seen as tools. First of all, if your competition is really any kind of competition at all, they will already know about the freebies. Secondly, AGAIN, these tools are free and available to the public, and I think that trying to profit from the fact that you can make use of them is akin to trying to profit from the fact that you are really exceptionally good at breathing in air.

However, I consented to this request as well and edited the tool names out of the post.

Next up is my tangent. I've been thinking about this in one way or another for a few weeks now, and I'm just beginning to piece the words together in a way that makes a bit of sense. This is just a simple prediction. I'm not placing any bets, I'm not trying to convince you that THIS IS HOW IT WILL BE!, and I'm not trying to get you to think the same way I think. This is just a little prediction of mine, and I will enjoy measuring it up with what happens as the industry changes.

Social Media Marketing. Right now it's hot. It's up and coming. I think a lot of the things it has to offer are here to stay for a good while in one way or another. But overall, I think the industry may be a short-lived one. (Maybe another 10-15 years.)

Right now, companies that have existed for 5, 10, 20, 50, or even 100+ years have had to ADD social media into their pre-existing marketing, PR, and communications strategies. In other words, they didn't begin their marketing strategies with the concept of social media in mind. It was a change, a shift.

In the future, the people that start businesses are going to come with some of the core values of social media planted in their heads. In other words, social media will be an element of their overall marketing plan from the get go. Also, as time goes on, more and more people will understand social media better. As more people become familiar with social media platforms and the fun (and often free) tools that compliment them, the need to hire an outside agency to do some of the simpler tasks will diminish.

Anybody can use Twitter. While I may not have thought to use Twitter as I have in my internship in my personal life, the way I have approached people and talked to them has been primarily my own. I already had experience building a brand- Me. Doing it for clients is different only in the fact that the audiences are different. And in my PR courses, I have learned to think strategically about what an audience would want or expect.

Where value will remain for Social Media Marketing will be in the listening and outreach platforms. These super deep searching databases are just far too costly for the average company to afford on their own for their in-house marketing department. But if an agency can purchase the platforms and then support 20 clients through them, the agency-client relationship will be a beneficial one.

What I hope to see pop up in the next few years are communications courses that train people in social media. (I wonder if WVU's COMM program offers anything like this!)

Not classes that explain how to use the computer programs that are beneficial in the marketing side of social media, but rather, classes that just explain how effectively communicate with people on various social media sites. I could probably teach such a class, and feel that I DO teach such a class when I'm explaining the use of Twitter to a new user. I want to explain to people:

"THIS is what you're looking for.

THIS is how you approach people.

THIS is how you get them to talk back.

THIS is how you get them to like your brand (you).

THIS is how you get them to have a full blown conversation.

THIS is how you foster a meaningful relationship.

THESE are realistic results you can expect."

You know, really general guidelines. Because none of that is very hard or complicated. Just not a lot of people care enough about it yet to play with it as much as I have.

Lessons Learned Today:

*ALWAYS double check to make sure you are not breaking any rules.

*Do the Rachel thing and ASK ASK ASK questions! I'd rather have someone be annoyed with my many questions than be annoyed that I did something incorrectly.

*An internship is equally about figuring out things you like AND things you don't like.

Today was probably one of the most important days of my internship so far. This was a great experience to have at an internship, and not a "real" job one day.

PS- I don't like the term "real job". Life is everybody's REAL JOB and everything you do matters.

Learning lots despite distraction!

Here is a recap of my experiences as an intern at Nology Media for the week of June 8-15.

I must confess I was a bit distracted this week. Many things were going on in my life that had nothing to do with my internship:

*My boyfriend flew across the country on his birthday, June 8th to come spend a week with me. I made a huge Italian dinner, baked a cake. We had streamers, the whole nine yards.

*I got my first ever speeding ticket. Killed my 5 year streak of perfection, and cost me almost $150. Fail.

*Ironically, the next day, my father bought me a car. (2009 Chevy Cobalt, yeaaaah!)

*I spent gratuitous amounts of time on the phone to sort out the payment of my electric bill for my apartment back east.

And so on, and so forth.

But that didn't stop me from learning valuable lessons!!

I met one of my new best friends-- a site that allows people to search for Twitter users by the information they provide in their 160 character Bio as well as their location. This is really helpful! For instance, sometimes it is my job to follow new people for a client. One client is a nonprofit for bereavement and grief of children, led by a professional athlete. While we already knew to get in contact with the sports crowd, this service helped us find people that, though they may not be attracted by the starlight of the athlete, care about the cause.

I helped find material for posts for some of the communities that the other girls manage. This is probably one of my favorite tasks. I like putting myself in the shoes of the client's audience. I like thinking about what I would be interested if I was in this audience. And then, I love finding interesting and relevant content to post for this client. The best part is when you were dead on, and you get likes and comments on that content.

On June 10th, the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce hosted a Business Showcase at the Hilton in Bellevue, and the Nology team attended. I had never been to such an event before! It was like a college fair or career fair, except a lot better because everyone has businesses, money, and they want you to be a new client. A ton of freebees were given out. Among my favorites were free cookies (I have a sweet tooth that is never satisfied) and a free massage (Need to schedule that SOON!)

We had their own booth at the showcase, and we were explaining/passing out a new device called a Poken. Pokens are the business cards of the future. With a simple "poke" of your Poken, you can instantly exchange all the information you could ever want to give a business contact... Name, address, number, twitter handle, Facebook page, even stuff like your XBOX 360 account, if you're into that sort of thing.

Anyway, this was the coolest thing. I loved explaining how a product worked to the rest of the attendees of the showcase. "LOOK AT OUR AWESOME SHINY PRODUCT! HERE I WILL TELL YOU HOW IT WORKS! I WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY IT IS BENEFICIAL!" That is what I like to do. I felt useful. I felt well liked (the Pokens were a hit)!

Our booth also consisted of a giant projector screen that displayed Nology's Twitter Wall. I didn't understand Twitter walls at first, but they are really cool. If you click that link, it allows you to type in whatever you want in the top right corner. Then, tweets containing the words you typed will begin to pop up on the screen. It's cool because you can find out what people are saying (in real time) about the topic of your choice. In our case, that night the word that was typed in was #BCOCShowcase. People liked the thought that their tweets about the event were being shown off to everyone at the event in real time! Pretty awesome.

I remember that one day I did a search for healthy summer eating for a client in the medical industry. This was probably my favorite task to date. All morning I looked at delicious food (Don't think I didn't bookmark some of those recipes!) and found ones that would be appealing for men... after all, Father's Day was fast approaching! I do love that on any given day I may be asked to research something that I totally did not expect to check out. I hope I am asked to do something food related again. Mmm.

I also began my involvement with an elder care facility that prides itself on having the care system of the futre. I began to grow their Twitter follower base. I took a shot at creating some Facebook advertisements for them.

At first, finding people to follow for an assisted living facility was kind of tricky.

*First of all, there aren't a ton of old people on Twitter. Especially not the elders that need to move into an assisted living facility.

*Second, if I WERE to stumble across an elderly tweeter, it would probably really freak them out or offend them if nursing homes began to follow them. (On MY Twitter account, I am being followed by @VampireMob..... not so sure how I feel about that either... )

*Third, I didn't want to follow other nursing homes because they are potential competitors.

Luckily, though, I found many caregiving resources, as well as users that provide information on diseases that affect the elderly. Additionally, I found many people who reach Baby Boomers--- Those who are stuck in the "sandwich generation" (Caring for young adult children financially, and caring for elderly parents physically.) The number of followers of the account have multiplied by 8 since I began working with it (About 3 weeks ago). *Pats self on back.*

It has to do with the way you talk to people. You can't just send out one cookie cutter message to each follower. Learn about your followers. Go Erin Brockovich on their ass. People don't want to talk to a company. They want to talk to a PERSON from the company. With what I do, they will very likely never know they are talking to Rachel Nieman, intern at Nology Media and student at West Virginia University...... but they know they are being paid attention to. Listened to. That's what people want. That's why people use Twitter.

June 1-8: Acclimation Complete

Here we are at the end of June! How time flies!!! I have been living in Sammamish, WA for seven weeks and one day now. This month has been absolutely packed with new experiences, adventures, and ideas! Here part 1 of 4 of the past four weeks (since my last post). I take an awful lot of notes.

June 1-8

The first week of June was a busy one around the office! I was a bit disheartened to learn that a client I had been doing a lot of work for decided to end their services with us. It was probably for the best, as they were not a good fit for what we do at Nology. But as quickly as they left, we acquired some brand new clients! Now, I had to become a mini expert on some new topics like baseball, the high-end car market, and the elder care industry. Three things I knew squat about.

My manager, Megan, took some vacation around this time to visit Germany. This meant I had to bother someone else every five minutes. This wonderful woman was another Community Manager named Abby. Approachable, friendly, and highly skilled in listening platforms, Abby taught me much in this week. She explained to me how our process for Facebook and Twitter analytics reporting worked, as well as provided guidance for what makes a good post. I was happy to become more comfortable with people in the office, and enjoyed feeling brave enough to ask anybody for help when I needed it. I sure do ask a lot of questions.

I spent a good portion of the week wrapped up in Excel Spreadsheets and Pages documents. As tedious as it sounds, I can honestly say it's a task I enjoy. I like being able to explain how a client's outreach has grown over the course of a week. I like to observe the trends. Do we get more followers by posting video? Or do we get more responses when we ask a question? Stuff like that. Different clients' audiences respond better to different things. One of our clients, a nonprofit organization headed up by a professional baseball player, gets a lot of feed back when given the chance to ask a question to the baseball star. Another client, a car dealership, gets a lot of fan response when we post information in our Miss Washington Wednesday series. Some clients have phenomenal Facebook response. Others do better on Twitter. Different people are moved by different things.

I got to test my skills --- and my patience --- by updating a logo for one of our clients' Facebook pictures. I learned about Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign last semester, but it was a very basic overview and I still struggle a bit with them. However, after a bit of playing, I changed the logo and it was made public on their Facebook page. Very cool, to look at a page and think "I had a hand in that." But here in this first week of June, things were just starting for me, as I would come to know that I would have a hand in a lot of the content that went public for our clients.

I also learned about a new tool that exists to help brands create engaging Facebook fan pages. It allows you to manage multiple social media accounts on one page, much like CoTweet does for Twitter. Today, I am not sure if this platform is all it was cracked up to be, but I was very impressed when I first saw the demonstration. I think they are in the beginning stages of something great, but I don't know if Nology can benefit from what they currently offer.

The ideal package would be something that allows the management of multiple accounts on multiple social media platforms, completes high quality searching (like some other deep search programs that already exist but hopefully much more user friendly), gives a plethora of options on how to organize the results of those deep searches, automatically tracks feedback information so analytics would be nothing more than a simple click of an "export" button, allows for the scheduling of posts, and gives the user control over the media that is attached with that post.

Is there anything out there like that? If so, Nology could really benefit from that, so please get in touch with me.

Overall, this week was about really getting settled in and building up my confidence. Two really, really important things.

Three Deep

I'm three weeks into the adventure of my summer internship. I am learning so much. So much about aspects of my future career, about life, and about what I really want.

I'll focus first on my internship. First and foremost, I have learned how to use the tools I often take for granted and actually put them to good use. For instance, while I typically use Facebook, Twitter, and the Internet as a whole just for fun and recreation, much more can be done with the information that is flowing around. I have learned to use two programs, Radian6 and Vocus, that can probe the Internet for the information you need in just a matter of seconds. I have learned the practical uses of sites and programs such as TweepSearch, Facebook Insights, and NetNewsWire. I've become familiar with SocialCast and DropBox, WordPress and CoTweet.

I have learned to glean for the most important information with minimal searching. I have come to be familiar with key words for several of our clients, and the more I learn about the topics, the easier it becomes. Just through the nature of my business, I have learned a great deal about property taxes and the great lengths one must go through to appeal them, about entrepreneurship (including how to spell it correctly), about car dealerships, and about the elder care industry.

I have also learned a few things about how to handle myself in a business-like setting.

1.) I have always thought the way to peoples' hearts was just to be real with them. This is not always the case. Unless you are completely professional, do not be completely real with them.

2.) Do NOT bring up anything you do that may be considered unprofessional. Even if it's funny.

3.) Lay off the jokes until people understand you.

4.) When you're the newbie, take a moment to consider what you are about to say or ask so you don't say or ask something stupid, irrelevant, or that has already been explained to you.

5.) "The Office" is in no way similar to how a real office works. Huge let down, but probably beneficial for the economy.

I say all this, not because people have been unwelcoming, but because I have truly had a handful of foot-in-mouth moments since my arrival. I chalk it up to inexperience, my small town mindset, and my rather immature sense of humor. Nothing has been catastrophic. But I'm glad I'm learning all this now.

Now, on to what else I'm learning. You know, about life and stuff. I have learned two important things thus far.

1.) Living with another family is really, really, fun. If you ever have the chance to do so, take that chance. I have been having a wonderful time with Rod, Cindy, Abby and Amelia! Abby and Amelia are like the younger sisters I've never had, and watching them interact (as well as my own interaction with them) leads me to believe that every girl deserves a sister. Being with a family that isn't your own allows you to behave as a family member that doesn't have any negative past. No bad memories of getting in trouble or anything like that. It makes for very peaceful living.

2.) I'm learning that I'm more relationship-oriented than career-oriented. Now, I don't think I'll be taking the Mommy Track any time soon, but I travelled 3000 miles to do a summer job and yet my heart is elsewhere. Don't get me wrong. I want to learn as much as I can while I'm out here, do a good job, and gain a rich and valuable experience. But maybe I'm not as grown up as I thought. My mind is very much still yearning for a carefree, sunny summer with good times and the best of friends. I may have been mistaken when I assumed I was above having another responsibility free summer. My brain is proud of myself for going the route I have gone, but my heart is a little bummed.

These past three weeks have been a blast. I've learned a ton about the Social Media Marketing industry, I've learned to make three new dishes (Squash Casserole, Apple Pie, and my mother's WORLD FAMOUS Zucchini Pie), I have been more diligent about exercise (my room has an elliptical in it, it sits there and stares at me until I use it), and I have been fortunate enough to visit the beautiful Lake Chelan, my favorite place in the world. Things are going absolutely peachy. :-)

Day 2- Wednesday May 12, 2010

"Today was my first full day as a West Coaster. This morning, I woke up and swaggered downstairs to be greeted by Chloe, my host family's dog. As I enjoyed a bowl of cereal, I did something I had wanted to do for a very long time.

I made a grocery list.

My passion for grocery lists began in my late high school years. This is when I realized that white bread, prepackaged lunch meat, and hostess products weren't the epitome of healthy. This was also around the same time I uncovered my passion for spicy, flavorful, and organic foods. No matter how much I begged, mom wouldn't buy Naked juice. Or an assortment of hot peppers to chop up into a deliciously fun stir-fry. Or flax and grain bread that actually has some nutrition to it.

Probably the thing I've done to anger my mother the most- to make her more mad than my piercings, my tattoo, and my participation in premarital sex- has been to become a pescatarian. This means I have stopped eating mammals and poultry. Although I have done this for a variety of reasons, it is primarily for my health. But talking to my mother would lead you to believe that my main reason behind forgoing meat has been to undermine all she has done to raise me right these past 20 years. She acts surprised, then disappointed when I politely decline her meatloaf and chili. "Yes, mom, I am aware it is delicious but it is still made of dead animals."

But today was the day I could choose for myself. With a pen and pad in front of me, I wasn't sure where to begin. But a list was compiled. I bought black beans, canned salmon, a half gallon of Naked Blue Machine, protein enriched bread, crab bisque (yum!), lettuce, onion, tomatoes, spinach, corn, veggie burgers, and minestrone! Today, I felt like I truly took charge of my diet. And boy was it good.

Maybe you think it's silly that the most exciting, empowering part of my 1st day as a West Coaster was grocery shopping. But I don't care. I've been waiting for this for a very, very long time."

These next couple posts do not follow the main plan of this blog- to blog about my internship.

But traveling away from my family has given me a lot to think about. So I wrote in my journal. And I think that this edited version is worth sharing here.

Tuesday, May 11 2010- Day 1

"If there's any possible way to sleep comfortably on an airplane, I would like to know at this time. The past three weeks have included very little sleep, and the first thing to finally droop my eyelids has been a 6 hour flight to Seattle, Washington. It's not like this trip crept up on me or anything, but the reality of it all was very sudden.

Allow me to explain why I'm 35,000 feet above the great state of Iowa or something.

5 months ago, I was utterly depressed. Maybe it's insensitive for me to say that since I have never received a diagnosis, but I believe I truly was. On January 6, 2010, my world turned topsy turvy with the death of my paternal grandfather, the cornerstone and patriarch of my very close-knit family. My whole family resides in Morgantown, WV, and this sudden explosion (literally, as his aorta ruptured,) both tore us to pieces and made us much stronger and closer. I had never dealt seriously with such great loss and grief before.

Six tear-filled, mourning-filled, devastating days after my grandfather's passing, a very emotional, testy and worn out version of myself had to move back into the dorm and begin a 20 hour course-load of school. My dorm was a cell at times, my roommate an ex-best friend with whom things would never be fully reconciled. Listening to her and her boyfriend being happy, while I should have felt happy for them, enhanced my depression but mostly made me feel very alone. I wondered if anyone would ever love me again the way my grandfather did. For who I am, for my abilities, and through the most compassionate of eyes. With the most caring heart. Wrestling with the question of being loved again included traumatic flashbacks of failed relationships- romantic and platonic. It also included a montage of my life alone, each scene myself progressively becoming grayer, fatter, and with a wider assortment of cats.

But things have turned around so much! At the beginning of February, a contact of mine, my mentor if you will, in Seattle emailed me to say that he had put out the "bait" among his network to help me obtain an internship for summer 2010. With all the trauma, drama, and turmoil, I had all but forgotten a conversation I'd had with my mentor in early December, shyly expressing interest in a summer intern position.

Now, I had to do stuff. You know, get my shit together. If I was ever going to make something of myself, the first thing I needed to do was drag myself out of the muck I was in. "Because this may be my turning point," I thought, "This may be the beginning of an excellent opportunity." And I was very, very right.

Within nearly a month, through the use of social media, fancily worded emails, and the expert guidance of my fabulous mentor, I had been offered two positions. One was at a public relations firm, and the other at a social marketing company. I chose the one that offered compensation, because nothing makes less sense to a large rural Appalachian family than traveling cross country to some big city to work for free.

This deal was sealed at the end of February, and I couldn't have been more excited. Finally, a real escape from Morgantown, the drama, the humidity, and the monotony. A real chance to learn and explore my future career firsthand. And that is why I'm here today, flying above the clouds."

Letter to a Friend: Part IV

The title of the next chapter was “Interview Like a Pro.” There are many things you can do to improve the finesse of your interview. Take initiative by confidently setting goals and exhibiting assertive behavior. While it may seem natural to be timid or nervous in an interview, if you can be confident and assertive, you will have the upper hand and an edge over your competition.


Just like when playing a sport, playing in a band or singing with a choir, it’s important to prepare as if it were the real thing. The better you practice and prepare, the better you will perform when it’s time for the actual interview. Take the time to practice. If you know someone who is familiar with the interviewing process, it would behoove you to ask them to give you a trial run. Any practice is good practice!

When preparing for an interview, be sure to eliminate your bad habits, especially nonverbal ones. If you have trouble avoiding eye contact, practice holding eye contact with friends when engaging in conversation. If you tend to roll your eyes, make a conscious effort to not do so. If you cross your arms in tense situations such as interviews, practice relaxing your muscles. Keeping your arms crossed in an interview makes you appear defensive and irritated.

And, as always, be sure to follow up with a handwritten note.

Another thing you should do while conducting your job search is research the salaries associated with various positions in your field. Salary is just one of the many things you must evaluate when looking at a job offer. Other things to consider include flexibility and opportunity for personal and career development.

If you have received an offer and you think you want the job, you should thank them graciously for the interview and give them a set time to hear back from you. If you are POSITIVE you want the job, say so! Then, immediately follow up in writing. Next, quickly notify other potential employers that may be considering you for a job to let them know you are off the market. If you do not want the job, tell the employer promptly via telephone and then follow up with a letter. Thank them graciously for the offer and wish them future success. Always leave an offer on good terms.

But what if you get rejected? There was a whole chapter dedicated to “Handling Rejection.” Well, the first thing to remember is try to separate your emotion from logic (I’m not very good at that! It’s hard!) And not let it get under your skin. Just remember that setbacks are temporary, and you should continue your job search with optimism. Don’t be defensive, and own up to any mistakes you know you made during the interview. If you really analyze what you may have done wrong, you will be able to improve upon it. To show that your feelings aren’t hurt and to demonstrate initiative, ask the employer if you are more qualified to fill a different position at this time. It shows your flexibility and your willingness to be a part of their team.

The final chapter was titled “Taking Charge of Your Career.” This chapter focused on ways to make yourself more flexible and valuable as an employee once you do get that job! Remember that the most common cause of job failure is poor interpersonal skills. Always make sure you’re communicating, friendly, and easy to talk to. This will let everything else come to you much easier than someone who is hard to talk with or get along with. When mastering your new job, always keep your eagerness to learn at a maximum! Be very persistent when trying new things. Don’t give up. Be a team player and be professional with your coworkers. If the new job offers you some sort of orientation or training, PAY ATTENTION!

While it’s of the utmost importance to learn your new job quickly, you must also realize it is necessary to adapt to change. Being flexible shows your competence and ability to learn. You can do several things to keep up with the changing work world. Participate in classes or workshops (many employers will offer to pay for you to take classes) or join professional associations related to your field. Also, you can subscribe to periodicals related to your field to keep up with the latest technology and news.

Dear Reader, I know this letter has been really long and there’s been quite a lot of information to process. But I have a sincere confidence that with your work ethic, positive attitude and this list of tips and suggestions, that you will land your first job in no time at all. Always feel free to contact me if you have any questions! I wish you the best of luck on your job search!



Your Friend,
Rachel

Letter to a friend: Part III

The following chapter discussed interview essentials. The most important thing to focus on during an interview is your attitude and enthusiasm. You can demonstrate a positive attitude through your appearance, body language, and how you speak. Nonverbal communication can actually mean more than your verbal communication during your interview. For example, you could say all the right things, but if you say them unenthusiastically, arrogantly, or with too much nervousness in your voice, your message won’t be well received.

As much as I hate to admit it, you will be judged on your appearance. But you don’t have to be a super model to land the job! Instead, you must look clean, fresh, and very professional. It is better to be overdressed than underdressed, and dressing conservatively is always the safest route.

One way to ensure that you will have something meaningful, worthwhile, and positive to say in the interview setting is to create your own “60- Second Commercial.” Your commercial will include short phrases about your qualifications (kind of like the “why” a product is good in a commercial). These could include your GPA (if it’s a good one), what you’re a member of, and any computer programs you’re familiar with.

You should include your target job position and employer (kind of like the brand that is promoted in the commercial). Employers will like to hear you speak as if you’ve already accepted their position and have joined their team. Next, you should briefly summarize your education and training, in addition to job skills and those transferable competencies you’ve listed before. This could include any classes you’ve taken that relate directly to the job, examples of leadership ability, and examples of self-motivation.

Another thing to include is a “Proof of Benefits Provided”. This is where you get to brag upon past accomplishments. Tell the employer things you actually did that made a difference. For example, you could tell them about a committee you created, a team you helped organize, or what you accomplished as part of a group.

One chapter was dedicated to breaking down different types of interview styles and questions. Knowing ahead of time what kind of interview to expect can help you prepare. A structural interview includes a predetermined set of questions and records responses on a checklist. It focuses mainly on factual information. A screening interview is used to screen out those who do not have the basic qualifications for the job. A behavioral interview is when the interviewer asks questions that force the applicant to give specific examples of how they have successfully used skills needed for the job. You also may be interviewed by a panel or a board, where you speak with more than one person at the same time. Each person on the board will probably have a different aspect of you to focus on.

Behavioral interviews are pretty common, so it’s wise to keep a list of accomplishments and examples of how you handled situations well. Also, when answering questions such as “what are your weaknesses”, never reply defensively. Instead, reply with optimism and in a way that shows you’re working on those weaknesses.

Here are some examples of questions you may be asked, and appropriate responses:

What is your greatest weakness?

answer: My weakest area is math, but I have taken some courses such as Concepts of Mathematics, Intro to Accounting, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Intro to Statistics to become more proficient in this area.


Why do you want to leave your current job?

answer: I am seeking a new challenge to begin a new chapter in my life.



Do you think of yourself as a team player? Give examples.

answer: Yes, definitely. I have played defense and midfield in lacrosse for the past 6 years. These positions rarely put a point on the board. However, we play an enormous behind the scenes role, and we have ultimately won many games for our team. Also, I have worked in teams in academics. Our class was assigned a huge group project for our Problems in Society class. Five of us worked together to create an aesthetically pleasing and meaningful collage on child abuse. Additionally, we each had to prepare a 3-5 minute speech on a particular aspect of child abuse. We needed to work together to make sure there was no overlap in our speeches, and that each person’s speech adequately represented a portion of the collage. We received one of the highest grades in the class.


Under what management style do you work most productively?

answer: I can be productive under any kind of management. However, I most appreciate managing styles where lines of open and honest communication are encouraged.



What is important to you in a company?

Integrity and honesty are very important to me in a company. A policy of striving for the very best for the customer. A willingness to communicate and a willingness to gladly fix any issues that occurred the first time.



What have you accomplished that demonstrates your initiative?

I have worked relentlessly in the classroom, and outside of it, to always achieve high academically. I have maintained 3 semesters as a 4.0 student. I have been inducted into several honor societies. I have achieved these things while self-financing my tuition, working a part time job, and being a member of the club lacrosse team.



How would you describe yourself?

I am busy. I like to get into everything. I am very good at following directions and carrying out tasks, but I’m also a thinker. I’m a confident, positive, outgoing individual. I like meeting new people and learning about new things.



What rewards do you look for in your career?

Answer: Appreciation from my coworkers and management.


What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you?

Answer: Decisions that are going to personally let down a group of coworkers or constituents. Business is business, and I can be very objective when making decisions. However, I am a very compassionate individual, and decisions that are going to severely negatively impact a group of constituents can be morally difficult for me to make. I strive to pick the best choice for all involved.

I hope this will give you a good example of how to deal with those tough to answer questions!

"Letter to a Friend" Part II

This is the second part of my series on career search tips. This entry covers resumes, cover letters, and job applications.


The sixth chapter was dedicated to resumes. I know you’re well aware that a resume is a very important document that you must always be revising, updating, and perfecting. Make sure you tailor your resume to each position you apply for. That is, don’t just send out the same resume to everyone. Tweak it to match each prospective employer in the best way possible. Start your resume with your specific objective for the job, and then follow up underneath that with your qualifications. It is effective to include your qualifications near the top of your resume because it becomes the focal point for employers. It emphasizes your specific skills and capabilities and shows why you are the best candidate for the position.

Always use strong, powerful key words in your resume. This is helpful because sometimes an employer will process your resume through a program that highlights key words related to the industry. For example, if you are applying for a public relations position, some strong words to fit into that resume might include “Media”, “Communicate”, “Press”, “Organize”, “Plan”, “Revise”, “Events”, “Relations”, and “Write.” It’s a good idea to incorporate such words even if they don’t use an electronic device to scan your resume. The reader will appreciate your use of specific industry key words.

A piece on “Job Applications and Cover Letters” provided several things to keep in mind when applying to jobs. First, ALWAYS make sure that you fill out the application correctly. That may seem obvious, but you would be surprised at how many people fail to follow directions. If you can’t follow directions, the company certainly isn’t interested in hiring you. When sending an application, cover letter, or resume to a prospective employer, be sure to send it to the correct person. The heading of your letter should be like this:

Name
Title
Company Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip

You should begin your cover letter with an introductory paragraph. This should include an introduction of yourself as well as how you know of the employer. Mention the position you are seeking and how you heard of it. Explain your interest in their organization.

Next, include your objective statement and achievements. These two can go together. An objective statement clearly and concisely explains what it is you hope to achieve. Your past achievements provide the setting for that objective. You should include 2-4 relevant stories of accomplishments.

Lastly, you must close the letter. Do not be presumptuous- do not ask for a job. Rather, ask for an interview and give them a time frame of when you will follow up. State that your resume is attached to the cover letter and graciously show your appreciation and thanks for their time. Time is the most important thing any potential employer can give you.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE: DO NOT DUPLICATE INFORMATION FROM YOUR RESUME VERBATIM. If the employer actually takes the time to look at both your resume and cover letter, they will be disappointed to find they’re the same thing.

Additionally, ALWAYS proofread your documents several times before sending them.

"Letter to a Friend" Part I

I am currently working on my final paper for my career search class.

The assignment was to draft a letter to a friend about the main things I have learned in the class. There were 15 chapters in the book; this is just part 1 of many. I hope you can take a few things from this post and apply them to your next job or internship search. I would highly recommend this class to anyone concerned about finding a job upon graduation, or to anyone who wants to have the competitive edge over your fellow job seekers. Enjoy!



Dear Reader,

I understand you were unable to take Orientation 252 with Dr. Cox this semester due to your schedule. I would recommend that you take it this fall if possible. However, I know that you are beginning your job search this summer, so I am writing to you to give you a brief overview of the most important things we learned in her course. They are extremely helpful, and cover the course of the job search from beginning to end.

The first chapter we covered was titled “The Job Search Process”. Some important information to remember is to be very persistent and to start your job process early. Follow up on every lead you find! Something that may help you is to compile a Career Management Files Binder. This document would contain your research notes, a network list, references, your resume and cover letter, and any other work related documents. Assess yourself. Are you positive, assertive and enthusiastic? These qualities are important from beginning to end in your job search.

The second chapter focused on what employers expect. The main focus on this chapter was to explain that employers are more interested in hiring a person with good personal skills over good technical skills. They are looking for employees that have thinking skills- the ability to solve problems on the job. Being a good communicator is also of the utmost importance. Make a list of your competencies- that is, what you’re good at. First list your technical skills (computer skills, building skills, accounting skills, culinary skills, etc.) and then your personal skills (sense of humor, attentiveness, positivity, etc.) Know your strengths and weaknesses.

Another thing to consider is to monitor the job market for your preferred field. Get online and conduct a search on the growth of your future job industry. Then, you can search for particular job titles and descriptions of what you must do on the job. Find out what tasks you must complete, what technology you must be familiar with, how much education it will require, and also how much it will pay! All of these things are very important to know beforehand. If you are seeking a job in psychology, make sure you know the difference between different jobs in your field. One may suit you much better than another! Just because they fall under the same category doesn’t mean they are similar jobs!

The third chapter was all about marketing yourself with confidence. Dr. Cox explained to us that talking about yourself is one of the hardest things to do, which is pretty ironic considering that you should know more about yourself than anyone else does! In order to communicate easily with a potential employer about your qualifications, you need to always be thinking of your experiences from your education, training, and accomplishments. Pick a few stories that show your abilities the best, and commit them to memory. Make a list of your job-specific skills; that is, technical skills that will be used in a particular job. Then, make a list of your transferable competencies. Transferable competencies are the skills that you possess that can be applied at any job, like teamwork and problem solving.

The fourth chapter focused on networking. I can personally vouch that networking is one of the most important things you can do when conducting a job search. Sometimes, it IS all about who you know! Always be working on developing relationships with new people in your field. You never know when they will be able to help you in some way. They can also serve as references to include in your resume. Some tips on effective networking include sharing information about yourself, always being tasteful, professional, and polite, and always be businesslike. Sometimes, a contact can help you connect with that hard-to-reach employer or job opportunity.

The advent of social media has greatly increased the ease of networking. I know you already use Facebook, but I would suggest you tighten your security on your page so potential employers can’t see you doing that keg-stand last weekend. (Yes, they WILL look at your Facebook!) I advise you to set up a Twitter and a LinkedIn account. These are other ways that potential employers may check you out before actually offering you an interview.

Chapter five included information about job searching. The more research you conduct on your field, the more you know. This will give you a competitive advantage over any other job seekers that did not complete research. Being educated about the field you seek lets you make better career decisions. It will increase your competency, and therefore increase the possibility of being hired! If you’re more of a hands-on learner, I suggest you complete volunteer work or an internship in your field. It provides you practice for your job one day, and also will add to your list of references. The internet can assist you in finding internships and volunteer opportunities.

Ode to Aries

I wear the symbol of an Aries on my back
My mother none too fond of a tattoo
But everything was on my back already
And my sign helps me get through

If I were without determination,
I could not carry this weight
Thankful to be born under the Arian Sun
This symbol, this sign, this fate.

Tips for getting an internship.

-Check out any connections you may have. Maybe a friend of a friend knows somebody who can put in a good word for you. Don't think of yourself as bothersome to that person. There is nothing wrong with asking them about a possible opportunity. If the answer is no, they'll tell you "no." But there is no way to find out until you ask.

-Stay on top of things. Dedicate at least a small portion of your day to working on the internship, whether it's researching companies, writing your cover letter or resume, networking via Twitter and Facebook, or communicating with people that have shown an interest in you.

-Always ALWAYS follow up. The quicker, the better. Be prompt. This ties in to the previous tip.

-Allow word of mouth to work for you. If you contact someone and they're interested in you but can't take you at this time, let them know they are more than welcome to forward your information on to anyone who might be able to use you.

-Follow people in the industry via Twitter or blogs. Start conversations with them. Learn from them. Contribute to the discussion.

-Participate in any contests or games that the company hosts. Show them you're interested. Even if you don't win, it may get you a bit of name recognition.

-If the companies have put out any books or blogs, read them. Not only will you learn an immense amount of knowledge, but you will also have something relevant to talk about when speaking to the author of the book or owner of the company.

-Retweet anything especially important that the company tweets. Spread their news.

-When having an interview, know it is okay to be nervous. It's a sure sign that you truly care about the opportunity.

-In an interview, smile and be confident, but above all- be yourself.

-Before the interview, make sure you set aside some examples of your work that you can refer to. Be ready to talk about them- what you like the best and what you could have done better. I was asked if there were any articles I had written that I was particularly proud of. Fortunately, my favorite one came to mind quickly, but the question caught me off guard.

-Just because you are a college student and they're a business professional does not mean they can walk all over you. Above all else, be polite and courteous. But if you're not okay with some of the terms, it's completely acceptable to address your concerns. Don't let people walk all over you, and don't settle for less than you think you can get.

-As tempting as it may be, do not automatically accept the first offer you are given-- especially if you have other offers pending. The company will want a quick response, but a 3-7 day time period to consider the offer should be completely acceptable in most cases.

-Discuss your options with different kinds of people. Grandparents will look at it a different way than your parents do. Friends will look at it from another perspective. Teachers and mentors will have their own view too. Everyone's advice is valuable. In the end you must make your own decision, but listen to what those who care about you have to say.

-Before accepting an offer, make sure you completely understand the whole thing. Ask as many questions as you need to. Be thorough.

-Always be polite and courteous!

Hope this helps!



-Rachel

-

Background- My story.

In exactly seven weeks, I will be in the air. I'll be going back in time (3 hours to be exact) as I fly across the United States from Washington, D.C. to Seattle, Washington.

In seven weeks and two days, I will begin an internship with Nology Media, a Social Media Management company.

I am just shy of 20 years old. I'm a small town girl, close with my family and my Appalachian roots, and here I am preparing for a 3,000 mile move to a major metropolitan area! It's unreal.

How did I do this? I'd love to say it was cake. It was somewhat simple, but extremely-- and I mean EXTREMELY-- time consuming. My grades, my social life, and my exercise routine all suffered during the month it took to create this opportunity for myself. It all started in July 2009.

A close family friend named Rod Brooks, CMO for PEMCO Insurance in Seattle, WA, had mentioned to me over the summer that if I had any interest in an internship to let him know and he would give me advice. As a college student just ready to enter my sophomore year, internships weren't at the forefront of my agenda. I wasn't even considering an internship for 2010.

But in December of 2009, things changed. I went to Pittsburgh, PA with my mom and grandmothers to see a performance by the Radio City Rockettes. We went out to a nice dinner in the big city, and the show was wonderful. Walking along the streets in Pittsburgh, I realized that I would love an opportunity to spend some time in a large city. We returned to Morgantown late that night. I decided to send Rod a message saying "Yes, I am interested in internship opportunities for summer 2010." I sent him my interest letter and resume, and gave him full permission to send it to anyone who may be interested.

From there, my search went completely to Twitter. I began to follow a few people that work in some form of PR or with their own PR firms-- @NW_Mktg_Guy, @CMoffitt, @JenGehrt, @lfatzinger, @CommuniquePR, @NologyMedia, @firmani, and @MikeElliott to name a few-- and paid attention to what they were saying. Things were slow for the first couple weeks. I would give them a ReTweet here, a Reply there... but nothing too significant at first.

However, an opportunity for a breakthrough occurred! On February 12, 2010, Communique PR was hosting an online contest via Twitter. They would Tweet a question about their company (which I had researched thoroughly via their website!) and the first two correct responders to each question would receive a free copy of their book, Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR.

Time was on my side. Literally. I live in West Virginia, so I was 3 hours ahead of them. The contest started at 6 AM Seattle time--- which is 9 AM West Virginia time. Conveniently, this is the same time I wake up for class. I sat in front of my computer and waited, waited, waited for what seemed like forever. Finally, I received notification that there had been one new tweet. I eagerly clicked.

The question was simple- "What is the full title of our book?" Easy. I knew this one. I responded immediately. Lo and behold, I was the first respondent. This was excellent because the co-founders of the company had no choice but to read and learn my name as well as address an envelope to me. In other words, they noticed me. Even if it was for something small.

It took slightly over a week for the book to ship to my house. Once I received the book, I started tweeting about it, often tagging @CommuniquePR and the co-founders Colleen Moffitt (@CMoffitt) & Jen Gehrt (@JenGehrt), as well as always ending the tweet with the hashtag #StrategicPR. This encouraged additional conversation with the co-founders.

Rod had mailed Colleen my letter of interest and my resume. After I emailed Colleen with my address information, she said she'd like to speak with me over the phone to consider a possible summer internship position. Ecstatic does not even begin to describe how I felt!

On 2/22/10, I had a phone call with Colleen. I was extremely nervous (Nothing wrong with being nervous, it shows you care) but I smiled the entire time (yes, your smile shines through your voice!) and I hope that my eagerness was infectious. I thought Colleen was so nice, welcoming, and professional. In other words, it went well. One thing that I was asked and was not prepared for: showing a copy of my work. In hindsight, I can't believe I didn't think about it ahead of time. But it was my first time doing this kind of thing. You live and you learn! I selected an interview I had done for JRL 318- Reporting for Print Media- and it was well received.

By 2/26/10, I received an email inviting me to join their team as a summer intern! I nearly cried I was so pleased. I was honestly about to email them back immediately with a "YES!" but was advised not to do so just yet. It was unpaid and there was a rumor that I would be hearing from Leigh Fatzinger, CEO of Nology Media, and that I might receive an offer from him as well. So I held off on giving Communique confirmation just yet. (I had a week to do so.)

Leigh called me on 2/27/10. I recall the conversation well. I was sitting in my room at my parents house, snowed in with about 3 feet of that West Virginia snow. He seemed relaxed with a great sense of humor. He asked me if I was expecting payment. (Which I wasn't, but never sell yourself short.) I told him that it would be a selling point, and would be extremely beneficial when covering traveling costs and my rent payment. He informed me that the position WAS paid. Then he offered me the position.

At this point, I had a lot of thinking to do. I felt I had created a great relationship with Colleen. I loved reading the book that I won from their contest, and had nothing but the greatest respect for her. On the other hand, I am a poor college student and the prospect of getting paid for my work was quite lucrative. I spoke with my parents, grandparents, some close friends, and my mentor. After long lists of pro's and con's, I decided to go with Nology Media.

The following day (2/28/10) I e-mailed Leigh to say that I was flattered to have received the offer. I restated what I believed the terms of the agreement to be and requested a written copy of the terms of the offer, which his office manager sent to me within a day or two.

Then came the hardest part of all. A letter of declination. I am the kind of person that hates hates HATES letting anyone down or telling anyone "no." But I can't really work two jobs simultaneously, now, can I? I had to send a letter to Colleen, who I REALLY liked, saying "thanks, but no thanks" to an offer I couldn't even believe I had been awarded. It was unpleasant, it was tough, but I did it and did it well.

After hearing back from Colleen, I had the green-light to formally accept Leigh's offer. From this point on, it was merely a matter of filling out a bit of paperwork. Ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom, it was completed.

Now, I have an internship for summer 2010!




-Rachel



Stay tuned for future posts:

Tips for getting an internship
How to write a letter of declination

First Post.

Hi, my name is Rachel. I'm a 19 year old student at West Virginia University. I can't believe I haven't started this sooner. I have a few things to say, and I'm excited to have my own little space to say them. I like to really think and analyze before writing something, but I'm writing this introductory post because I can't quite contain my excitement!

Here is what you can expect from this blog.

-Information about how I obtained a summer internship.
-When summer comes, updates on that internship.
-A little bit of the life of a WVU undergrad - academically and socially.
-My personal story- my struggles and achievements.
-Links or videos that I find important, interesting, or entertaining.
-Music recommendations.


Sometimes, I like to write because it's the only way my thoughts make sense.