How Not to Screw Up Your Internship

thunderpopcola:

An internship is an amazing way to prepare one’s self for the “real world” and by real world, I mean, work. It will give you an idea of what it will be like after you graduate. lt is a place to hone your talents and also, a place that you surely will acquire unforgettable experiences and lessons which you can apply to your everyday life. It is a great way to discipline yourself. It will help you become more responsible and independent in so many ways. Having experience as an intern will give you more advantages in the work force and can probably even change your life. (I know it changed mine.)

Last year, I was thankfully offered two internships in two magazines (1, 2) and a design store. Through my stay in both companies, I have acquired much “knowledge” as to what one is and is not supposed to do for a successful internship. I am not a perfect intern, if there is even such a creature. I have screwed up (a lot) and have also conquered many things I never thought I was capable of doing so I am listing down some useful tips some of my readers can possibly benefit from (especially if they plan to get or already have an internship waiting for them). 

• Before anything else, if money is your main goal for an internship, then you are immediately screwed. 

It’s not a terrible thing to want to earn money, true, but a lot of internships/on-the-job training don’t offer money, believe me. It sure is great to have extrinsic motivation to be able to finish a task, because you know you’re getting paid, but you (we) are young and are still learning. I believe the perfect thing to motivate you is to keep in mind that you are learning so much about the real world, meeting a lot of people and experiencing many things you usually don’t, if not for your internship. Also, if you keep the “money factor” a key player and a major element in your internship, it will allow you to act and make decisions only because of it. If you don’t get paid, you will be dreading the internship from the very start. You are young and learning. There will be money soon enough. And it will come too, because of your internship experience, don’t worry.

• Be prepared to be very exhausted.

You are at the bottom of the pyramid. Keep that in mind. This means that you will be doing very many things, even if it is in your job description or not, that will require you to do a lot of work. If you work for a company, you will probably have more than one boss and even if you do have one, other people on the top of the pyramid wil be asking you to do things for them.

• It will bring out both your best and worst traits.

I remember when I was still working as an intern for the magazine, I would go home at 10 in the evening and I would be terribly exhausted from all the work load. I would still  do my homework and if anybody ever tried to make me do something or interrupted me, I would immediately snap at them. I was so cranky and impatient because I was so tired and I just wanted to sleep but I could not. I would also skip many meals because we were always on the road or I would be in different places helping out with pull-outs, returns and shoots which obviously was very unhealthy. On the other hand, I was very, very polite and helpful with my bosses and colleagues. I was also unusually very hard-working, it scared me. What I’m saying is, this sudden change of “lifestyle” will affect your behavior. I’m not kidding.

• It will be difficult to balance an internship with…other things.

If you plan on balancing an internship with academics, good luck with that. I am telling you, it won’t be easy. Maybe we are all programmed differently and some can do better than me but know that an internship will take a lot of your time. Your internship will also not end after you get out of the office because you will still be doing work-related things after.

Also, there was a point in time wherein I found work so much more appealing than school and I just wanted to work forever so my mindset actually had a very huge impact on my projects and exams. There were also very many times wherein I passed my design projects just for the sake of passing them, never really doing my best, because I didn’t have time to practice and do more work. That was my fault since I knew that I would be balancing these two things together, albeit doing a very bad job at it. I had (and still am having) a very hard time keeping up with my course mates because I focused too much on work and my internships. 

• It’s okay to make mistakes. 

I remember hearing this from one of my professors when he found out that I got an internship. I was very intimidated by the people in the office and was so scared that I would make mistakes but when he said this, I felt a million times better. I’m not saying keep making mistakes but I’m saying you can, because you’re still learning. It’s okay to screw up once in awhile because you learn what you’re supposed to really work on.

• Don’t wait. Initiate.

I remember screwing up (big time) three times during my magazine internship. I won’t go into detail because it’s too complicated but one of my bosses talked to me and told me one of the greatest things I’ll never forget, “People won’t always spoonfeed you.” When you grow up, not everyone’s going to keep on telling you what to do, especially in this kind of environment.

Don’t wait for things to be asked for you to be done. If you want a pat on the back, look for things that can be done and are just screaming out for someone to finish it, and do it. Your bosses are going to love your enthusiasm, responsibility and your initiative. Trust me.

• Queries are always welcome. Listen. Pay attention.

I screwed up one time. I had to return some clothes to a store in Makati and when I went there, turns out, my other boss wanted for me to return some other things in the same store so I wasted her time, gave her a pretty bad headache and I felt terrible because I hate disappointing people. After that, I would have a notebook and pen with me everywhere I go instead of just jotting down drafts on my phone. I would also ask when I was not sure. It’s better to ask and disturb your boss than actually disappoint her for not making sure that this particular thing had to be done. I never screwed up after that. 

• Don’t be afraid to suggest, give your opinion on something or show them your strengths and talents.

Sure, you are (just) an intern but remember that they chose you for a reason.

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Make it happen, make it Makati.

Second date with Alyssa and Hannah :’D

Nung Friday, pumunta kaming Makati para magbigay-bigay ng resumes sa mga companies. Madami-dami kaming nabigyan. Sobrang productive lang nung araw na yun.

Tapos ang masaya pa diyan, sobrang tabi-tabi lang siya. Naglalakad-lakad lang kami, tas makikita na namin na nandun na pala kami sa building na hinahanap namin. Tapos nagkkwentuhan, nagtatawanan, naggagaguhan habang naglalakad =)) Tapos hindi namin namamalayan na ang layo na pala ng nilakad namin. 

Bukod sa sobrang linis ng Makati, at sobrang disiplinado ng mga tao, ang saya din maglakad-lakad dun pag kasama mo mga kaibigan mo. Parang hindi mo nararamdaman yung pagod. 

Pero nung Friday mejo napagod ako kasi sobrang init nun eh HAHAHAHAHA

Tapos “chumill” kami sa Greenbelt bago umuwi. Nilakad namin ata buong Makati? Hahaha. De joke. Basta nilakad namin Glorietta, Landmark, Greenbelt, Legazpi Village (VA Rufino, Dela Rosa, Salcedo..etc) , Salcedo Village (Valero, LP Leviste etc..) , Paseo De Roxas. Tapos biglang malalaman nlng namin, nakabalik na kami sa Greenbelt. Lol

Tapos ganun ulit kanina. =))
Tapos napa-onthespot interview kami dun sa isang company =)) lol 

Pero imbis na sa greenbelt kami tumambay bago kami umuwi, dun kami sa Ayala Triangle. Nilakad din namin papunta dun. Basta, sobrang tipid kasi naglalakad lang kami. (sumakay din pala kami kanina ng e-jeep. 1st time ko eh hahaha)

Tapos ayun. Nung dumilim dilim na ng onti, umuwi na rin kami.

Hahahaha! Dami na naming napagkwentuhan. Saya-saya *u*

Tapos lahat pa nang nakakasalamuha namin eh mababait. Taxi driver, traffic enforcer, guard, grabe.. Lahat sila, mababait. :) kakatuwa lang. 

Ayun. Tama nga yung sabi ng ate ko dati — “mas masaya pumunta sa pupuntahan niyo lalo na kung hindi mo alam kung pano.” kasi matututo ka eh. Alam mo yung pakiramdam na parang pinaghirapan mo hanapin. Ganun. Wala lang. =)) basta

hahahaha okay.

Masyado na akong makwnto. Evening!

Alam mo yung maliliit na moments sa buhay mo, (or yung simpleng gathering kasama friends) na hinding hindi mo makakalimutan? Na hindi mo alam kung bakit, pero sobrang memorable. Yung moments na hindi ka naman tumawa ng malakas, pero ang saya saya mo?

Well, gusto ko lng maglista nung iilan sa’kin. (sana wala akong malimutan)

• 1styr college. Yung lagi kaming nakatambay nina Gray at Aly sa Starbucks Torre. tapos paguusapan na namin lahat ng pwede pagusapan. Kahit sobrang random. Hanggang mag-gabi pa minsan. Basta, kaming tatlo.
• Yung kaming tatlo ni Gray at Tina sa Makati. Yung tumambay kami sa Starbucks din don. Tapos wala lang, sarap lang ng kwentuhan non. Tas sinamahan nila ako magpakulay ng buhok. Tapos yung meryenda namin non sa Glorietta 5. Tas galit pa kaming dalawa ni Gray sa isa naming kaklase non. Lol. Tapos si tina… hehehe.
• Yung time na nasa Baler kami, tapos mga bandang 5:30pm na. Yung magdidilim na. Basang basa ako kasi kakaahon ko lang sa dagat non, nakabalot ako ng towel. Tapos nagmemeryenda ako ng Spaghetti at may Milkshake pa, pinapanuod ko yung mga kaklase kong naggagaguhan at nagtatakbuhan sa may shore. Tas sobrang hangin, tas wala, nakangiti lang ako. Pinapanuod ko sila.
• Yung excitement nung Photography class namin. Yung araw na pupunta kaming Greenbelt para panuorin yung WTK, The Maine at Nevershoutnever, tapos after non 12 mdnight yung alis namin papuntang baler. Yung nagbibigay ng instructions si sir na “wag masyadong lumayo”, magingat sa mga alon, ganun ganun. Yung nakakaexcite na “SHET PUPUNTA KAMING BALER MAMAYA!!!” 
• Yung streotype photoshoot
• Yung kasama ko kumain si Maikee, Mara at yung mama ni Maikee sa Mang Inasal. tas nanlibre si Tita.
• Yung kumanta si Dolf ng DAUGHTERS nung debut ni Milan
• Yung nakapila kami nung dalawa kong kasama nung concert ng Paramore
• Pag kasama ko si Marj, Jheisha at Jestine.
• Yung umiinom kami ni Marj ng sobrang lamig na Tanduay Ice sa shore sa bora :))))))
• Yung naglaro kami ng baraha sa tabing dagat.
• Yung mine-makeupan ako ni Marj (jusko) sa room namin nung nasa bora. Ewanko kung bakit pero ewan. Ang saya ko non hahahaha!! Pota
• Yung nasa bus kami ni Jestine galing Greenhills. :’D
• Yung nag-I HAVE NEVER WHAT na game kami ng HS at College friends ko.
• Yung tinanggal ni Audrey at ni Jestine yung sapatos ko nung 19th ni Jevi. Kasi lasing na ata ako. :))
• Yung niyakap ako ni Mik nung nasa La Luz kami. Kasi sa gitna ng inuman, tumaas yung lagnat ko.
• Pag nagtatawanan kami ni Hannah
• Yung kinantahan ako ni Randolf at ni Kiel
• Yung sinayaw ako ni Randolf at ni Kiel nung debut ni Milan!!! HAHAHAHA
• Yung usapan namin sa ride nung papunta sa debut ni Milan :))
• Pag nagjajamming kami ni Dolf at Kiel
• Nung nagjajamming kaming nineteen.
• Yung tatlo kami nila Mona at Gray last week. Umiinom, tas may fireworks.
• Yung tatlo kami ni Jheisha at Marj, tapos may fireworks
• Yung pinanuod ko yung sunrise sa Pansol, Laguna. (tulog pa yung iba kasi mga lasing ata)
• Yung nasa van kami papuntang Baler. Mga 1am yun. Yung tugtog sa radyo “Biglaan” ng 6-cycle mind. Tapos wala lang, ang chill lang.
• Tas ung nagising ako ng 3am, nagstopover kami sa Nueva Ecija. Tinanong namin kung ilang oras nlng yung ride. Apat na oras pa daw. Lol
• Yung galing kami ni Dadi sa Quezon City. Tapos pauwi na kami, yung tugtog sa radyo “How Deep Is Your Love” ng Beegees. Tapos kumakanta kami parehas.
• Yung paliko-liko magdrive si Willi. Tapos lahat kami na nakasakay sa kotse nya, may tama na :))
• Yung magagandang soundtrip sa kotse ni Willi. Tapos kumakanta kaming lahat.
• Yung ride din na kasama ko sila Kiel, Dolf, Willi at Hannah tas pinaguusapan namin yung kwentong “nasa trunk si jesus”. :))
• Yung ride nung hinatid ako ni Mona at ni Willi sa bahay. Galing Manilart.
• Yung nagmcdo kami after peace camp (nung 1st year)
• Yung friday night dinner naming blockmates
• Yung lahat kami nagchicheer nung intrams pag magshushoot si mara ng bola =))))))))))))
• Yung napasayaw ako ni Marj at Jhe ng california girls. Putang ina :))
• Yung first inuman namin ng blockmates ko
• Yung first inuman namin ng HS friends ko
• Yung first time kong nakitang magyosi si….. =))
• Yung inuman naming dalawa ni Marj
• Yung inuman naming dalawa ni Gray bago magrakenrol (1st time din nyang makakain ng sisig)
• Yung nalasing si Maikee
• Yung bumili kami ni Cathy ng parehas na bag
• Nung 3rd year, yung 1st time ko makasama magmall si cathy na kaming dalawa lang. (tas di pa kami close nun) hahaha
• Yung first time kong makasama si Audrey, tas close ko agad.
• Yung time na nagpasundo ako kila Jestine, Jheisha at Audrey sa Santolan station. Yung nakita ko yung mga mukha nila. Naiyak ako tapos niyakap ko sila
• Pag tinatawag ako ni Rea na “Partner!”
• Pag nagagaguhan kami kasama si Rea, Mik at Hannah
• Yung sumabay ako pauwi sa kotse ni Darb
• Everytime na sumasabay ako kila Hannah pauwi. 
• Yung pagfold ng paper cranes!!!
• Yung naglakad ako mag-isa sa overpass Rotonda ng gabi, kita ko streetlights tas nakaearphones ako tas maganda yung music
• Pag nagmemeryenda at nagcucut kami ni Hannah at Mara sa blue tent.
• Yung nagyakapan kami ni tina nung birthday ko.
• Every time na magoovernight kami kila Jestine
• Yung magttawanan kami ni Audrey
• EVERY BIRTHDAY NI CATHY AT JEVI. THE BEST
• Birthday din ni Maikee!
• Tuwing one on one talk kami ni Mader
• Yung 1st time namin magovernight ni Aly kila Gray
• Yung chumill ako kasama si Mona at Willi nung tinulugan ako ni Gray nung nag-away sila ni Mara nung nagovernight kami sa kanila :)))))
• Yung nasa kubo kami nung Baler tapos may nakaaway kaming mga lalaki don, to the rescue sila dolf. =))
• Yung naglaro kami ng truth or dare sa baler. Sa may shore. Tas dinare namin yung prof namin sumigaw ng “PENIS!!!” tapos ginawa nya.
• Yung nagbabasa ako ng libro habang inaantay si Marj. Kasama ko si dolf, tina at fer. 

UGHHHHHH ang damiiiiiii. :)) pero sobrang kulang pa. Grabe. Nilagay ko lang kung ano yung pumasok sa isip ko ngayon. Pero siguro itutuloy ko pa ‘to.

Gusto ko lang ilagay dito para pag nabasa ko, maaalala ko ulit. At babalik-balikan ko. Mahirap na, baka mauntog ako, malimutan ko yan lahat. Loljk.

Pero ayun. Wala lang. Ang saya :)) Isasama ko yung pagsusulat nito sa listahan ko :))

Hello friends

Cheers for all the difficulties.
Cheers for the good times and bad times.
Cheers for all the issues.
Cheers for the bonding.
Get drunk for all the love and the hate.
Get high for all that has been shared, and not shared.

And most of all, cheers for another year of being together.

Despite all the pissed out moments, the hatred, the jealousy, the exchange of foul words and the issues.. We still manage to stay friends in the end. And I hope it’ll be the same for the coming years. I love you guys, alam niyo yan. >:D<

Happy 2012!