Networking Goal for the Summer: Conduct an Informational Interview

You’re starting to get your networking “sea legs” so to speak, introducing yourself around the office, asking for business cards at receptions, and making valuable connections for the future. One way to maximize these connections is to ask to conduct informational interviews with professionals working in your field of interest.

These meetings are a great way to find how someone 5, 10 or 15 years ahead of you got to where they are now. Make it a goal for the summer to schedule at least one informational interview while you are in DC!

PREPARATION
Don’t be afraid to ask your supervisor or other people you’ve met for recommendations of who to contact. Every successful professional was once in your shoes and will likely be happy to help. Once you’ve identified the person you would like to meet with, schedule the meeting via email. Suggest a specific time and place, but be flexible to his or her schedule. Meeting at the office or a quick coffee may be a better bet time-wise than asking for a lunch timeslot.

Make sure that you have fully researched the person’s organization and any background details you can find so that you are able to ask intelligent questions.  Arrive a few minutes early – your contact is taking time out of his or her busy day to meeting with you.

DURING THE MEETING
Bring a copy of your resume and ask for feedback. Plan and prioritize your questions ahead of time. You are able to ask more candid questions than you might during an actual job interview, but remember to keep it professional. Here are some topics that are appropriate to cover:

• How did you get to your current position?
• What level of education is necessary to succeed in the field?
• Are there specific courses that you should be focusing on during your undergraduate education?
• What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of your chosen career?
• General information on salary and benefits to be expected in the field, but do not ask personal questions related to specific circumstances.
• Recommendations for job searching techniques upon graduation.

AFTER THE MEETING
Type up your notes from the meeting so that you may reference them down the road. You should also send a hand-written or emailed thank you note right away. It is important to show your gratitude to those who go out of their way to assist you. Make sure to stay in touch – this contact may be a valuable networking partner for years to come!

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Making Your Social Media Profiles Internship Ready

You’ve picked out your outfit for the first day on the job, you’ve mapped out your Metro route, but have you updated your privacy settings on Facebook and made sure that your internet presence projects the professional image that you are going for this summer?

For most of your online content, there are simple steps you can take to keep your most personal information away from prying eyes.

Facebook – With more than 845 million users worldwide, Facebook is the most recognizable social media platform on the Internet. It’s also the platform where potential employers are most likely to search for you. There are tricks that job-seekers often use to keep hiring managers from glimpsing their pages. You can change your Facebook name to just your first and middle name or set privacy controls on who can find you using your contact information. However, the safest route is to assume that employers will find your profile and proceed with caution. Visit the Facebook privacy page and make sure that you have a thorough understanding on how to differentiate between public and private content on your wall.

When posting to your Facebook timeline, use the audience selector tool to choose what audiences can view the content you are sharing. Use the dropdown menu to choose if you want the post to be public, viewable to only friends, viewable to only you, or use the custom option to share the content with only specific people or groups. You can also use this custom option to exclude certain people or groups from viewing the content.

If you’re still nervous about what your public Facebook profile looks like, use the “View As” tool. Go to your profile page, and select the settings icon that appears next to the “Update Info” and “Activity Log” buttons at the top right hand corner of your timeline. From the dropdown menu, choose “View As…” to see how your timeline appears to the public. You can also enter a Facebook friend’s name to see how your profile appears to that person.

For more tips on Facebook privacy such as controlling who can find you on Facebook and how to review posts that you’re tagged in before they appear on your timeline, visit https://www.facebook.com/help/privacy/basic-controls.

Twitter – By design, Twitter is a public forum. In 140 characters or less, you can share your every thought or opinion with the world. Its default settings are to make your tweets, the people you follow, the tweets you mark as favorites and your retweets public. This information is not just viewable through your Twitter profile, it is also delivered to search engines like Google as soon as you hit that tweet button. Through Twitter settings it is possible to “protect” your tweets so that only users you approve of can view your content. However, that does not stop users you have approved of from retweeting that content publically. Whether your tweets are protected or not, you should consider every tweet public.

Linkedin - This is not the place for private content. Linkedin is the hub of your professional online persona. It is the world’s largest online professional network with more than 150 million members. Many of these members are employers searching for ideal candidates to fill their job openings. If you’re not already on Linkedin, create a profile today. Linkedin is your space to include all of the skills and experiences that could not fit on your one-page resume. Although there are some privacy options through Linkedin settings, keeping your profile as public as possible will broaden the pool of potential employers.

Google+ – The social media arm of its search engine creator, Google+ is a social networking site built around “circles” or groups of people with whom you share content. Much like Facebook, Google+ allows you to choose with whom each post is shared. You can elect to make a post public, or limit its access by choosing to share it with only select individuals or circles. Your name and any other information you make public in your profile are searchable on the web and may appear in Google search results. To control your Google+ privacy settings, visit https://www.google.com/settings/privacy.

Pinterest - Unlike its predecessors, this rising star of social media has no options for creating private content. Pins and boards on Pinterest are completely open to the public. Keep this in mind next time you are tempted to pin something that contains foul language to your “Makes Me Laugh” board.

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Learn to Walk the Walk: DC Pedestrian Etiquette

Once you’ve landed that coveted D.C. internship, the first thing you should do is find a comfortable pair of “commuter shoes.” The second thing you should do is learn how to walk in those shoes. And we’re not talking about your confident, professional swagger. What we mean is that you better start learning the do’s and don’ts of D.C. pedestrian etiquette. The streets and sidewalks of this Capital City are buzzing with traffic on both wheel and foot. If you don’t follow these unspoken rules, you risk becoming a human speedbump … or at least the recipient of some less than pleasant honks, ridiculing glares and profanity laced shouts.

Walk on the RIGHT side of the sidewalk. Have you ever been strolling down the sidewalk when another person started walking straight toward you?  You both start doing that awkward zigzag dance of who is going to take the other side of the walkway. Well imagine that in a city where over 50% of its workers commute to the office by foot or public transportation.* That adds up to a lot of awkward games of chicken, and one serious foot-traffic delay. In a perfect pedestrian world, cities would paint yellow lines down the middle of their walkways, directing its commuters to walk to the right and pass on the left. Even if those lines don’t exist, D.C. is a much happier and prompt city when we all just imagine that they are there.

Single file, please! There’s nothing more annoying than trying to make your bus stop and being stifled by a massive sidewalk mob that won’t let you pass. We’re not saying that you can’t have a commuting buddy, but be mindful and courteous to your fellow walkway companions.

Keep your eyes on the sidewalk and off the Blackberry/iPhone! Even if a smart phone is not your vice, it’s easy to find your eyes wandering to your iPod or the morning’s free edition of the Washington Post Express. This city if full of distractions, but it’s also full of busy intersections. Think about it this way: no matter how important you think it is to check that email or read that news story before going into work, you’ll never make it to the office if you walk into oncoming traffic.

Obey the pedestrian traffic lights. Okay, so maybe this isn’t an unspoken rule. It’s actually the law. However, who isn’t guilty of bending pedestrian laws when in a hurry? Jaywalking here, ignoring a red walking signal there. But in a city this bustling, it’s important to play by the rules. Most intersections in D.C. have pedestrian traffic lights that let you know when it’s safe to walk, and when you should stay put. It’s not uncommon for pedestrians to take these signals as a suggestion, rather than a rule. D.C. intersections and traffic circles can be complicated, often seeing traffic from six different directions. You may think it’s a safe time to walk, but the traffic signals know best. Besides, you don’t want to be THAT intern who prematurely walks into the middle of an intersection, blocking traffic from turning left and causing an entire street to back up. Trust us, you don’t.

For more tips and tools on D.C. pedestrian rules, visit the District Department of Transportation website, or follow DDOT on Twitter at @DDOTDC.

*http://ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/On+Your+Street/Bicycles+and+Pedestrians/Pedestrians/Pedestrian+Master+Plan/Pedestrian+Master+Plan+2009

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How to deal with conflicts in the workplace

As much as we would love to sail through life without any conflicts or problems, we do not live in such a world.  No matter how friendly or professional we are, there are bound to be tension and disagreements in our lives.  The workplace is no exception.

As you prepare for your internship, here are a few things to keep in mind when workplace conflicts arise:

• Communication is key. Whether the conflict is with your supervisor, another intern, or someone else on the staff, it is always best to communicate.
• Don’t be afraid to face the problem. It may be intimidating to approach your supervisor about a problem, particularly if they are a part of the conflict; but letting someone know of a problem as soon as it arises with may prevent bigger or more serious problems from developing later.
• When talking about a problem, remain calm. Convey your point clearly without anger, exaggeration, inflammatory words, or finger pointing. Beginning your communication by flying off the handle will not resolve the problem.  If you begin in a confrontational manner, it is more likely that any sympathy or concern for your point of view will be ignored; and your supervisor or coworker will take a defensive position.
• Work toward a resolution. Once the lines of communication are opened, you will hopefully be able to resolve the conflict. It may be that the other person involved was unaware of how you feel or didn’t see something as a problem. Work toward a solution that works for both sides. Despite Washington’s reputation for partisan gridlock, it is still possible to forge a compromise in this city.
• That being said, be prepared for disappointment. Depending on the nature of the problem, you may need to resign yourself to the fact that the issue will not be resolved to your satisfaction or in your favor. Certainly, issues such as sexual harassment or dangerous working conditions need to be addressed in a special fashion and cannot be left unresolved. However, conflicts involving work assignments or personality issues may require that you “suck-it-up” and make the best of a challenging situation.

Learning how to handle workplace disagreements is an important skill to develop as a professional. As you work through these situations this summer, remember that you are learning a lesson that will help you long after your internship has ended.

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Packing Essentials and Professional Wardrobe Tips

Packing for a summer internship in Washington, DC can seem like quite a daunting task!  The unpredictability of the weather, limited suitcase space, and the  need for comfort while commuting makes deciding what items make the cut rather difficult.

Before you begin your packing list, you should speak with your supervisor about the office dress code.  While some offices are still strictly business attire, there are many that are business casual or even casual.

*Important Note: Casual does not necessarily mean that jeans are appropriate. If your supervisor says that the office is casual, consider asking for examples of the type of clothing staff members usually wear.  Always lean towards over-dressing instead of under-dressing.

You will also want to consider the length and type of your commute.  If it looks like you will be walking for some distance, as is common in DC, then you should pack comfortable shoes for commuting and plan to carry your jacket if you are wearing a suit.  Blisters and sweating will make for a tough first week of work!

*Commuter tip:  It tends to be hot and humid in DC during the summer, which means it can begin to rain at anytime.  Make sure to bring an umbrella with you during your travels.

Once you have a handle of the dress code of your office and what you will need for your commute, there are some simple items that you should make sure to pack to complete your professional wardrobe.

 

Women

• Two or three suits – go for the neutral colors, this way you can re-wear them and no one will know.
• Knee length skirts – make sure they are long enough; a skirt that is too short is unprofessional and will make you standout as an intern.
• Dress pants
• Blouses – avoid plunging necklines.
• Dress shoes/sandals – should have a small heel and fit the style of your office.
• Cardigans or jackets – can be worn with sleeveless dresses and tank tops. Even though it is hot, you should always err on the side of modesty.

Men

• Two or three suits
• A sport coat – can dress up a day when you wear trousers or slacks.  Keep a sport coat with you each day in the event that you have an unplanned meeting and need to look more professional.
• Variety of trousers - (khaki, grey, etc.) can be interchanged with different dress tops and ties.  Look for neutral pants that are made of wrinkle free material to save time.
• Four or five dress shirts and ties – avoid ties with fancy or cheesy patterns and stick with solids, stripes, or mild patterns. These are more professional and easier to wear multiple times.
• Khakis and polo shirts – perfect for workplaces that have “Casual Fridays” or other more informal attire).
• Business dress shoes

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