Each month, we feature tips for success in landing Parker Dewey Micro-Internships, opportunities to get involved with our larger community of companies and organizations, and success stories that highlight the benefits of Micro-Internships. This newsletter was originally published in May 2021. To receive future Hire Learnings for Career Launcher newsletters, click here!
Let's talk best practices for starting your Micro-Internship off on the right foot. Whether your Micro-Internship is your first or fifth professional experience, these tips are here to help you make a great first impression and set yourself up for success.
- Reach out to the manager or company contact you'll be working with as soon as possible: A prompt follow-up email shows your soon-to-be manager that you're proactive and enthusiastic about your upcoming project. For employers, it's always a plus when the Micro-Intern makes the extra effort right from the get-go.
- Use your follow-up email as an opportunity to: Reintroduce yourself, express your excitement about getting going on the project, and ask whether there's any other information you can provide.
You're kicking off the project on Zoom with your new manager:
- Be prompt or early to the call: 2 PM does not mean 2:05 PM! Joining the video call on time or slightly ahead of your scheduled meeting tells your new manager that you're on the ball and respectful of other people's schedules.
- Come prepared to take notes: Make sure you're ready to write down any important project details or outstanding questions.
- Err on the side of professional: No pajama shirts or athletic tees here! Even when your kickoff is digital, it's a great practice to dress as you would on your first day in a new office. (The good news: Sweatpants and slippers are out of the camera and still fair game!) You can also up your Zoom game with an office background for the full professional effect.
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You Asked, They Answered: The Dreaded "Why Should We Hire You?" Question
This month's question comes from Shelby, a neuroscience major at the University of Vermont who will graduate in 2023:
Monthly Spotlight
Meet Kenzie, a junior at Miami University of Ohio majoring in emerging technology and business and design and minoring in digital innovation and marketing. Post-college, she’s aiming to work in marketing. We sat down with Kenzie to chat about completing a Micro-Internship while studying abroad, how she used Micro-Internships to test-drive her industry of interest, and tips for crafting a killer application. See Kenzie's full story here!
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