Transcript English Intern Orientation

English Department Internships
Dr. Russell Willerton
ENGL 198
Feb. 1, 2012
Why go to college?
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To learn new things
To become a better citizen
To get a job
You need to consider the role that
internships can play in helping you reach
your college goals.
You need to consider the role that majoring
in English can play in helping you reach
your college goals.
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Outline
1. Define internship
2. Discuss benefits of internships
3. Identify frequent sponsors of English
department internships
4. Discuss process of starting and
completing an English department
internship
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Defining “internship”
An internship is a pre-professional work
experience that provides students, recent
graduates, and career changers with a
chance to find out more about a certain
career without a permanent commitment.
For students, internships provide a way to
gain work experience, supplement academic
classes and, in some cases, earn college
credit.—jobsearch.about.com
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Defining “internship”
An internship is an opportunity to integrate
career-related experience into an
undergraduate education by participating in
planned, supervised work. —polisci.osu.edu
Note: Just because they call you an intern, that
doesn’t mean they are providing an internship.
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Benefits of an internship
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Explore or confirm a career option
Network with professionals in your field
Gain practical work experience
Gain a competitive edge—get things you
can talk about in a job interview
 Apply course concepts to the workplace
 Add to your professional portfolio
 Earn credits toward your degree* (if you register)
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Frequent English
internship sponsors
On campus
Off campus
Arbiter/Student Media
Boise Weekly
BSU News and Marketing
Shake It Up After School
BSU Linguistics Lab
St. Luke’s, St. Al’s
BSU Writing Center
Idaho DEQ
Melville’s Marginalia Online
Morris Hill Neighborhood Assoc.
BSU Women’s Center
Healthwise
BSU Faculty
Rediscovered Bookshop
Ahsahta Press
Ada County Sheriff’s Office
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The internship process
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Reach junior status (58+ credits).
Find an internship site/supervisor.
Complete the online application.
Turn in the printed, signed form to the registrar’s
office.
Pay for the credits.
Complete the internship during the designated
semester: fall, spring, or summer.
Work conscientiously under the direction of your
agency supervisor.
Complete the required assignments in Blackboard.
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Representing BSU and the
English department
The value of your Boise State diploma is directly
related to how the local community perceives BSU
faculty, staff, students, and graduates. As an
intern, you are representing BSU, the English
department, and English majors.
Maintain the value of your degree and ensure
internship opportunities for future English majors
by behaving in a professional manner in all
interactions with people in our community.
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Ask yourself:
 Can you afford to complete an internship as
part of your coursework?
Costs: time; money; opportunity to take another
class
 Can you afford to not complete an internship as
part of your coursework?
Costs: loss of workplace knowledge and
experience, loss of knowledge about a potential
career, fewer networking contacts
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Learning more
Contact Dr. Willerton:
[email protected]
Search ‘English Dept.
Internships’ in Blackboard
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Employee Wanted:
Bookish person with disdain for Corporate
America. Sarcasm and quick wit are a must.
Preference given to those who treat every
human encounter as a “text” to be analyzed.
English degree required; lack of electives in
other subjects is a definite plus. Even
though you have no prior experience, we
know you will “flip the switch” and start
producing excellent work to benefit our
company. Pay = lots of $$$!
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Orientation outline
1. Understanding the value of an academic
internship
2. Meeting English internship requirements
3. Getting the most out of your internship
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Your responsibilities
1. Find an internship site/supervisor
2. Complete the online application
3. Register at Boise State University for internship
credit
4. Complete the internship during the dates specified
5. Comply with general rules, policies, and
procedures of the organization
6. Work conscientiously under the direction of your
agency supervisor
cont.
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Your responsibilities, cont.
7.
Comply with the rules of confidentiality of the
organization or business
8. Report serious problems, including physical,
safety, and personnel, to your agency supervisor
and English internship coordinator
9. Complete all academic assignments and course
work related to the internship
10. For your protection, it is recommended that you
carry Boise State Student Health Insurance or
other private health insurance
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Value of an internship
The importance of the academic internship has
increased significantly in the past few years.
Consider the following:
In the early 1980s, only 1 in 36 students completed an
internship or other experiential learning program. In 2000,
one study found that approximately 86 percent of college
students had completed internships, with 69 percent
reporting having had two or more.
—Grimsley, K. “For Today’s College Grads, It Isn’t Just About
Money.” Washington Post, 5 May 2000, sec H, p. 1.
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English internship
course assignments
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Activity log
Internship journal
Progress report
Intern questionnaire
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Incompletes
Unless you have discussed your situation with the English Intern
Coordinator, do not start an internship with the intention of requesting
an Incomplete.
Requesting a grade of Incomplete might be appropriate if you
experience a documented medical situation that prevents you from
completing your internship. Likewise, if conditions beyond your control
change at your internship and prevent you from completing your
internship, an incomplete might be appropriate.
However, poor time management, lack of planning, and unsatisfactory
performance are not appropriate reasons to request a grade of
Incomplete. Read the course policies for specific details.
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Orientation outline
1. Understanding the value of an academic
internship
2. Meeting English internship requirements
3. Getting the most out of your internship
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Meeting your employer’s
expectations
According to a 2005 survey by the National Association of Colleges and
Employers, employers want to hire people with the following skills:
Quality or Skill
Rank1
Communication skills
4.7
Honesty/Integrity
4.7
interpersonal skills
4.5
Strong work ethic
4.5
Teamwork skills
4.5
Analytical skills
4.4
Motivation and initiative
4.3
Flexibility and adaptability
4.2
Computer skills
4.1
1Scale: 1= not important, 5= extremely important
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Meeting your employer’s
expectations, cont.
Unfortunately, this same survey revealed that employers
feel that students entering the workforce lack the following
qualities of character and skills:
 Communication skills
 Business ethics
 Work ethic
The following slides contain advice and tips to help you
demonstrate that you have the qualities of character
and skills that employers value.
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Working as an intern
Working as an intern is a balancing act:
 Acknowledge that you are an intern
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Take advantage of opportunities to learn
Listen more than you talk
Be willing to “get your hands dirty”
Show appreciation of those working with you
 Recognize that you are a contributing team
member
- Show a willingness to participate
- Share your knowledge
- Recognize that you are adding value
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Protecting confidential
material
In your work as an intern you might have
access to personal information (e.g., health
or financial data), sensitive technical data, or
proprietary commercial information. Your
sponsor depends on you to handle such
information is a responsible manner. You
are accountable for using and protecting
confidential data according to the guidelines
established by your sponsoring organization.
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Understanding nondisclosure agreements
An organization might ask you to sign a non-disclosure
(confidentiality) agreement. These agreements perform
several functions:
 Establish guidelines by which you will handle the
confidential information
 Protect sensitive information from disclosure to others
 Prevent the forfeiture of valuable patent rights by an
organization
 Define exactly what information can and cannot be
disclosed
 Limit your use of the confidential information
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Understanding non-compete
agreements
A non-compete agreement states that you will not
work for any other companies who compete in the
same industry for a specified period (often a year)
after you leave a company.
It is not reasonable, in my view, for an intern to
sign one of these in a small market like Boise.
If you ever have doubts about a document you are
asked to sign, get help before you sign it.
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Managing your time
Juggling an internship, courses, family, and whatever else
life throws your way can be a challenge. I recommend
keeping a to do list. Consider the following strategy for
managing your time and increasing your productivity:
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Create a daily and weekly task list
Assign priorities to each task
Check off items as they are completed
Refer to completed lists when writing about your
accomplishments
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Learning more
In the Information folder at the English
Internship Blackboard site, you can find
several short articles addressing topics such
as business meeting etiquette,
communication tips, cubicle etiquette, cellphone etiquette, e-mail etiquette,
networking, and mentoring.
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Learning more
Contact Dr. Willerton:
[email protected]
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