Internship and my faltering energy
Dear Readers,
It has been an awful long time since I posted an entry. I apologise for making this place all dusty and unbearably boring. Been wanting to change the blog skin actually. Unfortunately, my Frontpage/Dreamweaver skills are sorely lacking, that's why this is taking so long. But I assure you that I have not abandoned the idea yet.. let's just say that it's been delayed until further notice..
I am being really truthful when I tell you that I am really really busy. Well, how can I not when I am working 6 1/2 days a week. Weekdays would be my internship at company *A, and weekends would be my part-time job at the bookstore. Till now, my internship has yet to require me to go back on weekends; at most I am just staying past 7pm. Thank God..
But then again, for the pay I am getting, it would not be wrong for me to be given more work then the students having their internship at other organisations. How much you ask? Ah.. a very nice hefty $1300 per mth. For an internship, by george! That is definitely alot!.. Plus, my resume is going to be smashing when I apply for a job after I graduate (*A is a really well known Consultation & IT organisation. I suppose it more than qualifies for being an MNC).
Well, since I am already into the topic of my internship, let me talk a little more about it. My supervisor/manager happens to be an Irish guy. A really nice, warm & funny guy. But when it comes to work & meeting deadlines, this guy really really whips us into shape. He is a real work driver I tell you. And that guy can't really make up his mind. Oft he goes into a long talk about what task I would have to take care of. When I go back to him for further instructions, the guy apparently can't really remember what he wants, so he scraps the idea. Either that, or he just keeps changing things.
You see, I am in the communications side of the project, thus the Irish guy wants me to communicate more with all the people involved in this project. And the thing is that most of these people are in the top-level position. Imagine how difficult it is with all the high-level people being so busy. Who bloody cares what the intern wants to know?! I am so not worth their time. I mean I have to be realistic here. I am an intern who probably is here to help them take care of a portion of their shit job, and lighten their load a little. Thank goodness I don't have to make tea and coffee; *grin* my Irish manager makes the beverage for me (but that's only when I am having a meeting with him).
Anyway, back the the pushy side of the manager. I recall the conversation I was having with him that day. Our little talk had been long overdue (as he had put it). He came up to me sometime during mid-afternoon and said,
"So Raelin, are you up for a cup of coffee? Come on, let's go grab a coffee."
Weeelll now, that was my cue to take a break and slack off.. Man.. if only I knew what I was getting myself into. Basically, to cut the long story short, his purpose calling me for a drink, was to give me a pep talk about what he expects out of me.. And basically what I should expect out of myself. It was the usual "why did you choose this firm", "what do you know about *A", "what do you see yourself doing after you graduate". AND THEN, he shot me with a challenge. He said,
"Raelin, tell you what. I challenge you."
I could swear my heart just stopped beating right then and there. It stopped with the dreaded anticipation of what was to come next.
"I challenge you to tell me, by the end of the next 3 weeks, what you expect out of this company. What do you want to learn. What do you want us to teach you. Now, I would be really angry if you end up telling me that what you have learnt is merely doing powerpoint, and learning how to photocopy, or completing the tasks set forth for you. That is part of the internship, but it should only be 10% of what you learn. The rest of it, I want you to talk everyone involved in this project. I want you to go up to them and ask them what they do on the project. Where have they studied before. Where did they work previously."
WHAT THE F******!! The guy is a raving lunatic! But if I am being honest, I could see how this would really benefit me. STILL!!.. Well, I just smiled and nodded. I mean, what else could I have done!? I knew this free coffee wasn't really free afterall.
For now, I am still surviving. There doesn't seem any possible way for me to temporarily stop my weekend part-time job; and I don't want to lose it. I do need the extra money if I am going to proceed with a Euro trip after graduation. Yes yes.. some friend of mine, from the faculty I am in, suggested a graduation trip, and we both thought Europe would be bloody fantastic. Which means I would need to set aside at least $5000 if I am going to make that dream come true. So I can't quit. I hope I can survive through this.. 3 down, 7 weeks to go..
It has been an awful long time since I posted an entry. I apologise for making this place all dusty and unbearably boring. Been wanting to change the blog skin actually. Unfortunately, my Frontpage/Dreamweaver skills are sorely lacking, that's why this is taking so long. But I assure you that I have not abandoned the idea yet.. let's just say that it's been delayed until further notice..
I am being really truthful when I tell you that I am really really busy. Well, how can I not when I am working 6 1/2 days a week. Weekdays would be my internship at company *A, and weekends would be my part-time job at the bookstore. Till now, my internship has yet to require me to go back on weekends; at most I am just staying past 7pm. Thank God..
But then again, for the pay I am getting, it would not be wrong for me to be given more work then the students having their internship at other organisations. How much you ask? Ah.. a very nice hefty $1300 per mth. For an internship, by george! That is definitely alot!.. Plus, my resume is going to be smashing when I apply for a job after I graduate (*A is a really well known Consultation & IT organisation. I suppose it more than qualifies for being an MNC).
Well, since I am already into the topic of my internship, let me talk a little more about it. My supervisor/manager happens to be an Irish guy. A really nice, warm & funny guy. But when it comes to work & meeting deadlines, this guy really really whips us into shape. He is a real work driver I tell you. And that guy can't really make up his mind. Oft he goes into a long talk about what task I would have to take care of. When I go back to him for further instructions, the guy apparently can't really remember what he wants, so he scraps the idea. Either that, or he just keeps changing things.
You see, I am in the communications side of the project, thus the Irish guy wants me to communicate more with all the people involved in this project. And the thing is that most of these people are in the top-level position. Imagine how difficult it is with all the high-level people being so busy. Who bloody cares what the intern wants to know?! I am so not worth their time. I mean I have to be realistic here. I am an intern who probably is here to help them take care of a portion of their shit job, and lighten their load a little. Thank goodness I don't have to make tea and coffee; *grin* my Irish manager makes the beverage for me (but that's only when I am having a meeting with him).
Anyway, back the the pushy side of the manager. I recall the conversation I was having with him that day. Our little talk had been long overdue (as he had put it). He came up to me sometime during mid-afternoon and said,
"So Raelin, are you up for a cup of coffee? Come on, let's go grab a coffee."
Weeelll now, that was my cue to take a break and slack off.. Man.. if only I knew what I was getting myself into. Basically, to cut the long story short, his purpose calling me for a drink, was to give me a pep talk about what he expects out of me.. And basically what I should expect out of myself. It was the usual "why did you choose this firm", "what do you know about *A", "what do you see yourself doing after you graduate". AND THEN, he shot me with a challenge. He said,
"Raelin, tell you what. I challenge you."
I could swear my heart just stopped beating right then and there. It stopped with the dreaded anticipation of what was to come next.
"I challenge you to tell me, by the end of the next 3 weeks, what you expect out of this company. What do you want to learn. What do you want us to teach you. Now, I would be really angry if you end up telling me that what you have learnt is merely doing powerpoint, and learning how to photocopy, or completing the tasks set forth for you. That is part of the internship, but it should only be 10% of what you learn. The rest of it, I want you to talk everyone involved in this project. I want you to go up to them and ask them what they do on the project. Where have they studied before. Where did they work previously."
WHAT THE F******!! The guy is a raving lunatic! But if I am being honest, I could see how this would really benefit me. STILL!!.. Well, I just smiled and nodded. I mean, what else could I have done!? I knew this free coffee wasn't really free afterall.
For now, I am still surviving. There doesn't seem any possible way for me to temporarily stop my weekend part-time job; and I don't want to lose it. I do need the extra money if I am going to proceed with a Euro trip after graduation. Yes yes.. some friend of mine, from the faculty I am in, suggested a graduation trip, and we both thought Europe would be bloody fantastic. Which means I would need to set aside at least $5000 if I am going to make that dream come true. So I can't quit. I hope I can survive through this.. 3 down, 7 weeks to go..
posted by Raelin at Sunday, May 29, 2005
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