maandag 3 juni 2013

5 Ways to Rock That Internship and to Become the Best Intern Your Company Has Had


Hey congrats and welcome to the real business world. If you’re an intern like me, you probably will be stressed out!  Like the different stages in a buying cycle process, there are also different stages you will pass during an internship.  The first few days I felt a bit lonely because my colleagues were obviously all strangers for me and it was actually the first time my independence really began. I didn’t know how to act, I didn’t know what my capacities were, I felt like a tiny girl in a big big world.

But from then on, everything went great. You will discover the nice atmosphere, you get to know your lovely colleagues and you will be fully focused on your tasks. I felt like Rocky who didn’t want to stop and go on.  

So no worries cause everything will be okay in the end.

There are actually ways to rock your internship and I’ll tell you with pleasure the tips and tricks I use(d), which of course doesn’t mean that I’m the best intern they had. But just believe me, figuring out what to wear and where to go when it’s lunchtime are not the main questions to ask yourself.

5 Ways to Rock That  Internship

1.      Get to know the company
The first thing I did when I got here, is trying to understand what the company is about. You can read the whole website, read blog-articles, use the product or service by yourself,... And most important, know the vision and mission of your company so you can fully integrate yourself in the enterprise and you will be accepted as a real employee. It will also help to be successful in your job role. Cause nothing’s worse than talking about smartphones while your company sells tablets, just to make it clear.

2.      Be yourself but be humble
Do you ever pretend you’re someone else? Please, there is no need to because you’ll be exposed as incompetent and as a fool. Be yourself and they will all love you. Just make sure you are humble, this will result in a good relationship with your internship mentor. You are the newbie at the office and you should act accordingly. So please do not think you are still in secondary school where you were Miss or Mister Popular.

3.      Stay positive
An internship is a learning process so it doesn’t matter if you're making some mistakes, that's why it's for actually. So what I am trying to say is that you have to stay positive, no matter what. No task is too small for you. Working with a smile on your face in the office will make you a memorable intern, it will even give you some brownie points.

4.      Communicate 
It is recommended to have a weekly meeting with your mentor to talk about your progress and tasks. I asked for feedback cause it is a great way  to learn more and to know what competences I have. Open communication is the key to trust, which is very important.

5. Say goodbye to your comfort zone 
Your comfort zone is a metaphorical circle where you are situated in at the moment.  But come on, step out of your comfort zone and create a life full of possibilities and ambitions. Yes I know, it is safe, neutral and amusing out there. I never said it will be easy. It is also hard for me but I know that by challenging myself and doing things I am scared of, I won’t feel any fear next time…I hope. They all say your world will open so let’s believe it. 

woensdag 17 april 2013

10 iPad Applications You Must Have as an Intern


So I have recently bought an iPad mini and I’m already addicted to it. 
I have to admit, my iPad Mini is my very best friend and is always by my side. I really would recommend you to buy one, once you have the money (cause I know, you’re a hard-working student). It’s not just a toy, it’s a useful, handy, amusing toy and a great investment, obviously!

I would like to share 10 applications (which I use daily as an intern at Showpad) with you and I’ll explain why you’ve got to have them:

1. Flipboard 
Fliboard is your own social magazine, only with the latest articles that concern you. I have decided to get information about the latest world news, photography, traveling, music & movies and technology.  On top of that, the newsfeed from my facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn-account are also combined and stored in the magazine-like app. What more can you ask for? You get all the information you want, in one central place! 5 minutes to spare? That’s enough to be up-to-date with the latest news, social media updates & trends. 
By the way: Apple calls Flipboard the iPad app of the year. 



2. Evernote
I know, internships can be very chaotic. You have 10 tasks at once, where to begin? Well, I begin with storing my tasks in my Evernote. It’s an easy tool to remember all your tasks and assignments. I’m using photos and notes, so it’s like a handy mind map.  


3. Calenmob
What would you do without an agenda? This Google calendar app is simple, clean and gives you a good overview.  Most important, you don’t need Internet connection. All changes will be synced back to your Google account the next time you connect.


4.  Dropbox
Am I the only one who once sent emails to myself? I don’t think so. Dropbox is a free service that stores your photos, docs & videos anywhere! And sharing has never been so easy. I use it mainly to send large files and to share documents with colleagues or other students.


5. LinkedIn - Facebook – Twitter 
Guys, we are generation Y! We grew up with social media, you have to have at least an account on LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter. Look what you’re friends and colleagues are up to!

LinkedIn is a must have app for interns and especially for graduates. It’s the ideal opportunity to get to know your colleagues. Another thing I like, is to follow group discussions and of course, your own company. Don’t forget to upgrade your account with the role you fulfil in your company and your new competences. You’ll see, this will generate more visitors on your account. And if you’re lucky, one of those visitors will be your future boss.


By the way, there’s a big chance you’ll come into contact with all these social network sites at your internship. You’ve been warned! 


6. Spotify
 No radio at your internship? Too quiet? Too noisy? Bad music? Lack of concentration? 

Only one solution: Spotify. It’s a digital music service that gives you access to millions of songs. If you’re in a bad mood, please don’t show it to your boss, but instead of that, listen to hardcore or whatever you guys listen to when you’re in a bad mood.


7. Cloud on
Most of us are used to work with Microsoft office. Cloud On puts Microsoft office on your favorite devices and provides access to the files you already stored in Dropbox. I’m a huge fan cause I’m a pro at working with Word. 


8.  Beautiful Weather 

You wouldn’t want to go to office with scarf and hat when it’s 25 degrees, wouldn't you? Just download the weather application, which gives you a great overview of the weather today, the following days and the weather in the whole world. So, if you do show up with a little dress when it’s 5 degrees, it’s obvious you want to impress your colleague. Got you! It’s a beautiful app with great animation! 



9. Paper by FiftyThree


I see the light, I come up with a great idea BUT… Gosh, I don’t have paper or pen with me! And while I’m searching for it, I forget my awesome idea, which is just great… That’s why this application is perfect! I can write down my idea, I can draw my idea and make a sketch. 






10.   Last but not least: SHOWPAD 
Showpad is the best sales and presentation tool for your iPad. It’s very useful, even for  you as an intern. Store your internship reports, week schedules & thesis information in one central place. You can even make notes on it. Introduce it to your team, maybe they’re  interested and they will be grateful  you helped them to increase their sales effectiveness.  Just give it a try and sign up for the 30-day free trial! 


Extra: Confidence Fitness Virtual Trainer
If you have a company like mine, where you have the big choice between different kinds of candy, cookies and soft drinks, there’s a chance you’ll gain weight. So meet Daniel, your personal trainer who will give you insights into getting the best results from your training.

Oh, have I already mentioned that all these applications are for free?

What are your favorite iPad apps? Please leave a comment. 




Author 
Brett Dufort - Application Inspiration
Student Digital Marketing at Ehsal Management school - ehsaldmc