Posted on Wed, Jul 08, 2009 @ 02:04 PM
by Lindsey Swanson, Marketing Intern
When most people hear the words "unpaid" and internship" back to back, they usually picture a timid student juggling seven different orders of coffee and mindlessly filing stacks of folders while being either ignored, barked at, or repeatedly addressed by the wrong first name. To be honest, when I agreed to accept an unpaid internship at Triumvirate Environmental, that is more or less the fate I had mentally prepared myself for.
Considering this, you can imagine how surprised I was when my boss asked me--on the first day-- what I wanted to do. He asked me what I liked and didn't like, and what I wanted to get out of this experience. This was the first instance (of many) where Triumvirate thwarted my expectations by showing that I meant more to them than free labor. They treated my relationship with the company as if it were based on reciprocity and gave me a voice in this dialogue.
Soon after this conversation with my boss, Marketing Mark, I left to my cubicle feeling comforted and a little empowered. I began my first task of researching "hot environmental topics" when a man who I had never met before popped his head into my cubicle and said (not asked) "how many". When I failed to answer, he elaborated "how many followers" and proceeded to walk away chuckling to himself, leaving me to ponder whether the question was about Jesus or Scientology. I later learned that this man was the President and CEO of Triumvirate, and that by "followers" he meant people following him on twitter, since he had made it a personal goal to have more followers than Ashton Kutcher.
That brings me to the next reason Triumvirate is a great place to work: there is an impressive lack-of-caste in the workplace. The CEO will mingle with the unpaid marketing intern without condescension. Not only are all of the employees welcoming, but also, they are respectful-remembering my name, asking with genuine care about my life, and always offering help. Just add walls made of chocolate and a fountain, and you have every person's ideal place to work. I guess what I am trying to say is: thanks.
Posted on Tue, Jun 23, 2009 @ 02:42 PM
by Mike Spinale, PHR, Human Resources Manager
E-mail is the predominate mode of communication these days. It's fast, efficient, and easy. The only problem with it is that you leave behind a trail of communications that can come back to bite you.
Case in point. Politico.com's Shenanigans blog uncovered a heated exchange between an executive assistant at lobbying firm McBee Strategic and the cantankerous office manager of Congressman Jim McDermott's DC office, Elizabeth Becton. In the exchange, the executive assistant unleashes Becton's furies by referring to her as "Liz". In response to an e-mail the exec assistant began with "Hi Liz", Becton responded with a curt "Who is Liz?". While the McBee employee apologized profusely, Ms. Becton didn't let up, getting ruder and meaner in further e-mails. See the full exchange of e-mails here.
As can often happen in today's world, this chain of e-mails made its way to the web, via Politico.com, and they've posted the whole exchange. You'll the find the McBee representative to be apologetic and polite, while Liz responds with increasing anger and contempt.
The lessons to be learned here are:
- Don't put things in writing that you wouldn't want to be broadcast on the Web.
- Tone and intent can be really difficult to decipher in e-mail.
- Sometimes it really is just better to pick up the phone.
- Don't call Elizabeth Becton "Liz".
Posted on Mon, Jun 08, 2009 @ 02:25 PM
By Mike Spinale, PHR, Human Resources Manager
Yesterday, I participated in the 24th Annual AIDS Walk in Boston, to benefit the AIDS Action Committee (AAC). Thinking about my experience today, and having had a few conversations lately with people who didn't have much in terms of job experience; I came to the realization that while I wasn't getting paid for my participation in the event, I drew upon certain skills in the days leading up to it. First, I organized a team of people to walk. I recruited people from school and my personal life. Second, I had to fundraise, so I made calls and sent e-mails to my network. I also used social media like Facebook and Twitter to raise awareness for the cause and solicit donations. Thirdly, I had to motivate my team to do the same. Sure, the work involved resulted in a couple of people abandoning the team efforts, but all but a couple of people remained involved and made a nice chunk of change for the AAC.
When I was in high school, I volunteered at the City Library. I typed out cards for the card catalog (yes, there was a card catalog), organized the periodicals section, and helped patrons find reference materials. I was a Red Cross volunteer, where I learned CPR and First AID. I was a volunteer at the local historical association, where I learned historical record keeping, and computer data-entry.
The point here is, if you're an entry level job seeker, while you may not have much in terms of actual paid work experience, you may have participated in clubs, or volunteered your time to organizations. And while you weren't compensated, you did in fact have experiences that helped you develop various skills, that you can indeed relate to getting your first "real" job.
Good luck!
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@TriumvirateHR LinkedIn:
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Posted on Sun, Mar 22, 2009 @ 09:50 AM
by Mike Spinale, PHR, Human Resources Manager
Never in my life have I seen such mass resistance to change than this week, when I witnessed the citizens of Facebook raising their voices against what is being dubbed "The New Facebook". Yes, people, it has happened. Facebook got a facelift. And now its regular users are "furious" about it: spouting off in their status updates (which is now called "What's on your mind?"); creating and joining groups such as "WE WANT THE OLD FACEBOOK BACK" and "Save the old facebook!"; and developing applications to make your "New Facebook" appear like your old one.
I thought the Facebook generation was supposed to be open to change? In business, and especially in today's economy, both the company and its employees need to be flexible, adaptable, and innovative. We constantly need to consider ways to improve our performance, break bad habits, develop efficiencies and streamline processes.
Work brings challenges. It brings disruptions and roadblocks. Changes are going to happen; they need to happen. Those who adapt will succeed. Those who resist or fight, will get stuck on the sidelines.