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You're in, now what?

The first day can be frightening. New place, new people, new everything. So prepare for that. Many internship sites have orientation programs of some type. They may vary from informal introductions to full-blown equipment training schedules. Whether your site has a program or not, there are some things you need to know to survive - and thrive.

Get oriented: Find out on the first day where to park, how to answer the phones and operate the computers. Be sure to get a clear reading on who your supervisor is and where your work station is located. If you don't know, ASK!

Know your schedule: If your supervisor doesn't set up a specific hours/days work schedule you need to ask for one. The schedule should include start/finish times and it should include a lunch hour if you're working 8 or more hours per day. Once it's set, stick to it. Don't ask for days off to go see the Dave Mathews Band; hold up your end of the bargain.

Get organized: Bring a pad and pencil and make a "To Do" list. Jot down key names and phone numbers there (you won't remember them all). Keep track of your assignments and due dates. Ask for priorities; show the boss you can be trusted to turn in a project ahead of schedule.

Act Professionally: Be polite and courteous. Observe how the most successful people spend their time; copy them. If co-workers try to reach you at home and get a wacky message on the answering machine, they're not likely to try a second time.

Blend in: What's the dress code? T-shirts may be acceptable at a local radio station, but that won't be the case at a PR firm in New York.

Contribute: Don't just sit there, look for opportunities to help. Answer the phones, take written messages. Be willing to learn how to do any task. Co-workers will appreciate the effort and trust you.

Don't overstep: Be aware of boundaries. If you don't have the proper training for a piece of equipment, don't try to use it. If you're in a unionized environment (radio/TV stations) ask what you can and can't do. Respect others.

Keep secrets: Many companies deal with private or proprietary information. This is a critical issue for many employers. It might be sensitive material about a client or a competitor. Work issues should be respected, not passed along to your friends and roommates.

Give it a chance: Don't expect to learn everything in the first two weeks.

Evaluations and grades

Internships are graded Pass/Fail. Your grade comes from three elements:

• completion of the minimum hours required
• completion of weekly journals and a final term paper of 5-8 pages
• a positive evaluation by your internship supervisor.

Credit Hours: You must work the minimum required for the number of credits attempted. Here's the breakdown:

A semester is calculated at 15 weeks. Therefore, to calculate the total hours needed for the semester, multiply your weekly hours by 15.

Weekly journals/paper: Mandatory weekly journals are required. The journals need to be at least 1-page, typed, and should summarize your activities. See the syllabus for details. Journals are due each week, delivered to the internship director.

The final paper must be 5-8 pages and should be analytical in tone, examining how your internship compared with your classroom experiences. The paper is due on the last day of finals week.

Samples of journals and final papers can be viewed at the Internship Program office. Both journals and paper should be delivered to:

Address:
Internship Director
Gerry McNulty
LT226
Marist College, NY 12601
Tel - 575-3655
Fax - 575-3645
Route your mail to My MailBox

Supervisor's evaluation
The on-site supervisor will write a brief evaluation of your performance, using a form provided by the college. You must receive a satisfactory evaluation in order to receive credit for your internship.

Also, the college asks site supervisors to write a letter of recommendation for each student. You may find it helpful to schedule an appointment with your supervisor to take care of both these items.

Site visits
The Communication Internship Program wants to stay in touch with you. Typically, we will check on your progress twice during each semester. We'll speak with you if you come in to drop off journals. Or, we'll make a phone check with you before mid-terms to ask how things are going.

Also, we will make every effort to arrange an in-person site visit with you during the semester. At that meeting we will try to meet with both you and on-site supervisor. Questions or problems can be discussed, as well as your overall progress.

But if you're having a problem, don't hesitate to call. You can reach Program Director Gerry McNulty at 575-3655.

Odds & Ends

A few reminders and Do's and Don'ts:

• Transportation: Costs can vary substantially. You are on your own to get to your internship. The train ride to New York can cost $20 a day or more if subways or buses are also involved. Plan accordingly.
• Insurance: You should be covered by your employer's Workmen's Compensation while on the job. Otherwise, it's the same as being at school.
• Signed agreements: Some sites require students to sign an employee agreement. If you have questions, bring them to our attention. Students are not authorized to sign any "hold harmless" agreements.
• For pay or for credit: As interns, you will receive college credit for your work. Some internships also pay students. But beware an arrangement in which employers offer to take you on with no pay and no arrangement for credit. You would have no recourse if a problem occurred, because there's no legal arrangement. Working for nothing is illegal in New York and most states.

... After you start:
Remember: Send in your weekly journals to the Internship Director.

Check out Survival Tips & Site Visit information!