25 April 2009

Proofreading can make the difference

True story! In a recent review of applicants for a research internship, the finalists were narrowed to two. The review committee said the two students were equally qualified for the internship. There was only one distinguishing characteristic in their applications. One student's application and resume were perfect. The other student had a typo. You know which one got the internship.

The content on this blog is not offered as legal advice or guidance. Consult your college, advisor, or internship supervisor for help with issues surrounding internships. © 2009 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Dr. Bold is a co-author of the book Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. More about Dr. Bold can be learned at www.marybold.com

18 April 2009

When not to shake

How do you know when a handshake is the wrong greeting?

1 - When your mentor advises you to hold back and allow the client to initiate the conversation.

2 - When you observe that other people in the room are not shaking hands.

3 - When you pause before extending your hand and notice that the other person is not raising a hand.

In many settings, you have learned to be assertive and extend your hand first for a handshake. But your internship may be in a different type of setting. Do not assume that greetings will be the same!

The content on this blog is not offered as legal advice or guidance. Consult your college, advisor, or internship supervisor for help with issues surrounding internships. © 2009 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Dr. Bold is a co-author of the book Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. More about Dr. Bold can be learned at www.marybold.com

11 April 2009

College Intern: Handshake Advice

Sometimes a handshake is not the right greeting. But when it is, you will want to know this before you shake!

Research tells us that there is no correlation between strength of handshake and strength of character. So, a weak handshake does not mean that a person is weak, physically or mentally or morally.

But—and it's an important but—the same research confirms that most people think that a weak handshake represents a weak person.

What should an intern do? Practice a strong handshake! It creates an impression of your character.


The content on this blog is not offered as legal advice or guidance. Consult your college, advisor, or internship supervisor for help with issues surrounding internships. © 2009 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Dr. Bold is a co-author of the book Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. More about Dr. Bold can be learned at www.marybold.com

04 April 2009

College Interns Don't Always Get to Wear Sandals

Spring and summer invite sandals—but not all internship sites do.

Footware and clothing rules have changed a lot in the past decade. But many intern locations impose rules about what you can wear on the job, sometimes based on style and sometimes based on safety.

Not all sandals are equal, of course. From leather to plastic, from buckled to flip-flop, the range is important. The most shoe-like sandal may be accepted. The beach style flip-flip may be rejected.

Ask before you wear... OR pack an alternative in a book bag. If you must wear dress shoes on the job, packing an extra pair is very smart to protect the dress shoes from outdoor wear. (Just in case you have to make them last a long time.)


The content on this blog is not offered as legal advice or guidance. Consult your college, advisor, or internship supervisor for help with issues surrounding internships. © 2009 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Dr. Bold is a co-author of the book Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. More about Dr. Bold can be learned at www.marybold.com