Meeting “Famous” People

Special Guest Writer : Renuka Roy

One of my bosses often asks me to do small tasks for him, the usual intern tasks – printing or copying etc. One day a few weeks ago, I got an e-mail asking to prepare a packet of materials he sent over because someone was stopping by to pick it up that afternoon. I printed the materials (made extra hard by the fact that we ran out of paper! an unexpected hurdle to be sure) and was ready.

He didn’t show that day, but he appeared the next morning. A former Mayor. No one really famous, unless you’re a Minister wonk or have memorized the names of all the MCD (believe me, I know more than one person who can claim this in MCD). But still, I felt in awe a bit. The former Mayor entered and picked up the packet. Boss were out – in fact, the office was remarkably empty that day with only three people in – but he asked for a tour. So we showed him around and told him about what we were doing.

There was something about talking to this man – who had accomplished so much during his Mayor career that was thrilling. First, it made me excited to start my career. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to go into politics. But I do hope that I make an impact in whatever I decide to work in. And I hope that when I get to be his age (late 70s-ish), I hope that I can talk about the things I accomplished. Not in a way that is bragging, but a testament to the people I have worked with and the legacy.

Second, Delhi is such a unique place. There are so many power players here that sometimes it’s hard to keep them straight. What passes for celebrity in Bollywood isn’t the same as out here.

All in all, it was a pretty great way to spend a morning talking to a former Mayor.

What to Wear to a Casual Internship Interview

You’ve written your cover letter, submitted your resume and finally been selected for an interview to land the internship of your dreams.  After arriving the standard 15 minutes early with your confidence in tow, you’re shocked to see that the office is significantly more casual than you anticipated.  While you’re fully decked out in a business suit,

your interviewer is wearing faded ripped jeans and a T-shirt that looks like it’s been put through the wash one too many times.  Despite all the research and preparation that goes into an internship interview, an inappropriate outfit—even one that’s too formal—can hurt your chances of landing the position.

 

Whileit’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed for an interview, dressingout of sync with your interviewer can give the impression that you won’t fit inwith the company’s work environment.  Manyindustries, such as nonprofit and new media, tend to be pretty casual, so makesure you dress accordingly.  Many small publicrelations, advertising, design and most media companies fall under thiscategory.  In order to prevent anyunnecessary panic attacks, make sure you research the company’s dress code inaddition to their mission, history and services.  Check the organization’s website for anyexecutive or employee photos, and plan your interview outfit based on whatthey’re wearing.  If you find thateveryone is in jeans and sneakers, you can hang that suit back up in thecloset.  If you aren’t able to find anyemployee photos, try researching other similar organizations (i.e., same size,same location, same industry) to see what type of outfit will be appropriate. 

 

For meninterviewing in an office with a casual work environment, fitted dress pantsand a button-down shirt can be appropriate.  In cold weather, try a sweater or blazer withkhaki pants.  Options for women includedark dress pants and a printed top, a belted shirtdress or a pencil skirt and aknit top.  Add a pair of closed-toe flatsor low heels and your casual interview outfit is all set.  When considering your interview outfit, rememberthat what you wear can be an indicator for how much you want the position, soalways look neat and put-together.  Whenyou find that perfect outfit that blends interview professionalism with theorganization culture, it will reflect your extensive research and show that youare a motivated and thoughtful potential hire.

 

If youdo find yourself face to face with an interviewer who looks ready to attend abaseball game while you look ready to meet the president, try to make somequick alterations so that your outfit is more casual.  For men who arrive at the interview in a suit,remove the jacket and tie.  For women whothought a dress suit would surely land them the internship, try taking off the jacketand letting down your hair.  Keeping a pairof flats in your bag to swap in for the heels you were sure would make a greatimpression but ended up just hurting your feet is also a good idea.  Your appearance will instantly become lessstuffy and your quick thinking will show that you can adapt to any situation.

 

Whilecasual offices give you more leeway in terms of what is appropriate interviewattire, that doesn’t mean that anything goes.  Take note of the following list and make sureyou don’t arrive wearing one of these don’ts:

 

CasualInterview Attire Don’ts:

• Shorts
• Sneakersor flip-flops
• Skimpy/tightclothing
• GraphicT-shirts
• Baseballhats
• Rippedor dirty clothing
• Tanktops
• Stretchpants

Nomatter how relaxed the company’s dress code is, wearing something tootight/short/dirty will definitely create a bad first impression.  You want to maintain a sense ofprofessionalism and maturity while also demonstrating that you’re a match forthe organization—but it’s still an interview, after all.  Remember, casual doesn’t mean messy.  You don’t want your appearance to undermineyour qualifications, so make sure your interview attire isn’t speaking louderthan you are.  Comb your hair, iron yourshirt and remove any scuff marks from your shoes.  The dress code may be casual, but it’s stillan office.

 

So the next time you’re preparing for an interview, make sure your outfit isn’t giving the wrong impression.  Spend some time considering not only what you want to say about yourself, but also what you want your clothes to say.

Microsoft accidentally gives software pirates some help

The Verge is reporting that Microsoft may have provided a loophole for Windows 8 pirates.Apparently, Microsoft’s promotional Media Center upgrade unlocks a lot more than they intended.

Windows 8

Microsoft’s final copy of Windows 8 leaked online back in early August and pirates have been battling to work around Microsoft’s activation technology ever since. Early attempts involved the use of third-party Key Management Services (KMS) servers that would activate a copy for 180 days, requiring a re-activation every six months. This work around has allowed Windows 8 pirates to use the operating system free of charge temporarily, but the software maker has now made it even easier to avoid paying for a key.

Microsoft is giving away a Media Center upgrade to Windows 8 Pro users until January 31st, and pirates have discovered that the key provided will fully activate a copy of Windows 8 that was previously temporarily activated through the KMS workaround. The blunder means pirates can download an illegitimate copy of Windows 8, temporarily activate it through KMS and then upgrade it fully to an activated copy of Windows 8 thanks to Microsoft’s own Media Center upgrade offer. 

Interns: How to dress on your first day of Internship

Whether you’re beginning a new internship or your first entry-level job, how you dress on the first day will influence your supervisors’ and coworkers’ first impression of you. You want to dress professionally, but this term has different

Dressing Sense

meanings for different professions. What seems like suitable attire at one company may seem sloppy at another. Likewise, coworkers may see you as a stuffy outsider if you consistently overdress. How do you determine what is and isn’t appropriate clothing for your job?

If your first day is quickly approaching and you’re still stressing about what to wear, consider doing some recon work beforehand. Head down to the office around lunchtime and observe employees as they leave the building to grab a bite to eat. This is one of the most direct ways to determine how the average employee dresses on a typical workday.

When it comes to your first day, it never hurts to overdress. Wearing your best suit and tie or pantsuit will demonstrate that you take your new position seriously and are looking to make a good impression – even if everyone else is wearing jeans. Once you have a firsthand look of the expected office attire, you can dress down to match.

Interns: Avoid the Job Search Frenzy, Start Now!

Every year, handfuls of college seniors come back from spring break in a panic.  They realize the year is almost over and

Frenzy Internship Search

they still don’t have a job. With it being the beginning of November, here are some tips to avoid that pit in your stomach when you realize you only have a couple more months left of your parents supporting you financially.

1. Prepare your portfolio, update your resume and clean up your act.

Before you start your search, you want to make sure you have the right materials to give potential employers. It’s not a good look when someone asks you for a business card or resume and you can’t produce anything. Make sure your digital image is appropriate for the job you want.  Here’s a helpful checklist of things you should update before you reach out to anyone:

• Resume
• Linked In Profile
• Twitter/Facebook
• Personal Blog
• E-mail Signature
• Business Cards
• Career Services Profile

2. Categorize potential jobs

Make a list of potential jobs, positions, or opportunities you would consider applying for. Next, bucket them into three different categories: jobs you would settle for, jobs you would accept an offer from, and dream jobs. Laying these out from the beginning will help you make a smart, thought-out decision when the time comes to accept a position. Remember, don’t sell yourself short!

3. Make a timeline

This can be as broad or specific as you think necessary. If you are a procrastinator, make your personal deadlines with plenty of time before the actual application deadline. Follow up with past internshipsevery two or three months. Don’t be that intern who follows up with a past employer as a last resort in June. Think ahead!

4. Don’t miss the recruiters!

Look now for recruiters who are coming to your campus this year and mark it on your calendar. Usually Career Services will have a calendar or a list-serve telling you what companies are coming to campus. Never show up to an information session unprepared. Always bring your resume, business cards and a pad of paper to take notes. If the company is offering interviews, don’t pass up that opportunity!

5. Your School’s Alumni Network

This should be your new best friend. Applying for jobs is 50 percent about making connections with other people and building a relationship. Look through your school’s alumni network and make a list of people who work at companies you might be interested in. You can either do this via your school’s Career Services alumni network OR Linked In is also a great resource.

Internss : Work-Life Lifestyles

According to USA Today, the average person makes 35,000 decisions each day. What tie they will wear, flats or heels,

Millennials On Car Ownership (Photo credit: GEEKSTATS)

what to eat for dinner, where to get gas…you get my point. Every one of those decisions correlates to a weight on our life, no matter how insignificant it may seem. The summation of each decision essentially equals our lifestyle.

Last week I had a conversation with an office buddy about our work-life lifestyles. The critical talking point of our conversation was about a decision every intern will make as soon as they officially enter the workforce.

While our decisions are predominantly unconsciously made, whether you consciously think about it or not, every person in the workforce decides on a daily basis:

• he/she will live to work
• or he/she will work to live

When I think of living to work I think of my grandfather who I only remember meeting twice. He spent his entire career as a firefighter and was the first black fire chief of the city. He also founded and was the first President of the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters. He spanned the nation seeking to start chapters to unify black fire fighters so that they could stand a chance to advance in their careers during the Civil Rights era. I guess you could call him the Martin Luther King, Jr. of firefighting. It is an amazing legacy that defined him. However, his life became his work, which is very common when you have passion, determination, goals and responsibilities.

There’s a really good article from The Guardian that lays out the differences and reasons that living to work is

Generation X – Original Article (Photocopy) – Signed – Doug Coupland (Photo credit: Jason Michael)

commonplace among baby boomers and Gen X’ers, while the newer generations tend to gravitate towards working to live.

As the article describes, many rising Gen Y’ers and Millennial would agree that they work to live. They spend their free time building their passion and goals around activities outside of work. Joy is found in mountain biking, hiking, weight lifting, Comic-Con, traveling the world, starting a family and building the lifestyle they desire. In contrast to our parents and grandparents, life for my generation is defined by the lifestyle our talents and careers afford us.

We all can choose to find passion and purpose inside the workplace, outside or both. I prefer to find a balance, making conscious decisions every day and correcting myself toward my intended destination. However you decide to live…decide how you’ll live and make sure it makes you happy.

Interview with an employment lawyer

Interns working on solar panels at Shoals Marine Lab (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As evidence that law firms are starting to see the issue for what it is, Yasinski & Jones, LLP in Los Angeles, California, recently set up a website, to reach out to employers and interns. We hereby give the floor to John Carrigan, employment attorney with the firm, who answered our questions.

What gave you the idea to focus on this issue?  Having worked at several unpaid internships while I was in college, the issue has been in the back of my mind for years. Also, I practice in Los Angeles, which is home to a lot of unpaid internships in what you might call “glamour” industries like entertainment, public relations and fashion. A lot of these employers are very clear about expecting interns to perform real, substantive work for no pay, but no one seems to do much about it. I saw that as an interesting niche area for my practice.

What do you bring to it? What I hope to bring to the issue is an ability to see the issue from both sides of the table, with a focus on the realities of the workplace. For instance, I try to look not at what “opportunities” an internship might present, but at what the interns are actually doing during their workday. Oftentimes, that may be something else altogether.

Do you think that employers are generally aware that unpaid internships are often illegal? In my experience, most employers who improperly utilize unpaid interns don’t realize that they’re violating any laws in doing so. Many employers (and interns) believe, incorrectly under U.S. and California law, that there’s no obligation to pay an intern so long as he or she receives academic credit. Some other employers believe, also incorrectly under U.S. and California law, that they can get around an obligation to pay simply by getting a signed acknowledgement from the intern that the position will be unpaid.

Why do you think that illegal internships are so common? I think the biggest reason, at least in the U.S., would be that there’s been no real headline-grabbing case in which an employer was hit with substantial liability because they didn’t pay their interns. As a result, there’s a lack of familiarity with the law on both sides, and many interns have no idea they might even be entitled to pay, particularly where they’re receiving academic credit.

For those interns who do believe they’ve wrongly been denied pay, there is also the fear of retaliation. Interns tend to view their internships as a door into full-time employment in their chosen field, and a lot of them believe that filing any wage claim, or even simply asking to be paid, would mean they’d be somehow blackballed from an entire industry. Personally, I think that fear is vastly overstated.

Is it difficult for you to convince employers that their internship program may be illegal? Rather than describing a program as “illegal,” I’d be more likely just to explain that, based on the program as it is currently structured, there is a legal obligation to pay the interns. Under both U.S. and California law, in order for an internship for a for-profit employer to be unpaid, the employer has to satisfy six specific criteria, one of which is that the employer does not receive any “immediate advantage” from the interns’ work. Frankly, it is very rare that an intern’s work would not provide such an advantage to a for-profit employer, and most employers understand this once they take a look at the decisions interpreting the law.

Do you find that the courts understand the issue? I think that they would, but very few of these cases go all the way to trial. Instead, the vast majority of wage claims are resolved out of court, generally for amounts that are kept confidential.

Any interesting cases that you could share? An opinion came out in California last year regarding an internship program organized by a non-profit group called Year-Up, Inc.. Year-Up placed interns in short-term positions with for-profit employers as part of a curriculum meant to provide the interns with technical skills.  Although the interns were not paid a minimum wage, the employers actually paid more than $22,000 per intern to Year-Up to sponsor the program. The opinion concluded that interns involved in that program did not have to be paid because each of the six factors had been satisfied, but its discussion highlights just how many hoops a California employer must jump through in order to lawfully utilize unpaid interns.  As a result, from an employer’s perspective, it will often be more efficient just to pay interns the minimum wage rather than go through the hassle of establishing an unpaid internship program that complies with the law.

Intern : New Skills !

Internship Student

Several months ago I helped a friend work on his CV, which is a much longer and more detailed version of a resume. Part of it entails actually writing out paragraphs of information regarding special skills or times you’ve shown some sort of competency for a particular project, opportunity, etc., and you’re asked to basically explain what you do, rather than just listing it as you would in resume form.

I thought about that recently as I slogged through some pivot tables in Excel. Data entry and

manipulation are not particularly thrilling to me (I don’t think they are to anyone), and what becomes most frustrating to me is that it’s not always intuitive. Writing is intuitive. Talking to people is intuitive. But if you don’t know what button to push, you can’t divine the answer or fluff your way through. You either know it or you don’t, and that shows.

Rather than getting frustrated, though, I decided to view it as an opportunity to gain a new skill. It was arduous, time-consuming, and not glamorous in the least, but I envisioned my little future CV where I can write about that time I overcame my own frustration with knowing what button to push to acquire a new skill and challenge myself not to give up. Strangely, that helped me get past my frustration and just accepting that it WAS something I was going to learn how to do, no excuses. I felt pretty good about it, too, after the fact.

What you all think..?

Internship culture outside India – what lessons could we learn?

  Internship Culture

There are more than 1 million students graduating in India every year, but nearly ~75% are labelled unemployable by industry. In addition, many students, in absence of enough practical exposure, land jobs in fields other than their specialization or remain unemployed.

•  What is the reason behind this problem ?
• Where are we lacking for internship ?
• What could we do to bridge this gap between what academia produces and what industry wants?

The Scenario Outside India :

Education System: – In other countries the students get an exposure to the formal job-skills training at a very young stage. After the completion of their secondary school, the students have options to pursue either a full-time job-skills training school or a formal dual-track job-skills training program: a three-year paid internship paired with classroom instruction. The graduates from this training program have the option of continuing formal education at college-oriented schools or can transfer to a three year education in a selected major in the dual track mode. Needless to say, the education system is not only flexible but also gives opportunity to students to become well equipped with the industry before taking up a career.

More than 75 per cent of the students, not immediately bound for college take up internships in various sectors while completing their dual degree. Interns are paid about one quarter of the rate that is fixed for a skilled employee. There are  Labor Laws governing the on-site training with a qualified employer. For three to four days a week and under the guidance of in-house mentors, interns learn and practice all phases of the operation. Other days they study the major academic courses. This cohesive approach is why they have skilled employees as early as the age of 19. Internships are open for even secondary school dropouts. There are 3-4 months breaks during the academic year for summer/winter holidays. Engineering and Medical students use this time for pursuing their mandatory internships

Employers: – The employers (both large and small) play a vital and tangible role in education system. They know that they too have a stake and responsibility in creating a skilled workforce. They work as partners with the schools and colleges to offer paid training to students. The process of obtaining an internship is as rigorous and competitive as getting a regular job. Quality training can be achieved from collaboration between the training schools and employers.

The Scenario in India: –

Education System: –

1. It is evident that our education system focuses more on theory rather than practical approach. Emphasis is always given to the marks obtained in academics rather than actual knowledge that a student might have. Even during interviews, most of the questions relate to the theoretical concepts rather than its application.
2. Not all colleges encourage their students to take up internships and have it as an element of the study program. The colleges that do have internships as part of curriculum,  often recommend or required only 1 internship in three/four years of degree program.
3. Very few colleges’ academic schedule allows for long term (6 months or more internships). Most often internships are of 2-3 months duration which make it difficult for companies to justify the investment in training a student for such a short duration
4. This inflexibility in our education system is also one of the reasons why students may have no clue about the right career option for them even after graduating.

Employers: – Organizations’ complaining about the incompetence among newly hired recruits is very common. Industrialists often get at the fact that the students are lacking in professional training and are not job-ready.

What can be done?

1. The colleges need to understand the importance of internships and why its inclusion is necessary in the degree course of students.
2. The inclusion of an internship at the end of each year linked with the courses taught during that year will enable students to get a hold of whatever they have learnt through practical application.
3. Also, a suitable semester break could be provided by colleges so that a student can explore his prospects in the industry by means of long term internship.
4. If the colleges are showing an interest by incorporating internships as a part of college curriculum, then the companies too should we willing to lead and take initiatives in institutionalizing the process of internships and training programs.

Though this may seem like a long term goal, but we need to make a start. The industry can no longer stand and complain about the lack of job-ready students. If the investment from one company reaps profit, others may follow. The long term benefits from this process will be realized and the country may see an Internship act being instituted (or scope of existing Apprenticeship act being broadened) with the help and partnership from public-private sectors.

Considering all the reasons stated above, if our nation needs well-rounded individuals with appropriate knowledge and experience when joining the workforce then; internships should be a natural and integral part of a college student’s schedule.

We at Strebr understands the utility of internship & has started a unique program that would not only improve the quality of student learning but also help them in gaining confidence to develop application.

Do you think internships are essential and add value? What do you think can be done to bring a culture of meaningful internships. Leave your thoughts/suggestions in form of comments below – we would love to strike a conversation! 🙂

Is the internship you have now the one?

Wondering if the internship you have now is “the one”–or just another stop on the way to something more fulfilling? Check out this list to know whether it’s time to settle in or better workspace.

Search Internship

This month marks the nine-month anniversary of the most natural and obvious, most joyful and energizing decision of my life: to fully commit 100% to my life’s work.

1. It doesn’t feel like work.
Your work is not a “job”–it’s a way of living. Your work enables you to create the lifestyle you want for yourself and your lifestyle includes your work. You frequently stop and think to yourself, “Wait, am I seriously working right now?” You can hardly distinguish between work, play, and life–as they are all intertwined. In everything you do, you are constantly pursuing your vision of optimal living.

2. You are aligned with your core values.
Your life’s work is an extension of your beliefs and worldview. You live in integrity because what you do is in accordance with who you are. This alignment will inspire you to move a small mountain if that’s what you have to do to realize your vision. Every day you work to manifest and actualize the world you imagine because by making it so, you’ll make the world more alive, beautiful and well.

3. You are willing to suffer.
Passion comes from the latin word ‘pati,’ which means ‘to suffer.’ Your life’s work is less about following a passion and more about your willingness to suffer along the way. The journey will be immensely challenging at times. You’ll be exposed to unexpected challenges and setbacks and you may endure hardship, rejection, and sacrifice.

4. You experience frequent flow.
You naturally and often fall “in flow,” deeply immersed by your work and the present moment. At 1:13 p.m. you realize five hours have gone by since you looked at the clock last. Or, you look up and realize it’s 12:21 a.m. and your instinct is to keep creating. Flow isn’t something you have to force; it just happens.

5. You make room for living.
Your work provides you the ability to live fully and enjoy life. Though you feel captivated and enthralled by your work, you make room for healthy routines like fitness, connection, spontaneity, and play. These activities re-energize and enable you to live a holistically fulfilling life.

6. Commitment is an honor.
When you discover your life’s work, the question of commitment is easy. There is no hesitation or analyze as to whether or not the work is right for you. Your heart says yes. Your mind says yes. Your body says yes. Commitment to your work feels like breathing. You cannot imagine spending your time dedicated to any other purpose.

7. The people who matter notice.
“You look vibrant!” and “I’ve never seen you so healthy and happy!” and “This is without question what you’re meant to be doing!” are among the comments you may hear from the people closest to you when you’re on the right path. It’s important to note that these people who care for you deeply may also be the first to question and worry in the early stages. But, once you are thriving, they’ll notice and lovingly support your efforts.

8. You fall asleep exhausted, fulfilled, and ready for tomorrow.
You go to sleep each night grateful for the day. You know you’re on the right path, you gave the day your all, and you can’t wait to do it all over again tomorrow. This is your life and you cannot imagine living it any other way.

Doing internship is more like living life. Loving to something or learning something is internship. Here at Strebr we work the way everyone loves to develop.