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Hey Everyone,

Welcome to a new and exciting semester at USC! We hope you are all enjoying the first two weeks of school. On behalf of TriSight Communications, we are proud to announce that TriSight is implementing a new application process this semester in order to take our PR firm to the next level. We want active members who have special skills or expertise in either writing, pitching, social media, event planning or leadership. Please fill out the new application form attached here. We will carefully review each application and notify you if you’ve made it to the interview stage. Please submit the application by September 7th . We can’t wait to start working with you!

Irene & Amy
Co-Presidents

 

Now that Spring Break is in the rear-view mirror, it feels like the end of the semester is quickly barreling toward us. While the chief concern for most students is preparing for finals as they start to cast their ominous shadow, many are also beginning to apply for those summer internships. Now, perhaps you already have several of these under your belt. Regardless of your experience, here are five things to keep in mind during your next internship that are you sure to help you be successful.

 

1. Stay hungry

What we mean by this is to always want more to do. As an intern it can be tempting to settle for the small amounts of work that you inevitably start off with. After all, who wouldn’t prefer to just do the minimum and deal with as little stress as possible? This mentality, however, will put you on the fast track to nowhere. Internships are often designed to test the skills and attitudes of a young professional. Needless to say, there are few employers out there who would be impressed with or willing to keep an intern who isn’t motivated and doesn’t seek more work on their own. Adopting a go-getter mentality is one of the first things you should do in your new internship, and it’s one that will definitely net some positive attention.

2. Ask the right questions

Just like it’s important to always be on the lookout for more to do, it’s equally important to ask the right questions before and during every assignment. Of course you shouldn’t aim to incessantly bother you supervisor, but a good leader is usually happy to be approached with intelligent questions. Asking good questions will show your employer that you’re thinking critically about your assignment and aren’t just sleepwalking through the work. A good question will not only help you create better work, it will also signal to your employer that you’re a smart and strategic thinker. To avoid looking like a novice and making unintelligent queries, a good rule to follow is to always Google your questions before asking them. If the answer can be easily found there, then you can bet it’s not a good question to ask your boss. If no trace of an answer can be found, then odds are you’ve stumbled across a great question.

3. Make yourself known

As an intern, it can be easy to go unnoticed in a busy workplace. While the prevailing mentality is that interns are the unseen and unheard backbone of the office, it doesn’t and shouldn’t have to be this way. To avoid getting lost in the shuffle, try to make yourself well known with everybody in the office. Of course people are busy and it might be hard to get a few minutes on their calendar, but even the busiest of people have time for a quick cup of coffee. Use these small moments to connect with your coworkers. Not only is it good to expand your own personal network, but by connecting with everyone and making them aware of the caliber of your work, they will be far more likely to think of you when looking for support on their next project.

4. Bring something to the table

Because interns, in terms of office hierarchy, are the lowest position in the structure, many of them believe that it’s not their place to speak up in meetings or brainstorming sessions. While it’s true that you have to be sensitive to the situation and cognizant of office culture, it’s important that you speak your opinions and bring valuable insights to the table. An intern who never contributes intelligent pieces of information or well-founded opinions diminishes their own personal reputation. Like we said before; many internships are developed for the purpose of finding full-time team members. Employers want people who not only think intelligently, but who can bring that to the table to advance the overall value of the organization. Of course, none of this can ever happen if you don’t say what’s on your mind.

5. Be true to yourself

As much as internships are an opportunity for employers to find the best talent for their companies, the greater opportunity belongs to the intern. Not only is this your chance to discover more about who you are what type of work you want to be doing, it’s also a great way to weed out what you don’t like. If your internship makes you unhappy, at least it’s temporary. If you hate the industry you’re in, it’s one step closer to finding the industry you belong in. Don’t settle for the type of work that you are doing if it doesn’t make challenge you or get you excited once in a while. This is a process of discovery, and being true to yourself will allow you to make the right choices and eventually find work you can be passionate about.

Written by Laura Davenport

When we think of a “real” job, we think of waking up early. We think of sitting in traffic only to end up sitting at a desk for eight hours, then sitting in more traffic before arriving home. That’s the workday.

The reality is that now, in the digital age, traditional workdays are changing.

My 9-5 is a little different, for example. I get up, eat breakfast, and sit down at my desk in my apartment. I work from home. I have a job that I love, and I’m lucky that today’s many communications technologies allow me to accomplish my tasks all from the comfort of my own home.

But as nice as it is to sometimes spend an entire day in your pajamas—tatty gray sweatpants and a Journey concert tee, in my case—working from home can be very difficult.

I’ve been at this for six months, so I thought I would address the three biggest questions I hear for at-home professionals.

How Much Alone Time is Too Much Alone Time?

In most cases, working from home means you’re alone ALL THE TIME. Sometimes, if I speak in a class that comes after a long workday, my voice will come out all squeaky because it’s the first time I’ve used it all day.

I don’t happen to mind being alone during the day. If you do, though, and you’re about to start working from home, I have good news for you: Almost 100% of the time, “working from home” means “working where there is free Wi-Fi”.

I often work my longest days in a café or coffee shop in downtown LA. That way, though I am hard at work, there are other humans around so I don’t become a recluse. Lots of places in LA and in other cities are very work-friendly. Just make sure you go prepared to buy coffee and ice tea for as long as you’re there. Those are your cheapest options.

But Laura, Netflix is at Home. How Do You Get Anything Done?

This is a great question. Distractions are at Home, it’s true. At home, you have access to not only Netflix (and your TV), but books, magazines, your bed, and many other things that are way more appealing than the work you have to do.

My solutions? Podcasts, for one. Books-on-tape. For me, audio-only options are a great middle ground between engaging content and background noise.

Otherwise, if I have intense written work that needs doing or if I’m looking at any huge spreadsheets, I’ll switch over to any number of excellent study playlists. My favorites are usually comprised of film scores. For some reason, all of John Williams’ work makes me feel like filling in a spreadsheet is as important bringing down Imperial walkers on an ice planet.

Another big distraction for me is laundry. And dishes. And vacuuming. I’ve started using these tasks as my work breaks; my apartment is the cleanest when I have the most to do.

While some people use productivity timers, I take advantage of the gentle wash cycle. This allows me to have periods of high productivity: an hour or so in which I can get a ton of work done, before taking a break to fold laundry or unload the dishes.

Don’t You Feel Out of Touch With Your Company?

Not in the slightest! While working from home does deny you some social exposure, email and group task management software make it incredibly easy to stay connected.

It’s up to you and your supervisor how you should stay in touch. I, for instance, talk to my boss three or four times a day. He and I meet in person once a week, but other than that, we communicate via email.

It’s important to set metrics for reporting as well. Though defined work hours may occasionally blur around the edges, defined results have to be maintained. For example, on Mondays I usually make a detailed list of the week’s projects to send to my boss. I send work as it’s completed throughout the week, and on Friday I send another email detailing which of the original projects were finished and which are still in progress.

Upon learning I work from home, people ask: “Don’t you go crazy?” The answer is simply “Nope!” Sure, sometimes I need to remind myself to go outside, and sometimes it’s a challenge to forsake my sweatpants for real clothes. There are certainly challenges.

But to me, the flexibility of my schedule and the convenience of my job are much more significant than the challenges. Working from home demands a great deal of self-discipline, leading you to become very comfortable on your own.

Plus, I’m pretty sure not sitting in LA traffic anymore has added years to my life previously lost to rush hour. I don’t know how I will ever go back to a regular job!