Creating workplace habits - week 3

Since I last wrote to you two weeks ago, a lot has happened for me in the different departments I am working in, especially in Career Development. And today marks my official 3 weeks as an intern at Northeastern! (When people say that time flies, I could not agree more!) 

As I have said before, a lot of restructuring is happening in the different departments of the university, and as a result my work at Northeastern will be more varied over the next couple of weeks. 

From August 1st I will be covering the front desk of Stearns – the Career Development building – and thus interfacing with students on a daily basis, as well as increasing interfacing with employers through email, phone and in-person contact. 

For the rest of my daily activities, I have seen an increase in the tasks that were assigned to me. This came at the right time as some of the training was done, so I could put in application what I was told. 

Over the past few years and through different part-time jobs and university assignments, I have realized that I tend to produce a higher quality of work when I am in a medium/high paced environment where targets need to be met and realistic goals can be achieved.

My assignments so far have been helping me to 'learn on the job'. This does not mean that a support system is not in place; if I have any questions my team is present and have shown that they are happy to assist me with any of them. 

So far I am really enjoying the work I have been doing, and I believe that I have settled into this workplace routine quite well, or at least as well as I could have in just three weeks. Now there are another 11 months to develop further skills and enhance my knowledge about the different countries that the Global Experience Office is in contact with. 

My time in America has not been restricted to work: over the past two weeks, we have been on team bonding days, one was bowling with the Global Experience Office team and the other was a retreat day in a fitness/activities club north of Boston.

I and the other interns from GCU have been using our free time to discover more of Boston city centre and its surroundings, including MIT and the Harbor - Revere Beach, We have also enjoyed the summer weather to cook BBQ. It’s been a lovely two weeks. 

Thanks for reading and I will be back really soon with more to share.

Alexandra

PS: Feel free to check my social media

You can follow me on Instagram, YouTube and follow me on Snapchat to see more of my daily life (alex.wilcock)

Here we are.... Let the adventure and learning begin - Week 1

Here I am, I have officially started my internship at Northeastern University in Boston and I could not be more excited about it.

The first few days after my arrival have been filled with paperwork duties to comply with US Customs and Border Protection requirements, discovering my new neighbourhood and getting to know Boston. 

By arriving at the end of June in Boston, I was lucky to be able to experience the American Independence day celebration, July 4th! 

July 4th is a really important day for Americans, and I had the chance to celebrate that day at Charles River Esplanade with a 20-minute fireworks display.

Some of the paperwork that had to be done was more official than others and led me and the other student interns to visit a federal building in Boston.

When all the administrative tasks were completed, and after some admin issues were fixed in order for me to become an official member of staff, time came to meet my new co-workers and the different departments I would work with over the next year. A lot of information, names and cultural elements were given to us to adjust to that brand new environment, that had changed a little since I was offered the position.

This small administrative modification led to a separation of the Global Experience Office into two sub-divisions, The Global Experience Office focusing on students and the Global Employers Relation Office, that I am a part of.

This past first week in Boston was amazing, and I can not wait to see what the rest of the year is going to bring.

Thanks for reading and I will be back really soon with more to share.

Alexandra

PS: Feel free to check my social media

You can follow me on Instagram  YouTube and follow me on Snapchat to see more of my daily life alex.wilcock