The Benefits of Writing a Thank You Note After an Internship

When the internship is over, make sure employees know that you are not only appreciative of the experience you gained but you also wish to be remembered. Leave your mark at the place where you interned by writing a thank-you note to the people you worked with and everyone you learned from. Below is an example of a thank-you note written by an intern who worked for his local newspaper:

“To the newsroom:

I want to thank all of you for what I have come to call the most fulfilling summer I’ve ever had.

Art – I thank you wholeheartedly for the opportunity. The past three months have proven to be a true turning point in my academic career. I will not forget you in my future endeavors.

Brian and Linda – You were a joy to work with and talk to every day. Brian, when I first accompanied you at Starbucks for your war veteran column, I knew it would be a great summer. And of course I was happy to help balance the rivalry-driven ratio of Syracuse-to-UConn. Orange pride!

Jacky – Thank you for all of the opportunities to cover stories. Every day I was amazed that no matter how many people approached you during the day with something to expand your work-load, you always remained level-headed with a smile. I can’t imagine meeting a better managing editor.

Bret – You know everything! Through all of the technical work regarding my videos, I felt lucky to have you as a resource. Thanks again.

To everyone else that I had the pleasure to personally work with, I extend the utmost of gratitude. I learned so much this summer that it’s hard to believe my writing professors can teach me anything else.

Thanks again to everyone. Keep in touch.”

This letter, though written professionally, was written with an added personal touch. The intern connected with each employee he addressed on a more personal level and has thanked them each for all he has learned by developing specific relationships with them. Here are a few benefits of writing a thank-you note after your internship experience has ended:

• You’re more likely to be remembered. By thanking everyone for the experience, you show that the internship meant something to you. The chance to work among career men and women was important and you want them to know just how much in writing. Writing a passionate thank-you note will cause your presence to stick around for a while. It will also pave the way for a stronger recommendation if you ask for one down the road.
• It will help you network. The sample letter I included above demonstrates an intern’s true desire to connect with people in the journalism field as well as his appreciation for having done so. In your thank-you note, be sure to include specific reasons why you are so appreciative and address specific people or departments. That way, your thank-you letter is more likely to be shared with multiple departments so others can read it and less likely to be viewed by one person and then thrown away.
• You will appear a more passionate person. Passionate people get the job done! Thanking the company for all your opportunities is the best way for them to know you really cared about the job and that you weren’t just getting through it for the school credit.
• You can improve your communication skills. By getting in the habit of giving gratitude where due, you strengthen your ability to make the most of your work relationships. No matter how extensive or brief you make your note, a thank-you will show that you got a lot out of working with their team; doing so habitually will show everyone you work with in the future the same thing.

It feels good to be thanked, and to know that you helped someone achieve their goals and broaden their horizon. Keep in mind that by making a good impression at your internship, you lay the groundwork for future successes – who knows, maybe the boss at your internship winds up being your boss at a completely different company down the road!

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Adrienne is a Syracuse University student from Danbury, CT majoring in Writing and Rhetoric with a Leadership Communication minor. She is a big fan of impressionist art, ocean views and classic rock. She hopes to one day have her name in the credits of a hit film whether behind the scenes or in front of the camera.

Social Media Used in Schools

Friends, followers, wall-posts, notes, blogs and messages– all familiar terms of social media websites and now, terms used in the classroom. More and more school teachers and professors are using social media as a way to communicate with their students. One website in particular that is being used in many college settings is called Ning.

Ning is a social platform for networking opportunities much like Facebook and Twitter but in schools it is primarily being used as a discussion forum and a way to communicate academic information between instructors and students. No longer is it sufficient for teachers to send periodic emails to their students regarding class assignments; e-mails are too much of a “one-way street.” Social media websites create a social “hub” for everything going on in a particular class.

Posts can be visible to all or just one person. Open discussions about topics can be easily accessible to all involved in a group or network. In fact, many instructors have been facilitating extra class discussions online because it gives more people the chance to participate outside of school hours. Shy students with plenty to contribute can prove their analytical skills by participating in online discussion forums. Some classes rely on social media websites because they are completely instructed online.

Here is a list of my favorite social media features that I use for schoolwork:

• Blog posts. Almost everything I need to know about what is happening in a class at a particular time can be found in blog posts. An entire syllabus may be posted here for my reference, and it’s something I won’t lose track of.
• Announcements. Anything a teacher may have forgotten to mention in class or maybe did mention but wants to reiterate might be posted in an “announcement.” Other sites that don’t have an “announcement” feature may have a similar feature for brief messages to be sent to everyone involved in the group or network (as explained in the very next bullet point.)
• Notes. These are usually used for reasons of brief mentioning, and sites that do not have an “announcement” feature may use a note as a substitute. In any case, it’s very useful and just another way to keep users in the know.
• Discussion forums. I like to see what other people have to say about an issue and I also don’t like limiting what I have to say. In a forum I’m able to take more time to gather my thoughts and opinions before I share them. I can be as brief or thorough as I want. With the time constraints of a class setting, one may not get as much of an opportunity to respond to a topic precisely the way they wish.
• Home page. As simple as it may sound, the home page is one of my favorite features. I can see everything that is going on at once. I know who has posted what and when it was posted, what news has been generated, if a new blog has been written or if anything has been added or changed to an assignment. It acts as a “student union” in the world of social media.

The future looks bright for social media sites

I can’t predict what exactly is in store for social media websites but one thing is certain– the future is looking bright. What do you think will come next in the relationship between social media and education? What advancements will be made in the way of the internet for education purposes? Will middle and high school students start using social media for school? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Adrienne is a Syracuse University student from Danbury, CT majoring in Writing and Rhetoric with a Leadership Communication minor. She is a big fan of impressionist art, ocean views and classic rock. She hopes to one day have her name in the credits of a hit film whether behind the scenes or in front of the camera.

College Networking: Start Now, Benefit Later

One thing I have noticed as I embark on my third year at Syracuse University is the high qualifications that my professors possess. One of my instructors has a law degree, another has recently written and published a book and another used to produce a talk show in the Syracuse area. College professors hold many more qualifications than just the ability to teach students. They are also more than willing to help you in whatever you endeavor — their job is to help their students in the world of academia, after all. They’ll be able to sponsor you at an internship, refer you to a specific place of employment and write letters of recommendation for you. By taking advantage of the networking opportunity you have now, you’ll reap the rewards later. Below are a few tips to bear in mind when networking with your instructors:

• Take advantage of office hours. This is especially important if you have any lecture-style classes. It’s hard to contribute to discussions due to the size of most lectures but almost every professor will hold office hours– a designated time for any student to drop by with questions or comments, typically unannounced. If your professor doesn’t hold office hours for drop-in meetings then contact him/her directly to set up an appointment. They’ll be happy to field any questions you have, or even get to know you as a person, since they might not be able to get to know everyone personally during class.
• Speak up in class. Your instructor will know you’re engaged in the class and that you care about the subject. It also lets him identify who is taking the class because they have to and who actively wants to learn the material. Even if you are there because you are required to be, that doesn’t mean you have to let that show. It’s much easier to become friendlier with a professor if you show a little enthusiasm for the material he is teaching. Depending on your questions and responses in class, your instructor might refer you to another instructor in the department who knows even more about the material, thus allowing you to expand your network pool.
• Always be respectful in class. No sleeping, appearing bored, or doing the bare minimum amount of work. Of course, there are a few instances when you may have been up for hours the night before and can’t help but close your eyes for just a minute, but you should generally be respectful while in class. Being a likable student will help you become a memorable student. Bear in mind that it is inappropriate to be respectful in one class and not in another, even if you are only trying to create an academic relationship with one instructor in particular. They all talk to each other!
• Attend events sponsored by your program of study. Many academic programs in college will host various events and panel discussions for students and faculty to come together and exchange insight, thoughts and to just get a better understanding of what kind of work goes on in the program. It’s also a great time to meet people! Mingle with the professors and talk to them about their work. Let them know what strikes you as most interesting. That common interest could very well build into a beneficial network. Plus, you’ll be ahead of the game when it comes time to pick your classes for the next semester since you’ll know who is teaching what classes and what their expectations might be.
• Meet with your adviser regularly. In some schools, it is only required of students to meet with their adviser three or four times throughout all four years of college. Take the time to make extra appointments with your adviser to talk about your plans for the future whether during college or beyond and how your adviser can help you. That’s what they are there for. Advisers are also more than willing to write you letters of recommendation, sponsor you for a student internship and refer you to other faculty members of the department that may share your career passions. Having a college adviser is like having someone tell you, “I’ve given you a person to set you on the right track.”  Could you ask for a better deal?

There are so many resources in college that can help you network your way to a successful future, and most of these are included in your tuition as a student. Be proactive if you want to build connections with faculty members and take advantage of all your opportunities to do so. It is sure to benefit you in the long run.

Adrienne is a Syracuse University student from Danbury, CT majoring in Writing and Rhetoric with a Leadership Communication minor. She is a big fan of impressionist art, ocean views and classic rock. She hopes to one day have her name in the credits of a hit film whether behind the scenes or in front of the camera.

Cyber Bullying and Your Personal Brand

Putting down another person or group of people through the use of modern technology is known as “cyber bullying.” People have had their reputations destroyed through the use of instant messaging, text messaging, social media websites and blogs. Now that the internet has become one of the fastest ways to generate and receive information, cyber bullying has become a huge problem.

Actions and reactions

Cyber bullying, in a sense, removes the bully from the  victim. There is a virtual wall between both parties that the attack itself may not seem that serious but it is very serious. Incidents can range from mild insulting remarks to death threats that lead to suicide. Cyber bullying is not always as cut-and-dry as all of that. When you make a comment about another person that can be perceived as an insult despite your intention, that comment can travel anywhere. Someone may see it on your facebook and tell their friend about it who might proceed to tell their friend who may be offended by your remark and decide to retaliate. Then you’ve gotten yourself into a huge mess, all over one comment you made that may have been more harmless in essence than the way it came across to others. At this point, your personal brand is in danger. Not only has your little remark become way more visible than you intended it to, you’ve become vulnerable. What if that little comment you made on facebook gets to your professor at school? You could lose that person as a valuable reference. If it gets to a co-worker or manager with whom you work, you could lose your job…and all over this little remark! It is important to stop and think about every action you make when using the internet because you may be cyber bullying without even knowing it.

What to do when your personal brand is at risk

If you are being exploited online whether as a reaction to something you did or said or because you are a victim of cyber bullying yourself, you’ll need to take the necessary steps to get your personal brand out of harms way. First, find out why you are a target. Did you talk about someone in a negative way? Did you post something controversial on your blog or website? Or did you really do nothing to bring on an attack? If it is possible, approach the person who is responsible and talk about the problem. If the matter is very serious or you are unsure who is bullying you then the attack must be reported. This website can help you figure out the best course of action. Try your best to remove anything that is publicly posted about you off the internet. Keep in mind that one thing you should never do is fight back.

Taking precautions

Keeping yourself and your personal brand safe requires more than just the occasional clean-out of inappropriate facebook pictures or making sure you use respectful language online. Public display of inappropriate behavior can lead to cyber bullying or exploitation. As “middle school” as it sounds, taking the proper precautions even involves refraining from talking about others behind their backs or being polite when in public. These days, anything can make its way on the internet, so being careful when out in public is just as important as being careful when using the internet.

To find out more about cyber bullying, go to www.stopcyberbullying.org.

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Adrienne is a Syracuse University student from Danbury, CT majoring in Writing and Rhetoric with a Leadership Communication minor. She is a big fan of impressionist art, ocean views and classic rock. She hopes to one day have her name in the credits of a hit film whether behind the scenes or in front of the camera.

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