The CEA Intern Program
August 28, 2008 |
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By Carolyn Slater
Six years ago CEA started a summer intern program to provide talented college students and graduates work experience and the opportunity to be a part of CEA and the International CES. The program has grown quickly and this year CEA has 13 summer interns, some of whom will be staying on through January for CES. The Communications department, of which I am a part, has been blessed this summer with two excellent interns and one of their (optional) assignments was to participate in our CEA blog. Below, Bhavna shares her unique insight on interning at CEA and offers thoughtful advice to other interns or potential interns.
Simple Steps to a Successful Internship
By Bhavna Bhatia
“Would you be interested in flying out to Las Vegas for our annual Consumer Electronics Show in January?” said Tom O’Donoghue, recruiting manager at CEA. Just a moment ago I was walking around the Communication’s Day Fair at George Mason University wondering if any of the employers would spark my attention. But Vegas?! It didn’t take much more than that to convince me! Without hesitation I whipped out my resume and said, “I am in!” And just like that, I had begun my internship experience with the CEA.
I was welcomed at CEA with open arms and bright smiles (not to mention that every time new employee is hired, a “Bagel Day” is held – food being the perfect incentive for employees to come meet new staff). At first I was very unfamiliar with the CE industry, so I immersed myself in reading and attended meetings as my supervisor’s shadow. Fortunately, I did not have a single colleague that wasn’t willing to guide me and answer my questions as I adjusted to the norms of the association.
As my summer internship approaches its end, I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such knowledgeable and kind people who have helped me develop as a young PR professional, and would like to give back to the next generation of interns.
Working for a large association means there are a dozen of highly qualified interns and loads of competition. Embedding the following practices into your daily interaction with colleagues will set you aside from the bunch:
1. Constantly offer help: The lives of your superiors are very busy! Not only are they in charge of their work, but they are in charge of your work too. They are probably too busy to even remember that an intern is anxiously waiting for the opportunity to work! A simple reminder of your existence and expression of willingness will make your colleagues feel more comfortable in asking for help.
2. Show initiative: Don’t just sit there, do something! If you see that the budget books need organizing, or if you have a fantastic blog idea, go for it! Your boss will be thrilled that you took the initiative to do something beneficial for the company without being told to.
3. READ! Take advantage of your surrounding resources! Read the newspaper, blogs, magazines, or the news to make sure you are the expert! The more you know about an issue, the more valuable you are to that department and the more likely that your voice and opinion will be heard!
4. And last, but certainly not least, always go the extra mile to show that you care about the company, its employees, and its initiatives. Remembering birthdays, attending events, and building personal relationships with your colleagues are all win-win deals. Not only do you expand your network and leave a lasting good impression, but you discover new perspectives, skills and become part of a team.
These are actions that I practiced which enabled me to attain my personal goals as an intern. With all of my goals met, I am pleased to say that my internship with CEA was a success, and by following the simple tips listed above, yours will be too! Good luck!
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