Becky the Intern?

So what comes to mind when you hear the word "Intern"? Someone who hangs around a busy office and makes copies and gets coffee and occasionally does a little filing? Yeah, me too.

Well, I found one that's likely to be a bit busier than that! Not sure yet if I'll do it (or if they'll take me, either), but it sounds like I'd learn a lot - stuff you don't get in the usual classroom setting.

About two weeks ago a clipboard was making its way around my Classics class. I didn't have much time to read what it was about, but the ten or so names on it (in a class of 500!) looked kind of lonely (and one was an obvious joke - which I won't go into here!), so I added my name to get more info and sent the clipboard on up the row.

Got a phone call last night (in the middle of Obama's acceptance speech!) to arrange an informational meeting - but first she made me summarize my "leadership qualities" to see if I qualified for the meeting! Apparently I possess the requisite "Leadership" (she seemed a little patronising - or maybe its just me), so two other fresh-faced, eager young students and I heard the spiel and got a brochure and a designated time to call back if we were interested in the next level of interviews.

Not sure how they feel about me divulging details, so I'll just say it is described as a "management" position for the summer supervising a small crew of workers in a general service business. They'd train me, mentor me, help me set up a business plan and marketing approach. Then I'd hire some hard-working kids, purchase supplies (on the company's dime), meet with customers, estimate and schedule jobs, and supervise their completion. It's real work for real customers and I'd get paid real money.

The initial meeting gave us only about 10% of the details so I said yes to the next step where I'll learn the remaining 90%. They'll let me know in about a week if I'm selected for the next level.

I do want to take summer school and don't want to be distracted from my academic goals, but she indicated she was able to do both last year, so maybe I can handle both as well... For me it's not the money, it's the experience of "running a business" without the financial outlay or personal risk. After graduation I'll need to know this stuff to run a small accounting business, and it would also be valuable experience to pass along to my future clients who might be struggling with some aspects of the big picture in their own businesses.

It just might be a good fit... I'll keep you posted.