Thank you to my ROP Career management class for instructing me in the use of this blog (even though it was required) and helping me document my summer internship in an official and everlasting way.
Here is a bit about my internship at People's Lobby in the summer of 2009, under my supervisor, Dwayne Hunn, Executive Director of People's Lobby.
Monday, July 13, 2009
My Resume
My resume before my internship...
Kailen Peck
Phone: (415) 383-8877
email: kailen.peck@gmail.com
Objective:
To intern with an organization that wants to make a difference, and to learn how to do the same.
Experience:
2002-Present Girl Scouts of America Mill Valley, CA
Senior Girl Scout
• Councilor to younger girls at Camporee at Camp Bothin.
• Bay Clean-ups and other arbitrary community service.
• Working on Gold Award Project
2008-Present dirt (Environmental Club) at Tamalpais High
Vice President (2009-Present) Mill Valley, CA
• Organized environmental awareness event for Earth Day for Tam High kids to learn more about protecting our environment.
• Maintain school garden and compost.
• Got recycling bins at school.
2007-2008 Babysitting Mill Valley, CA
Babysitter
• Have CPR and First Aid training
• Worked with Elementary and Middle School aged children.
Education:
2007-Present Tamalpais High School Mill Valley, CA
Graduating in 2011
Current GPA: 4.0
• Taking Advanced Placement United States History in the 2009-2010 school year.
Interests and Skills:
• Excellent Reading and Writing skills; Able typing skills.
• Motivated, punctual, and diligent.
• Love to learn; clever and sharp.
• Very interested in politics.
To intern with an organization that wants to make a difference, and to learn how to do the same.
Experience:
2002-Present Girl Scouts of America Mill Valley, CA
Senior Girl Scout
• Councilor to younger girls at Camporee at Camp Bothin.
• Bay Clean-ups and other arbitrary community service.
• Working on Gold Award Project
2008-Present dirt (Environmental Club) at Tamalpais High
Vice President (2009-Present) Mill Valley, CA
• Organized environmental awareness event for Earth Day for Tam High kids to learn more about protecting our environment.
• Maintain school garden and compost.
• Got recycling bins at school.
2007-2008 Babysitting Mill Valley, CA
Babysitter
• Have CPR and First Aid training
• Worked with Elementary and Middle School aged children.
Education:
2007-Present Tamalpais High School Mill Valley, CA
Graduating in 2011
Current GPA: 4.0
• Taking Advanced Placement United States History in the 2009-2010 school year.
Interests and Skills:
• Excellent Reading and Writing skills; Able typing skills.
• Motivated, punctual, and diligent.
• Love to learn; clever and sharp.
• Very interested in politics.
Internship Description
During my internship at People's Lobby, I learned many different things and completed many different types of tasks. Although most of it was administrative work, I did have the chance to create some of my own work.
Among the things I learned was the program ACT, Contact Manager on the computer. It is basically a program that complies every person that Dwayne might need contact information about. He has about 70, 000 contacts. I had to enter, delete, change, organize, and manipulate details on contacts or sometimes whole contacts. I had to learn how to look up different contacts based on organization or county or city or state. I had to create Mail Merges, which allowed me so send mass e-mails derived from documents saved on the computer.
I also learned how to scan and edit photos, use basic Excel skills, and access results from petitions Dwayne Hunn, my supervisor, is running.
The most exciting thing that I had the chance to do was to write e-mails to politicians and radio talk show hosts. It was so cool to be able to write a professional message that had meaning, and have an organization like People's Lobby that would back it. It made me feel very powerful and important. I have even gotten a reply from a well-known radio host, which made me feel really cool.
The most frustrating thing about working at People's Lobby was the lack of interest by everyday people. It is so hard to get people to care about issues even if they directly apply to them. People just don't really have the time to get involved or get educated. It is my hope that in the future, people have more opportunities to get involved and make a change.
Among the things I learned was the program ACT, Contact Manager on the computer. It is basically a program that complies every person that Dwayne might need contact information about. He has about 70, 000 contacts. I had to enter, delete, change, organize, and manipulate details on contacts or sometimes whole contacts. I had to learn how to look up different contacts based on organization or county or city or state. I had to create Mail Merges, which allowed me so send mass e-mails derived from documents saved on the computer.
I also learned how to scan and edit photos, use basic Excel skills, and access results from petitions Dwayne Hunn, my supervisor, is running.
The most exciting thing that I had the chance to do was to write e-mails to politicians and radio talk show hosts. It was so cool to be able to write a professional message that had meaning, and have an organization like People's Lobby that would back it. It made me feel very powerful and important. I have even gotten a reply from a well-known radio host, which made me feel really cool.
The most frustrating thing about working at People's Lobby was the lack of interest by everyday people. It is so hard to get people to care about issues even if they directly apply to them. People just don't really have the time to get involved or get educated. It is my hope that in the future, people have more opportunities to get involved and make a change.
Organization Overview and Culture
Dwayne Hunn, my supervisor, is the Executive Director of People's Lobby. He is at the top of the organization because he was there when the organization was founded .
Dwayne works from home, so that was where my internship was. It was usually just him and me, and sometimes his other intern, Andrew, so we were really relaxed.
I still dressed appropriately and was polite and stuff, but we have gotten to be good friends and very comfortable around each other, so the environment was very relaxed and informal. It was great to not be in an office, because I didn't really have to deal with a bunch of people that I didn't know.
Although I generally liked that aspect of the job, it was somewhat lonely, and I didn't really have the chance to meet anybody else from the organization, so I really have very little idea about the other positions within People's Lobby.
Dwayne works from home, so that was where my internship was. It was usually just him and me, and sometimes his other intern, Andrew, so we were really relaxed.
I still dressed appropriately and was polite and stuff, but we have gotten to be good friends and very comfortable around each other, so the environment was very relaxed and informal. It was great to not be in an office, because I didn't really have to deal with a bunch of people that I didn't know.
Although I generally liked that aspect of the job, it was somewhat lonely, and I didn't really have the chance to meet anybody else from the organization, so I really have very little idea about the other positions within People's Lobby.
Career Path to Top
For non-profit organizations such as People's Lobby, there really isn't a specific way to get into this sort of field.
The main requirement for entering the world of non-profit organizations is to find something that you are passionate about and do it. In the words of my supervisor, "If you are concerned [about an issue], you will find something to do about it." That just about sums it up. You don't need a college education to work at People's Lobby. In fact, the man who created People's Lobby didn't even finish High School. He just had a problem with the way society worked and found something to do about it.
You just need basic people skills and reading skills. You need to want to and be willing to learn about everything. You make the job whatever it needs to be.
The main requirement for entering the world of non-profit organizations is to find something that you are passionate about and do it. In the words of my supervisor, "If you are concerned [about an issue], you will find something to do about it." That just about sums it up. You don't need a college education to work at People's Lobby. In fact, the man who created People's Lobby didn't even finish High School. He just had a problem with the way society worked and found something to do about it.
You just need basic people skills and reading skills. You need to want to and be willing to learn about everything. You make the job whatever it needs to be.
How My Intership Fits/Does Not Fit My Future
Interning at People's Lobby could fit my future. I am not entirely sure what I would like to do as a profession, but I believe that i would like to be a medical doctor, or a lawyer.
If I was to become a doctor, this internship would not be really helpful to me in the way of content. It would still be helpful because it is good to know what it is like to be in a work environment, and to experience the dynamics of an employee-employer relationship. In general, any sort of professional experience always benefits the intern for their future, no matter what it entails.
If I was to become a lawyer, this internship would certainly provide valuable knowledge and experience. A lot of People's Lobby is drafting legislature, and knowing the mechanics of doing that is sure to benefit any sort of career in law. I also am responsible for getting the word out about our projects, and convincing those people that they should support us, and why, and arguing our point. All of these skills would be very beneficial to a lawyer.
I think that whatever your future plans entail, it is very beneficial to anybody to intern with People's Lobby, in order to gain valuable life skills, even if you don't know when you would use them.
If I was to become a doctor, this internship would not be really helpful to me in the way of content. It would still be helpful because it is good to know what it is like to be in a work environment, and to experience the dynamics of an employee-employer relationship. In general, any sort of professional experience always benefits the intern for their future, no matter what it entails.
If I was to become a lawyer, this internship would certainly provide valuable knowledge and experience. A lot of People's Lobby is drafting legislature, and knowing the mechanics of doing that is sure to benefit any sort of career in law. I also am responsible for getting the word out about our projects, and convincing those people that they should support us, and why, and arguing our point. All of these skills would be very beneficial to a lawyer.
I think that whatever your future plans entail, it is very beneficial to anybody to intern with People's Lobby, in order to gain valuable life skills, even if you don't know when you would use them.
Advice to New Interns
Here is some advice to potential new interns if they wanted to intern with People's Lobby.
1. Be flexible. Your supervisor will also be flexible and you should grant them the same privilege.
2. Be efficient. You are here to be helpful to your supervisor. You are here for him, not yourself. Work hard and keep focused. Don't mess around.
3. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you need a couple of minutes to take a break because you've been staring at a computer screen for an hour, ask. You will never know the rules unless you ask about them. And don't be nervous or awkward. At People's Lobby, the environment is very low-key and casual.
4. Show up on time. That's a given. Any employer or supervisor wanted their worker to be on time and ready to work as soon as they are needed.
5. Get involved. Learn about what your supervisor is doing. Don't sit around and follow blind instructions. Understand the work you are doing and get interested. It is a lot more enjoyable when you are interested in what you are doing and know why you are doing it.
1. Be flexible. Your supervisor will also be flexible and you should grant them the same privilege.
2. Be efficient. You are here to be helpful to your supervisor. You are here for him, not yourself. Work hard and keep focused. Don't mess around.
3. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you need a couple of minutes to take a break because you've been staring at a computer screen for an hour, ask. You will never know the rules unless you ask about them. And don't be nervous or awkward. At People's Lobby, the environment is very low-key and casual.
4. Show up on time. That's a given. Any employer or supervisor wanted their worker to be on time and ready to work as soon as they are needed.
5. Get involved. Learn about what your supervisor is doing. Don't sit around and follow blind instructions. Understand the work you are doing and get interested. It is a lot more enjoyable when you are interested in what you are doing and know why you are doing it.
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