Lauren Kossak’s Post

"Are you looking to begin your tech journey today?! Through our 501K Internship, Product Square offers different pathway options for you. Break into the tech industry by starting your journey with us for free!! Click link (https://lnkd.in/dMEjbzvk) to learn more. #501KInternship #ProductSquare #Techcareer #beginyourjourneywithus"

Ah, let's gather 'round and have a jolly good chuckle at this peculiar Nextdoor situation, shall we? So, it seems like they're quite the fans of getting free hard work, huh? Bless their hearts! But seriously, folks, why do some companies struggle to grasp the concept of paying their summer interns? Now, listen, companies may wax poetic about these interns learning all sorts of valuable job skills, but let's not kid ourselves. We all know that many of these poor souls end up spending 8 to 10 hours a day being glorified coffee fetchers and errand runners. Not exactly the glamorous summer internship experience they had in mind, I'm sure! It's like the age-old tale of "Work Hard, Get Nothing." Why, oh why, is it so challenging for companies to understand that fair compensation is the name of the game? These interns deserve to be treated with respect and compensated for their hard graft. After all, they're putting in the effort to learn and contribute, so let's show them some love with a proper paycheck! So, Nextdoor, let's have a little heart-to-heart here. It's time to break free from the allure of free labor and embrace a more enlightened approach. Pay those summer interns what they deserve, and watch as their motivation soars to new heights! To all the companies out there, let's remember that internships should be a mutually beneficial experience. Don't be a Scrooge when it comes to compensating these young talents. Invest in them, and you'll see the rewards in their growth, enthusiasm, and dedication. Now, let's raise a cup of coffee (or tea, if that's your thing) to all the hardworking interns out there. May they find internships that value their time, effort, and potential. Cheers to a world where hard work is always rewarded, and fetching coffee becomes a thing of the past! Onward to a brighter and more equitable internship landscape!

Leave things better than how you found them. You don’t need leadership empowerment; nor do you need to be delegated the responsibility; nor do you need a couple years at the job. This is Meridian Casalegno, H&R Block’s first design intern. In under ten weeks, she took over an empty room on our 14th floor, canvased it with concepts around our next generation of in-office interactions and went through multiple cycles of user-testing and iteration. In the same duration of time, our social media intern, Paige Beattie, built out a modular TikTok content framework to empower our media teams to stay organized and move faster to publish GenZ content. Both internships ended (sadly), but our teams are now better with their contributions, because they forged a baton that can now be passed. Leaving things better than how you found them can be as simple as picking up an empty beer bottle tossed on the sidewalk or as bold as designing an interaction that helps a customer owe less to the IRS in taxes. I’m grateful for the massive contribution these two amazing women left at Block. We are now better than how we were once found. #intern #inspiration #EmbarkInternship #GenZ #connectedCulture

Does your Intern Program build a sustained pipeline for future talent? Do you create meaningful relationships between your interns and internal business leaders? Does your current Intern Program put learning into action? Have you ever engaged with partners who are laying the foundation for future career paths? Fast Lane has worked with our clients to build custom Intern Programs that enable them to equip the next generation with desired skills and maintain a sustained pipeline of talent. [email protected]  #intern #futureleaders #engagementstrategy #capstoneproject #hackathon

🌟 Behind the Scenes: My Exclusive Tour of The Walt Disney Company’s StudioLab! 🌟 Earlier this week, I had an incredible PERSONAL tour of Disney's StudioLAB thanks to KC, an Associate Producer at the StudioLab. We connected through networking during my first Disney internship facilitated by an introduction from the previous Director of Technology at Marvel Studios. KC walked me through the production process and showcased the cutting-edge technologies used to bring our favorite films to life. Learning about the history and evolution of the StudioLab was awe-inspiring! 🎥✨ This experience underscores the power of networking and building genuine relationships. Here are a few tips for interns on how to ask for what they want or are interested in during their internship: 🧠🍽️ 1️⃣: Know What You Want: Be clear about your goals and interests. Whether it's a project, a mentor, or a specific experience, clarity is key. 2️⃣: Do Your Homework: Understand the opportunities available within your organization. Research and find out who can help you achieve your goals. 3️⃣: Be Proactive: Don't wait for opportunities to come to you. Reach out to people, ask for informational interviews, and express your interests. 4️⃣: Follow Up: If you don't get a response right away, don't be discouraged. Follow up politely to show your continued interest. 5️⃣: Express Gratitude: Always thank those who take the time to help you. Building genuine relationships involves appreciation and respect. Remember, "closed mouths do not get fed." Know what you want and never hesitate to ask for it! 🗣️ 🚀 Call to Action: 🚀 Please vote for me in the WayUp Top 100 Intern Challenge! Comment “voted” below, and you'll be entered to win one of three 1:1 sessions with me to help you on your career or networking journey! Let's succeed together! 🙏🏽 Voting link 📎 - https://lnkd.in/gn4dxNgg #Disney #StudioLab #Networking #CareerGrowth #Technology #Internship #ProfessionalDevelopment #Marvel #DisneyStudios #ProductManagement #WayUpTop100

Wrapping up my 3-week long internship at The Weekend Story (WS) The Weekend Story is a dynamic startup in the world of networking apps, events, and community building. Over the past weeks, I've had the incredible opportunity to work with their exceptional team and learn about product growth, marketing, brand engagement and strategy making. My key area of work was resolving loopholes and suggesting strategies for the launch of Avenue- their latest launch. Concluding my thrilling internship journey, here are the key takeaways from my work here: 🔸Critical Thinking & Strategizing: This internship honed my ability to think critically and strategize effectively. It's not just about having ideas; it's about devising thoughtful plans, analysing them critically and contributing to their successful execution. 🔸Teamwork & Collaboration: The success of any startup hinges on effective teamwork. My colleagues showed me that when diverse talents come together, magic happens. 🔸Entrepreneurial Spirit: Working here instilled in me a true entrepreneurial mindset. I witnessed firsthand the passion, dedication, and grit it takes to bring a bold idea to life. 🔸Problem-Solving Mindset: My internship cultivated a problem-solving mindset. Instead of viewing challenges as roadblocks, I now see them as opportunities to find creative solutions. 🔸Community Engagement: I had the privilege of being part of initiatives that fostered meaningful connections among users. Community building isn't just about technology; it's about creating spaces for genuine interactions. A heartfelt thanks to the incredible The Weekend Story team for this fantastic journey. I'm excited to take these lessons and experiences with me as I embark on new adventures!🌷

Join us on a journey down memory lane as Vikas Gulati, our 𝐂𝐓𝐎 & 𝐂𝐨-𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 reminisces about his first internship! From humble beginnings to shaping our tech landscape, Vikas dives deep into the key takeaways from his experience and shares the perfect roadmap to illuminate your path to success! #Leadership #TechJourney #Throwback #FirstInternship #SquadStack

My summer internship with Chtrbox has begun. It has been smooth going through the training sessions and experience how the professional world works so to speak! I had joined the company to learn something new and come out of my comfort zone and that’s exactly what I am doing. I am learning to polish my communication skills, research skills and so many soft skills. The work environment is very growth oriented and provides a safe space for interns. I personally enjoy the day to day! I can't wait to learn more! #newstart #influencermarketing #Chtrbox #InfluencerMarketing #summerinternship"

I'm cutting diamonds 💎. Towards the end of 2023, I came up with a passion project, Elavare, to help mothers return to the workforce with confidence. I decided to launch this project because over the years, I've had a lot of mothers ask me how I did it. How did I return to the workforce after being out of it for 18 years and still find "success"? Well, it wasn't easy. It took time. It was hard. I didn't get a lot of sleep. I still don't 😂. Over time, Google became my best friend (I didn't know any marketing acronyms). I learned by doing 💪 . And, I've had lots of amazing mentors and others guide me along the way (James Clarke, Dan Campbell, Martin Baron, Michael K. Simpson, Jim Jenson, Ryan Westwood, Camille Caron, Daniel Snow, Blaine Sundrud, Ashley Swanson, Duffy Pingree, and Ross Elliott to name a few). And people were patient with me 🙏 . I guess this is why I love interns ❤️. This is why I'm completely patient with them. This is why I love teaching them. Because I, too, once had to start at square one. This is Elavare's internship team through the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business OCI (On-Campus Internship) program. When they joined, they were rough, uncut diamonds. Now, they are shiny and brilliant. They are my team (Mary Allred, Whitney Sheffield, Grace Rampton, Katie Bell, and Megan Fishburn) ! After meeting over the lunch hour (and remotely), I'm sad the semester is over. Even though their internship has ended, they will go on to be diamonds at future companies and continue to shine. 💎 We should all be in the diamond cutting business.💎 #passionproject #interns #careercoachingformoms