My Internship: Emily

Month 1 : First Impressions (Satisfaction 4 / out of 5)

So far, besides a few sniffles, I've been doing alright. I really enjoy working, though I find it somewhat stressful chopping and changing from task to task with no real framework or coherent outline. A framework has been provided with clear targets and an expected quantity, as outlined in the internship development plan.

The internship is not quite turning out as I thought it would in some regards; for one, I've been writing mainly guidebook entries and haven't had a lot to do with the social media aspect. I thought a lot of my time would be working on a variety of articles, but I don't mind focusing on a guidebook. I think that the guidebook is all we have time for at the moment; I think it would be a little unrealistic to expect so many guidebook entries and an abundance of articles. I am quite content to continue working on the guidebook at such a pace, so that the main targets are reached.

Highlights would probably be learning to use a variety of different software programmes and expanding my writing experience. On an aside note, I've also learnt tonnes about the London underground system!

On a a satisfaction scale, I would rate myself as a 4 (quite happy) with the situation. I like having clear instructions and tasks set as we have been doing for the last few weeks, and I do like to 'get on' with tasks once set.

Month 2 : Found My Feet (Satisfaction 4 / 5)

I found this month to be much easier than the last. There were several reasons for this, but I think the most encouraging aspect of this month is that I broke through my 'wall' in writing. I feel that I can really see the progress, and that there was a definite division between the 'before' pieces and the 'after' pieces.

Part of this was due to Laura's guide essence document, and her guidance through the editing. I feel that the style essence was essential to finding what I wanted to say and what needed to be included in the guide descriptions. I also feel that we have made positive progress through the descriptions, and am exceptionally glad that we have gone over the quotient of pieces for the Coffee & Cake section as well as for the Kink descriptions.

I struggled a bit with efficiently finding information for the Zoho TBC entries, as I found myself searching for reliable sources when perhaps there weren't any at hand. However, once I knew an entry was 'live' it took me half an hour instead of the forty minutes previously to complete the data entry.

I find that my writing is quicker, and that my research skills have undoubtedly increased. I feel that at this point, I have made enough progress to change a the colours of a few entries on the Traffic Lights (Learning Objectives) document, moving from red to yellow or green.

This month has shown more productivity and progression than last month, and I find myself much happier whilst working now. I do definitely like having a clear-cut task and a productive to-do list where I can see the progress being made!

Month 3: Packing The Punch (Satisfaction 5 / 5)

Things this month have been going well; it's majorly hectic, but I think it's been a positive month. Laura and I have managed to exceed a few targets for the Guidebook entries, and feel that my writing skills have developed nicely.

I certainly feel more comfortable in researching and writing article pieces - both opinion and neutral/factual - and am confident when posting them to the blog.

I also feel that I have become quite comfortable with Zoho, in that we both respect the other's differences. I feel that I can work my way around it and have found that the speed in which I research an entry has increased quite a bit, as has the speed with which I can write the descriptions for many establishments. I can see the results from the start of my internship to the end of my internship most prominently in the Coffee & Cake entries.

I haven't focused on the Social Media side of my internship very much, as most of my efforts have been centred on the guidebook and content for the new site. However, I have noticed a slight increase in followers on Twitter and 'likes' on Facebook, so there is some hope. The WordPress site stats have been quietly encouraging. My own personal use of Facebook saw a positive response to CCK content, so I'm quite happy that we have reached a few people, though we are far behind the target figures set at the start of the internship.

Ultimately, this internship has been a wonderful opportunity and has provided me with space and guidance to develop skills further and cultivate new skill sets. The 'before' Traffic Lights (Learning Objectives) document and the 'after' Traffic Lights (Learning Objectives) are a wonderful contrast; it made me very pleased to be able to change so many reds to green! To say I have learnt a lot is the understatement of the year.

Working with the CCK team has been a great experience, and one I know I'll look back on fondly. I can only thank everyone profusely and hope that that is sufficient!

Finally, I can say my satisfaction rating is a 5 (very happy!) for this month.

See my final review here.

I found this month to be much easier than the last. There were several reasons for this, but I think the most encouraging aspect of this month is that I broke through my ‘wall’ in writing. I feel that I can really see the progress, and that there was a definite division between the ‘before’ pieces and the ‘after’ pieces.

Part of this was due to Laura’s guide essence document, and her guidance through the editing. I feel that the style essence was essential to finding what I wanted to say and what needed to be included in the guide descriptions. I also feel that we have made positive progress through the descriptions, and am exceptionally glad that we have gone over the quotient of pieces for the Coffee & Cake section as well as for the Kink descriptions.

I struggled a bit with efficiently finding information for the Zoho TBC entries, as I found myself searching for reliable sources when perhaps there weren’t any at hand. However, once I knew an entry was ‘live’ it took me half an hour instead of the forty minutes previously to complete the data entry.

I find that my writing is quicker, and that my research skills have undoubtedly increased. I feel that at this point, I have made enough progress to change a the colours of a few entries on the Traffic Light Document (moving from red to yellow or green).

This month has shown more productivity and progression than last month, and I find myself much happier whilst working now. I do definitely like having a clear-cut task and a productive to-do list where I can see the progress being made!

Satisfaction rating for this month = 4. (quite happy)