A Real-Life Intern’s View of The Internship Movie

September 22, 2013 - colinashby 1 Comment

The Internship came out back in June while I was working two summer internships. The movie is about two guys who lose their sales jobs mid-career and decide to take an internship at the well-known company Google. The movie has been getting a lot of praise from real-life fellow interns. As a former intern at Hays County Food Bank the movie was surprisingly accurate about the world of interning.

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, the lead characters of the movie, come to the internship with no up to date job skills. Looking back at their years as salesman they think they will excel at the internship. When they arrive at the Google Headquarters and see the other interns, they realize something. They have no technology experience or updated technical job skills.

Being an intern without much real world work experience, I could understand the characters feelings of being lost in a competitive work world. I am four weeks into my internship here at the food bank and it has been great. I have done everything from helping hand out food at public distributions to dressing up as a carrot and floating the river to promote National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables month.

The theme throughout the movie The Internship is that personality and perseverance go a long way in one’s career. What the two lead characters lack in job skills, they make up with determination.

The diverse characters throughout the movie mirror the diverse group of people I meet every day through the food bank. Everyone here at the food bank has been friendly and helpful along the way of my internship. I look forward to the many duties I take on as an intern at Hays County Food Bank. This summer at the food bank is going to be great.

To learn more about the Hays County Food Bank, what the food bank does, and so forth, please visit their website.

Review of Ken Ilguna’s Walden on Wheels: From Debt to Freedom

September 14, 2013 - colinashby 1 Comment

Every so often, one can see the news articles talking about student debt. It is a hot topic right now. The average student debt continues to rise in America. People try to concoct a range of different ways in order to minimize it. One guy, Ken Ilgunas, took it to the extreme: he lived in his van to stay debt free.

Ken Ilguna’s book, Walden on Wheels: On the Open Road from Debt to Freedom, details his experiences in tackling his $32,000 in debt, vowing to take out student loans again, and eventually living in a 1994 Ford E-150 Econoline. The book is divided into three parts: Debtor, Living a free life in spite of debt, and the eventual van dwelling part three.

The book starts off with Ilguna graduating from college, no job offers, and 32,000 in debt. He explores what his college degree (in english) is really worth and what it could do for him. No job leads on the horizon, he travels up to Coldfoot, Alaska to work a $9 dollar/hour job as a cook at a truck stop (Coldfoot has the northern most truck stop in the U.S.). The book chronicles the two and a half years after graduation of him working one low paying job to the next. Despite the low pay, through his extreme frugal living he is able to pay off the $32,000 in just two and a half years (hence the title: Walden on Wheels). After paying off the debt, he buys a van off craigslist and lives in it while going to graduate school.

There is something special about this book. It’s a coming-of-age memoir that is more than just chronicling the author’s personal self. In the book, the Ilguna raises questions about his education. Was his degree worth it? Should he have majored in something more “marketable”? He learns by the end of the book that his broad liberal studies degrees (BA in English, MA Liberal Studies) allowed him to dabble and learn in everything. From his frugal living and newfound master’s degree he sees that he is still a student, a lifelong learner. He breaks from the traditional masses view of a college degree and life. College allows him to form his own way of thinking that lead him to have some amazing life experiences.

So yes, even a liberal arts degree has some value. :

To learn more about Ken Ilguna’s book, check it out on Amazon.

Job Hunt Lessons from Silver Linings Playbook

September 14, 2013 - colinashby Leave a comment

Photo Courtesy of: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045658/

I have a different take on Silver Linings Playbook. I want to talk about the lessons one can take from the movie. Lessons people can take along in their post-graduation job hunts and embracing themselves in the work world.

Helpful Support is all around

Throughout the movie the main character Pat (Bradley Cooper) receives support from all over. His family is helping him get on his feet again. Pat’s friend Danny, from the mental hospital, gives him advice. Pat even learns a few things from the other co-lead in the movie: recovering sex addict Tiffany Maxwell (played by Jennifer Lawrence).

The thing to notice is that encouraging resources are all around a person. Talk to your family or a professor about what you want to do for your career. Talk about how you want to make yourself better. Internship supervisors, college career service centers, and working professionals are willing to help you, you just have to ask. Take charge of the beneficial resources surrounding you.

Look for Silver Linings

Silver Lining- A sign of hope in an unfortunate or gloomy situation (Dictionary.com definition)

Throughout your job search you are going to face lots of rejections, no replies and disappointment, but you should continue to look for a silver lining.

Pat at the beginning of the movie, despite having lost his wife and being released from a mental hospital, still believes in silver linings. Pat searches out for them and never gives up.

“You have to do everything you can. You have to work your hardest, and if you do, if you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining.” –Pat Salatono Silver Linings Playbook

So push aside the anxiety and nervousness of career searching and remember to always try to find a silver lining.

Embrace You

Tiffany Maxwell is the tough skinned woman Pat comes into contact with in the movie. Being a recovering sex addict, there are dark things about her past. Her sister tries to be the “better” one of the two by showing off her materialistic items in her house. Tiffany embraces the dark past that many look down upon her for.

“There will always be a part of me that is dirty and sloppy. But I like that. Just like all the other parts of myself.” –Tiffany Maxwell Silver Linings Playbook

The point is to embrace who you are in your job search. Showcase your strengths; show what you can offer to the employer. Know who you are and what is unique about you.

New York Times Movie Review of Silver Linings Playbook.

Movie “Glory Daze” Give Insight Into Post-Graduation Life

September 9, 2013 - colinashby Leave a comment

GloryDaze[1] — Photo Courtesy of imdb.com

With the Netflix site up and a pile of not-so-healthy food in hand, I started to watch Glory Daze. The interesting thing to notice about the film is that it was released at a time when most of the main cast was not all that famous. Glory Daze stars Ben Affleck, Sam Rockwell, Matt Damon, Matthew McConaughey, Leah Remini, and Brendan Fraser all before they hit big.

When most see Glory Daze they see it as just another low-budget indie film without much to offer. That could be the case, but for most (yes, even people outside the 18-34 demographic) will be able to see something more from the movie.

The movie follow five friends who live in a house they call “El Rancho.” They are all going to college at University of California-Santa Cruz. Jack (Ben Affleck) deals with is commanding parents. Dennis (French Stewart) contemplates going to graduate school or not. Rob (Sam Rockwell) wonders if he should move to Los Angeles with his girlfriend or not.

After finishing the movie it really struck a chord with me. A lot of the issues dealt with in the movie are ones college students deal with all the time. Here are the four things I noticed that were addressed in Glory Daze:

Not being sure what you want to do in life

Jack (Ben Affleck) struggles with this throughout the entire movie. He is nearing his college graduation and he is not sure of what to do. In fact he has no idea what to do. Like many college students in real life, his parents start pressuring him. “You need to get a job Jack.” “You graduated, what are your plans now?” Jack doesn’t know how to answer these questions. He tries to dodge his parent’s persistence. He does not want to work at some corporate 9 to 5 job. He does not like doing mindless work for someone else’s dream. He wants to follow his dream. He is an artist. He is not sure of how to reach his dream.

Graduate School?

Dennis (French Stewart) deals with the decision of going to graduate school or working as an assistant at the university. Many graduating college seniors contemplate this. Should I go to graduate school or not? Not sure of if they will get a job after graduation, many students apply for graduate school. They believe that extra degree will make them “more competitive” in the workforce. Being more close to the plot of the movie, some students know they want to go to graduate school but are not sure if they should postpone it or not. Should they work for a few years after graduation or go straight to graduate school? Dennis faces this proposition in the movie when one of his professors ask him to stay on as his assistant.

Relocating

Moving to a new city is a tricky proposition. College students think about the prospect of a new city as they get closer to graduation. Rob (Sam Rockwell) faces this when his question when his longtime girlfriend asks him to move to Los Angeles with her. Graduating college students often wonder if moving to a new city will help them out in life. Does the new city have good job opportunities? Do I need to move there for my career? Should I move even though I have a lump of student loans on me? Questions and anxiety swirl through students minds when they wonder what they should do. The same questions and anxiety happen to Dennis in the movie.

Wondering how all these topics are answered? Go grab some popcorn and maybe a few friends and watch Glory Daze. It is currently on Netflix Instant.

New York Times Movie Review of Glory Daze.

Lessons Learned from NBC Show Parks & Recreation

September 1, 2013 - colinashby Leave a comment

Parks and Recreation: Thursdays on NBC Photo Courtesy of buzzsugar.com — Parks and Recreation: Thursdays on NBC
Photo Courtesy of buzzsugar.com

Workplace comedies are pretty big right now. People love seeing a (mostly) real look into the lives of people that do typical common jobs. NBC’s Parks and Recreation is a workplace comedy dealing with the daily tasks and adventures of a group of people who work in a small town parks and recreation department.

Watching Parks and Recreation does not stop at just giving audiences a laugh, however. It provides some lessons that job seekers and people focused on advancing their career can notice. Here are some of the lessons learned from Parks and Recreation:

Being an Intern has its perks

The idea of interns just doing busy work and taking coffee orders is a blown away with the character of April Ludgate. At the beginning of the show April starts out as an intern for the Parks and Recreation Department. Her tasks are anything but little: assisting with campaigns, generating support for a park project, and speaking at public forums. April is constantly able to network with top city officials throughout the show.

Be Yourself

April Ludgate, the intern, does not try to be someone she is not. She maintains her sarcastic deadpan personality. In a weird way this actually gets her noticed. City officials, residents of Pawnee, and her co-workers are all curious about her.

Several career sites and counseling offices tell you what to do and not to do in an interview. They say the behavior a person needs to have while on the job. They mention what to wear on the job or to an interview. With all these voices, it can be easy for a person to lose themselves. Do not let that happen. Do not lose your personality and distinction during an interview/ at a job. Still have professional etiquette of course! Just do not forget to show your personality to an employer. After all, this is what makes you unique.

Take Charge. Don’t be afraid to speak new ideas

Main character Leslie Knope is deeply committed to making her hometown of Pawnee the best that it can be. She is not afraid to let some of her weird and off the wall traits show. She constantly talks about all the ideas she has to make Pawnee a great town. She wants to build a park, increase literacy, promote healthy choices, and help small businesses. Leslie has planned out steps to make all of her ideas a reality.

College students can particularly learn something important from the Leslie Knope character: she doesn’t wait to be told, she just does. Leslie is not stuck in the cycle of having someone tell her what task to do. She takes on workloads of her own. She creates things without being asked.

Go to Entertainment Weekly’s website so you can vote Parks and Recreation for an EWwy Award (the punctuation is correct)

A Creed to Live By

April 7, 2013 - colinashby Leave a comment

6a0120a8ac2bf6970b015433aebf1d970c (Photo Courtesy of: http://www.shapeyourweigh.com/2011/07/a-creed-to-live-by.html)

This is something that I’ve been trying to read every morning before the start of the day. It is something that I think a lot of recent college graduates should think about. It is easy to get discouraged in the job-hunt when hearing several rejections. Graduates shouldn’t let the rejections/joblessness get to them. As long as a person keeps at it, they will eventually get the opportunity they need. It takes patience and persistence. Below is a few excerpts from A Creek To Live By by Nancye Sims

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing

yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each
of us is special.
Don’t set your goals by what other people
deem important.

Only you know what is best for you.
By living your life one day at a time, you live all the
days of your life.
Don’t give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over … until the moment
you stop trying.
Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less
than perfect.
It is the fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Don’t be afraid to encounter risks,
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s
impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.

By Nancye Sims

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-creed-to-live-by/comments/

If the poem is not enough, consider this picture by Charlie from It’s always Sunny in Philadelphia:

(Photo Courtesy of http://weknowmemes.com/2011/10/oh-get-a-job-just-get-a-job/ )

Colin Ashby

Constantly curious & eclectic

Author: colinashby