Holly Ellinwood

July 6, 2022

The Importance of Soft Skills in the Workplace

When you start career exploration, you will likely begin to brainstorm about a career area based on what you are best at. Finance might draw your attention if you are good with numbers and have high math scores in your class. Exceptional spatial skills may turn you toward architecture or engineering. Technical skills are essential in the workplace, but other skill sets need to be considered. How well do you communicate with a group? Can you multitask? Can others rely on you for important responsibilities?  When you start career exploration, you will likely begin to brainstorm about a career area based on what you are best at. Finance might draw your attention if you are good with numbers and have high math scores in your class. Exceptional spatial skills may turn you toward architecture or engineering. Technical skills are essential in the workplace, but other skill sets need to be considered. How well do you communicate with a group? Can […]
Do you like it?
Read more
August 10, 2022

The Value of Experience Over a Paycheck

An unpaid internship: You may be asking, Why would I do that? We asked one of our summer interns about her recent internship experience and what she took away from it.  Q: You were an unpaid intern this summer. How do you feel about doing work without getting a paycheck?  A: First of all, I want to say that my internship was an incredible experience. I interned with a local advocacy organization and had a wonderful mentor who taught me a lot. I viewed the internship as more of a learning experience. I had a set number of projects and tasks to complete, but even though I was able to contribute, I felt I was learning a lot. As far as being unpaid, the experience itself is more valuable than a paycheck.  Q: In what ways was being an unpaid intern worth more than working a part-time job during the summer?  A: Actually, I was able to do both! My […]
Do you like it?
Read more
September 9, 2022

You’ve Already Been Accepted to College. Should You Still Get an Internship?

Fall semester is a busy time for high school seniors prepping for college: SATs, ACTs, college applications, college tours, and AP courses. Once you receive that acceptance letter from your school of choice, your first instinct might be to sit back and lighten the load until graduation. It is important to take a deep breath and enjoy your last few months of high school; however, just because your college admission is set in stone doesn’t mean your resume should be left untouched until you apply for a job. While the fall is overwhelming, it’s a great opportunity to talk to your academic counselor about fitting an internship into your spring or summer schedule. Even just a few months of experience before beginning your freshman year will provide you with skills that can have an impact on your future professors, coaches, employers, and most importantly – you.  Here are a few benefits of landing an internship between opening that acceptance letter […]
Do you like it?
Read more
October 20, 2022

The Importance of Having Confidence in the Workplace

Confidence is contagious. Showing confidence in yourself sets the tone for a positive work day for you and for those around you–especially if you are in a position of leadership such as a team or project leader. On the other hand, if others sense insecurity in you, they may have doubt in their own abilities and possibly feel like they won’t get the support they need from you. Portray yourself as the kind of leader you look up to. Others will appreciate and thrive under leaders who are sure of themselves. In addition to having an impact on others, your self-confidence will benefit your personal and professional development. You will feel more comfortable taking risks, trying new things, and you will grow as an employee. How do you build confidence? Know the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence. These are two different concepts despite the terms sometimes being used interchangeably. Self-esteem is the feeling of one’s value toward themselves. Self-confidence is a sense of capability […]
Do you like it?
Read more