Let’s talk about internships

Whipped.

Internships can be your BFF or your worst frenemy. They can open the door to new experiences and employment or they can suck you dry and leave you hating the field you once loved. Interns can be thought of as vital additions to the team, or they can be thought of as the bitch, the gopher, or just referred to as “hey, intern.”

The point of an internship is to gain professional experience that will help you get a job in the field you want. No one is born knowing how to be a producer or a designer or a journalist. You go to college to learn the theory of your desired profession, but internships are supposed to give you that on-the-job, real world experience that no book can teach you.

Internships can be an amazing help to anyone just starting out. They can not only teach you how to do your future job, but they are also a great way to network and gain contacts in your industry. And often times if you do everything right – wear the right clothes, have the right attitude, show up at the right time, get to know the right people – internships can turn into full time jobs.

Unfortunately, some companies take advantage of interns. Now, I’m not talking about paid internships. If you pay me and I can list your company on my resume, I will do anything. N-E-THING. Well, almost anything. Make coffee? No problem, I make great coffee. Pick up your dry cleaning? Yeah, whatever you say. Babysit your kids? Sure, I’m great with kids, and I just see it as practice for whenever I get knocked up. But take away that money, and hell no.

No, I’m talking about unpaid internships. And not all unpaid internships. I mean, I have an unpaid internship. In fact, I wrote the majority of this post in between assignments at after my unpaid internship today.

Unpaid internships are like guys. You don’t just pick the first one that promises you a good time. You have to be picky until you find a guy that works well with you. Do you have personalities that mesh well? Do you have similar interests? Will he take care of you when you’re sick, or will he say, “Oh, babe, I’m sorry…can you make me a sandwich?”

Internships are the same way – you have to know what you’re getting into. Know that internship interviews aren’t just about the company; they’re about you too.  Ask questions about the company, know exactly what kind of work you will be doing, and if you can, talk to some of the employees to get a sense of the company’s work environment.

Just like guys, if you find an internship that works well for both sides, you could be looking at a long term commitment that could make you happier than you ever imagined.

Coffee and nightlife collide at Halcyon

http://www.halcyonaustin.com/menu/lunch/

Coffee shops are a dime a dozen in this city, but Halcyon definitely puts a different spin on your coffee drinking experience. While Halcyon is not a new establishment to Austin, it’s new to me, and I absolutely love it.

Halcyon means peaceful, carefree, untroubled, prosperous, and the name is a perfect fit. The coffee shop/bar is a great place  to unwind after a long day, grab a quick pick-me-up or just chill with friends. Local art lines the walls, and comfy, inviting couches sit beneath the paintings. When the weather is  beautiful like it has been lately, the staff at Halcyon opens the full-length windows and doors to let the breeze blow through.

When the sun goes down, the coffee shop adopts a more swanky bar feel. On Friday night, Halcyon had a DJ in a corner spinning song after song, which added to the nightlife feeling. With all sorts of different people drifting in and out of the coffee shop, it was a perfect place to relax and do some people watching.

But let’s not forget about the food. The coffee at Halcyon is a perfect blend of smooth yet strong tastes, and while I didn’t try a dessert, the person at the table next to me did, and it looked delish. But my favorite thing about Halycon was their make-your-own-smore set. After ordering your smore, the waiter brings you a flame along with sticks, marshmallows, graham crackers, Hershey’s chocolate and even wet napkins as smores are notoriously messy. The smores are delicious, of course, but the fun of roasting a marshmallow over the little flame is even better.