Please share one challenging experience with a past or current boss, and specifically address how/if you overcame this challenge.

If you do not wish to share on this public site, please email me at ajay@pfaw.org and I will email it to the group.

Thanks!

Travel can be a major pain, heavy bags, long lines, lost luggage, delayed flights, trains, planes, buses and cars. For frequent travelers it seems counterintuitive to continually plan trips – often many hours or days long – knowing it’s going to be uncomfortable, annoying, challenging and tiring….why willing go through that? For many of you reading this the answer is probably obvious…the bottom line is we want to get to where we are going. Whether we’re going to see family, friends, on vacation or just heading home, however difficult the journey, it’s the destination that drives us.

You spent all that time carefully designing the perfect resume and cover letter. Those final drafts are flawless works of literary genius, possibly destined for the Library of Congress—shoo-in for the Pulitzer. It was hard work, but they’re ready and you send it off to potential employers… who spend about 30 seconds reading the single page that took you weeks to finish. Now comes the hard part. A stranger wants to talk to you, in person, real-time, no take backs. Sounds like its time to hit the bottle. Or you can read on, as your favorite YP4 intern leads you into his dark past of interviews gone wrong. I blank when they ask me my name, so you don’t have to.

Salon.com made me cry

You can’t keep your eyes open. The report you’re working on seems pointless. You want to punch the next person who looks at you funny. God, you think, I can’t wait for the weekend. Yup, it’s just another Monday morning in the office.

This Thursday marks the end of my first month at YP4. Yup, only one month ago I was a simple Midwesterner, completely unprepared for the elegance and culture of the big city and my first big unpaid job. It’s been a steep learning curve—in the workplace how you speak, act and dress can make all the difference for your success and you’re expected to catch on quick. I was a slow learner, but here are some tips on how to fit in to office culture without selling out.

The Intern Diaries

"Yeah, the fellowship sounds great! Here's my e-mail address... hold on a sec," he said, rummaging through his pockets. "Uh, I've got the back of this receipt. Do you have a pen?"

During September and October YP4 Fellows participating in the Fall ISP program will share their insights and wisdom on 4 professional development topics: Professional Etiquette, Managing Your Boss, Networking and Avoiding Burnout. This week fellows will be commenting on "Managing Their Boss" and building those critical relationships in the workplace. Check back frequently as fellows post their entries in the comments section of this entry.

During September and October YP4 Fellows participating in the Fall ISP program will share their insights and wisdom on 4 professional development topics: Professional Etiquette, Managing Your Boss, Networking and Avoiding Burnout.

This week fellows will be commenting on "Professional Etiquette" those hard to understand rules on how to effectively and respectfully navigate the systems, processes, and people in the workplace.

Check back frequently as fellows post their entries in the comments section of this entry.

For many, the possibility of an internship in the progressive community is unrealistic. Most non profit jobs, campaign internships, and even some private sector internships are unpaid. With the average American student graduating with over $20,000 in debt its hard for most college students to afford to take an unpaid position.

Unfortunately, young people mostly wind up taking positions that offer nominal pay and aren't related to their professional ambitions. The paid internships that are offered by organizations are oftentimes very competitive and usually dependent on having relevant past work experience, usually in the form of an unpaid position. Breaking the cycle can be almost impossible for aspiring professionals who can't accept an internship without a stipend and a serious handicap for graduating college students without work experience related to their career path.

Fortunately, Young People For recognizes the need to offer stipends to make unpaid internships a possibility for qualified fellows. Currently, all fellows who have completed a campus blueprint or have accumulated a significant amount of change agent challenge points are eligible to participate. Steering Committee Members, Senior Fellows, Alumni, and Community College Fellows are also eligible to participate in the program.

Fellows interested in getting funding for an internship in the Spring and Summer of 2007 will be asked to complete 4 blog entries on professional development topics prior to applying for the stipend. For more information on the ISP program and eligibility requirements, please email rmayer@pfaw.org or visit the Career Center TODAY!

Whether you're working at a fast food joint or launching a professional career one thing most young people have to deal with is a boss. Whatever your boss's style, there's no need to despair. You can make the most of the relationship, and turn your current position into a launch-pad for your future. Here are some tips on managing your boss.