Kiersten Post’s Post

The more time I spend with the interns in my team, the more I am reminded of the incredible individuals who took the time to enable and believe in me. Their guidance, support, and unwavering belief in my potential have been instrumental in shaping my career path. It's essential to recognise that each person we encounter is not just another head but a budding professional with dreams and aspirations. As we progress in our careers, it's our responsibility to pay forward the support and encouragement we received, particularly to those following in our footsteps, like interns. Interns are not just temporary hires, they are the future of our industries. It's crucial to brighten the glimpse of their future and not dull it. Empowering them with meaningful tasks, guidance, and mentorship not only enriches their experience but also creates a culture of inclusivity and growth within our companies. Let's strive to be the leaders we wish we had when we were starting out. Let's create an environment where every individual feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. Together, we can create a workforce where gratitude, empowerment, and paying it forward are the cornerstones of success.

What "The Intern" Can Teach Us About Good Career Practices Weekends are for relaxing, and if you're in the mood for a movie that blends wisdom with heart, The Intern is a great pick. The film tells the story of Ben Whittaker, a 70-year-old retiree who takes an internship at an e-commerce startup run by a millennial CEO, Jules Ostin. What follows is an insightful journey into the importance of lifelong learning, emotional intelligence, and work-life balance, among other valuable career lessons. Here are the top takeaways from The Intern that can help elevate your career practices: 1. Learning Never Stops: Ben shows us that age is no barrier to learning. He embraces new challenges with curiosity and remains eager to grow, learning from his younger colleagues and staying updated with trends like digital marketing. 2. Emotional Intelligence is Key: Ben's ability to navigate both his emotions and those of others, especially when Jules is struggling, is a testament to the power of empathy and emotional intelligence in fostering strong workplace relationships. 3l Professional Attire Matters: Ben sticks to his classic, formal suits, teaching us that dressing the part can boost confidence and set a tone of professionalism, no matter how casual the office environment might be. 4. Balance Work and Life: The film highlights the importance of balancing work and personal life. Jules’ struggle with this balance serves as a reminder to prioritize mental and physical well-being. 5. Build Strong Relationships: Ben shows how relationship-building and collaboration are crucial for success. By fostering strong connections with his colleagues, he helps improve productivity and adds value to the team. So, if you haven't yet, make sure to add The Intern to your weekend watchlist. You'll walk away with plenty of insights for both your career and life. . . . #CareerGrowth #WorkLifeBalance #LifelongLearning #EmotionalIntelligence #MentorshipMatters #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipLessons #PersonalGrowth #WorkplaceCulture #CollaborationSkills #SuccessMindset #WeekendInspiration #TheInternMovie

It’s intern and new hire season! In the next few weeks, 20-24 year old people will begin showing up in corporate offices across America. I used to supervise interns and new hires. Back when I was much more relatable (aka hip and cool…now I’m all “Hey you kids!”) A few suggestions, things I used to coach interns and new hires on my teams….share with your children 😉 —never show up to the office with wet hair —if your shoes require a big toe to wear, they are not office shoes —learn 1 new thing at every meeting. Not 5, not 20. One. Write down the term and who said it. Ask that person to teach it to you afterward. —say good morning to everyone when you arrive, say good night to everyone when you leave. —Dont ignore a ringing phone. Answer it professionally. No “Hello?” Try “Acme Company, this is Jennifer.” —Speaking of phones…if you need something: call. Do not send an email. Talk to the other person. —If someone asks what you think, definitely speak up! —I have seen young people charge laundry service and hotel pet fees to company accounts. Before you travel on the company dime, understand what can be expensed and what can’t. —Anticipate “real time” feedback from your supervisors and mentors, but look for a formal check-in weekly, at least in the beginning. Expect that you will have improvement opportunities. Everyone does! For the rest of you “Olds” (wizened supervisors): Ask these smart-as-heck kids what they think! Learn about them as people! Give them a problem and the latitude to solve it. You might be impressed! And remember: regardless of how experienced / old you are, interns are perpetually 21. Happy summer!

Summer's on the horizon! To make the most of it, business owners should get a head start on these 3 key areas, plus some bonus tips: 📌Staffing Shuffle: Summer brings vacations, student job seekers, and, for some businesses, a customer boom. Evaluate your staffing needs. Will you need extra hands to cover vacations or meet summer demand? Don't wait until the last minute - start planning now! * Tip: Consider offering flexible scheduling or staycation perks to incentivize current employees to cover summer gaps. You can also explore internship programs to tap into young talent. 📌Sizzling Summer Marketing: Summer's a prime time to heat things up with promotions and campaigns! Get creative with limited-time offers, partnerships, events, or summer-themed specials. 📌 Summer-Proof Your Finances: With summer comes potential changes in spending habits and cash flow. Here's what you can do: *Forecast Sales *Review Expenses *Adjust Promotions Embrace the Season! Summer is a time for fun and relaxation. Here are some additional ways to leverage the season's spirit: 🎈Host a company picnic or team-building event. 🎈Offer summer-themed employee appreciation perks like free ice cream or discounted gym memberships. 🎈Decorate your workplace with summery touches to create a cheerful atmosphere for both employees and customers. By planning ahead and embracing the season's potential, you'll be ready to seize the opportunities and overcome the challenges summer throws your way! #TheChairmanProject #business #businessadvice

Day 37/365 - “The Corporate Shock Therapy” Remember what I mentioned yesterday? I just started my gerontology internship, and yesterday was my first day. From the moment I stepped in, I was stunned by the corporate culture and all the restrictions. No dyed hair unless it’s a natural color, only black hairbands allowed, a strict limit of one pair of earrings, black socks only, etc. We’re even expected to greet our managers every time we see them, just because they're managers. The vibe I got was that we're supposed to follow whatever they say without question. And if managers give negative feedback, we're expected not to argue (I mean, shouldn’t we be allowed to explain ourselves?). This whole environment feels strange to me because I’m not used to being this restricted. I value freedom a lot. I get the importance of professionalism, but it shouldn’t be about how we look—it should be about our attitude. Bright-colored hair, visible tattoos, or rainbow socks don’t make us any less professional. I understand showing respect by greeting our managers, but shouldn’t respect be extended to everyone, regardless of their position? Cleaners, porters, co-workers—they’re all human and deserve the same level of respect. That's why I didn’t have the best first impression of this institution. Some might say I should be giving this feedback to my supervisors instead of posting it here, but here’s why I’m not doing that (yet): 1. I haven’t revealed anything that would identify the institution. 2. I am just a student right now—no power, no status. But I’ll definitely share my thoughts when it’s time for my evaluation. 3. I want my internship to end smoothly, without unnecessary drama. Not everyone can handle criticism, and I’d rather not invite trouble. It’s harsh, but this is the reality of the corporate world. To anyone who insists that climbing the corporate ladder is the only path to success, I’d rather not be “successful” in a world I can’t stand. I’ll be successful on my own terms, doing what I love and enjoy. 💪

Mastering professional skills like strategic thinking, problem-solving, time management, and leadership is important in today’s workforce. Those who master soft skills not only excel individually but also benefit their organization greatly by strengthening their teams and becoming catalysts for innovation and growth. Kelli Hall, Head of Recruiting at Enova International, says, “For many employers, soft skills are just as important as hard skills. This is because success in the workplace often requires more than the technical ability to do the job. Soft skills are what make the difference.” At GWNYC, our emerging Young Professionals complete an eight-week summer skills training that focuses on developing key professional skills and business acumen that prepare them to make meaningful impact at their internships. Learn more about our training model here: https://bit.ly/433zqv0 https://bit.ly/3Jj2i9H

As our summer intern class is wrapping up their time with us this week, I have to share this moment that is a “framer” for me. Having the chance to speak with our marketing interns is something I cherish at work. The Q&A is always surprising, because the questions often aren’t about the work itself. Instead, they touch on how to navigate your work self. Whether it’s work-life balance, defining success, navigating work relationships, here’s how I usually answer...   Q: How do you manage work-life balance? Me: You don’t. The scale is usually tipped farther in one direction than the other. What you need to focus on is setting boundaries and holding yourself accountable to those boundaries.   Q: How do you define success? Me: Failure. I've learned far more from what I've failed at than what I've done well.   Q: How do you foster a collaborative team environment? Me: Egos can get the best of us. Put them aside to leverage the brilliance of those around you.    Just a sampling, but I’ve learned that being authentic helps in bringing your best self to work.   I'd love to hear the best career advice you’ve received – share in comments ⬇️

This week, ahead of National Interns Day, I had the pleasure of meeting with our Priority Health interns during my annual intern luncheon. It's important for me to set aside time to learn about their ideas, goals and aspirations, and to thank them for their hard work and positive impact. I am always so impressed by their fresh perspectives and relentless energy. It serves as a great reminder that the future of our industry is in capable hands! During our time together, I shared three lessons that have been pivotal in my career: 1. Sweat the Details: Sweating the details builds trust and will help your leader know you are ready for bigger & better things. 2. Understand the "Why": Relying on "the boss told me to do it" is not a hallmark of good leadership. Instead, it's crucial to understand AND believe the "why.” 3. Discover Your True North: Discover and stay true to your true north; it will ultimately lead you down a path you can be proud of! And as we discussed these, they reminded me of these key learnings: 1. Relationships Matter: Many may believe the intern generation prefers virtual work, but they value relationships and in-person interactions much more than we believe. That said... 2. Balance is Important: This group prioritized having a healthy work-life balance and finding joy outside of work. 3. Empowerment is Key: Working on project-based work that fuels their passions makes the experience all the better. By empowering them to work on projects they enjoy, they learn to navigate challenges and come up with innovative ideas and solutions.

“For the next two weeks you will be organizing keys to our buildings.” This was the first assignment I gave to one of our Dean’s List interns who is working in our operations department for the summer. Sounds sexy doesn’t it? That’s the point and the lesson to be learned. Those small and sometimes overlooked details matter in business. They are the lifeblood. I can teach interns about Proformas, P&L’s, Cash Flow, etc. but those metrics don’t mean squat if you fail to pay attention to the sole reason why those financial numbers even exist: THE CUSTOMER! Steve Jobs once said businesses must “start with the customer experience and work backwards.” Keys 🔑. Aside from the initial outreach and apartment showing, our first real interaction with our customers begins when they are moving into their unit. With a portfolio of +500 apartments, it is our responsibility to make sure this process goes as smoothly as possible because no one likes moving. If we screw up the keys to their apartment (which we have done!), our goodwill with them is damaged. That is why this our intern’s first assignment. It is simple yet vital to the success of the business. Focus on the customer 1st; everything else comes 2nd! #education #learning #customers #customerexperience #details #business

Sharing another great session around Extern and the work they are doing. Take a listen. https://lnkd.in/g3QVsm3s