My position within the gallery is unique to other internships I have had in the past in the way my tasks and projects are assigned. At the gallery, things are done on an as-needed basis. Because of this, everyday I help out my coworkers with a range of different tasks – from designing wall labels and cleaning artworks to looking for new outlets to send a press release. On a typical day I collaborate with the team on a number of different small projects. This differs from my past experiences, where I have been assigned to one specific project in which I focus the majority of my time on. I would say that though I was used to working in this method, I am starting to really like having a variety of different tasks throughout the day and work week. I feel like it brings a level of dynamism to the workplace, and really helps with the creeping sensation of monotony.
In terms of managing my time, I have always had a somewhat rigid structure in order to be more organized and productive. In the past I have organized myself through blocking out shifts or work days by time in which I plan on working on a certain task. Within this plan, I try to mark progress points which represent how close to completion or level of progress I hope to be at by that given time. I am starting to notice that this style of organization will not work in my current workplace. From what I have experienced these last few days, it seems to be an organic work environment that is not structured with many strict dates or deadlines. Furthermore, tasks are thought, started and finished as they appear necessary.
A lot of the projects are worked on as a team, which brings up a few difficulties with timing. In a few cases an employee’s task may be reliant on a coworker’s and because of this, need the coworker complete their work to begin one’s own. I have noticed that when I start in a new position, one of my biggest insecurities is associated with my pacing and the fear of working too slowly. One thing that I have found very helpful is observing the rate in which those around me are working on their tasks, and taking that as a sort of measure for how I should be working. Furthermore, I think it’s really important to make the effort to be aware of the work environment and recognize what’s being most valued, be it timeliness with deadlines, being detail oriented, multitasking different tasks, ect.
Another thing I have noticed since beginning my internship is that my workplace is very much an environment in which you must look for your own tasks. Unlike other positions I’ve had, where the expectations for my work were clearly laid out, here I have had to make an effort to find what needs to be done on my own. Yet again, this was an adjustment at first. I found myself often confused as to what to do once I had finished what I had been working on and I was surprised that I would not be directly assigned something after having shown that I was finished with a task. However, now I appreciate this kind of environment because I feel like I am trusted enough to take charge of my own work and organize my time wisely.
Lastly, I have noticed myself having a culture shock in terms of timeliness. A common thread between all my previous work experience in the United States was the importance put on being timely, and arriving when your shift starts, if not sooner. I’m noticing that here, although not in all workplaces, there tends to be a more relaxed approach to schedules, time and deadlines.
I have been really enjoying my internship this week and am looking forward to continuing working at the gallery!
