I have been in Dublin for three weeks now! I am still exploring the city and have been loving every second of it. After my first full week of work, I have felt settled in to the working environment and my coworkers. I am learning so much about the live music industry and the marketing that goes on behind the scenes.
Going into this internship I have felt a lot of uncertainty of just starting work. While stepping into my internship itself can be an uncertain journey. With entering a new workplace unsure where I was going and what exactly I will be doing. This uncertainty created a little bit of stress for me with overthinking. I got over this by just going in with an open mind and trying to not to overthink and stress about the new beginnings. Remembering that this is something I really wanted to do. One the first day having what I will be doing in the internship played out for me. Along with this reminding myself it is normal to make mistakes and that is a part of the learning and growing process. The only way I will be able to learn is through trying. Once I got over the hurdle of the first day every day following felt more natural and I enjoyed it a little bit more each day. Even the second day was a lot better than the first and it felt like a natural and comfortable environment soon after.
With my internship unclear directions are sort of built into it. There is a sort of freedom that my internship possesses. There is a strong emphasis on being creative and a freedom that come with that. Sometimes in this situation this can be hard. At times that can feel overwhelming in a sense of not knowing exactly what do. Not having that guidance can be challenging in a sort of sense. But I overcame this by creating what I think fits the best and taking criticism from my supervisor. From there reworking what I have created until I reach something that works the best.
Specifically, I have been asked to make promotional video for artist coming to the venue. I have complete creativity control and am just told to just create it. This is something that I haven’t been really that experienced this. This at first was something that was very intimidating for me since I did not have a lot of previous experience. When I am given a video like this there are barely any instructions to creating it. That felt stressful at first as I wasn’t exactly sure of what would be good and if I was doing it correct. I navigated it by just listening to when my supervisor introduced which band and see if he said anything he wanted specially in the video or had ideas for what it should look like. I had the free choice I really like that I was given a lot of independence within this internship. This has allowed me to grow and learn very well. As stating before making mistakes is a huge part of learning from this. Not having someone looking over my shoulder constricting me has been a common factor in working but this is my first one that I do have that. I think in the case scenario I have no option to make something that I think is the best I can and show it to my supervisor and get feedback from that. Going from there I am able to make changes based on the feedback I have received. Receiving feedback is essential for unclear directions and uncertainty.
Another thing has been be completing tasks early. Typically, I am given a daily task that has to be completed during the workday. But typically, I will finish the project or multiple tasks before the duration of the day is completed. With this I will just ask my supervisor if he has anymore tasks for me for me to complete for the day. Other than this periodically throughout the day my supervisor will send me small things that he wants me to complete. Whether this being upcoming events for the event or creating marketing plans I always have something to do. At times it is up to me my pace and how much work I can complete for the day.
Through embracing the learning curve, learning from my supervisor and receiving feedback has helped me to navigate through the uncertainty that comes along with my internship.