For my second week of working at PSA BDP, I had begun to get into a routine and flow of the actual work processes and the day as a whole. I have been tasked with daily processing of data and orders, ensuring that the international shipments are booked correctly with the right dates and time for the ship and that everything lines up correctly. Often there are small issues with EDI (electronic data interchange) transmission between the customers, the shippers, and us, the LSCs (logistic service coordinators). I am responsible for ensuring that the information through this three-way connection aligns so that the shipping and AP (accounts payable) can run smoothly. Another task that I have been given is general data analysis of our bookings and shipments. This has a more retrospective approach as we gather data on the shipments and if there were any issues from the beginning of the order to the actual receiving of the goods ordered, why did the problems happen, where did they happen, and what is the root cause of it in which the team can fix/focus on.

The team at PSA BDP and specifically the all-female DuPont Team have been incredibly supportive and helpful as I grow and learn in this professional environment. Through my internship experience so far, there have been instances of ambiguity and uncertainty as sometimes I am not sure what to do or if I did something correctly, particularly when it comes to the assigning of tasks and projects. Although this can be a common situation even in the States, it is a different experience as there is the adjustment to the business culture of the Czech Republic, the language barrier, and navigating this specific workplace’s norms, culture, and expectations.

One self-growth rule that I have been committing myself to is to listen more and ask tons of questions. This has helped me in a personal sense to learn more about others’ backgrounds, experiences, and passions. It has also helped in a professional sense as it is better to ask clarifying questions and set expectations and guidelines for projects and tasks before spending time and energy on it, for it to be done incorrectly and the results meaningless. I apply it in meetings when my coworkers or boss is training me on a process by taking diligent notes of what they are instructing, asking many questions, and throughout the conversation repeating back a summarized gist of my understanding of the task to get confirmation from my coworkers that I had received and understood it correctly. Asking for feedback and post-work confirmation or re-iterations is extremely important to ensure you and the rest of the team are on the same page and fulfilling the expectations.

Another tool that I have been utilizing in this experience is more mental and emotional, but equally as important. This is the importance of breathing, remaining agile and adaptable, and being myself to bring genuine enthusiasm and positivity to work. These are extremely crucial skills that are often overlooked in the workplace. This can allow an individual to be open and willing to change and bring their whole self to work which enhances relationships and motivates towards a healthy working environment. This promotes self-care and well-being by remaining grounded and calm even in frustrating or stressful situations.

These are just some of the tools that I have been using to gain as much as I can from the internship and this international experience as a whole, but this is not a comprehensive list by any means. Sometimes the best way to navigate uncertainty is to be reassured and certain about yourself and what you need, as well as those surrounding you. Every person is different which means that every tool in your toolkit that you use to deal with uncertainty will be unique and special to you. Be self-aware to know your strongest tools and your weakest ones so that you may surround yourself with people who have strong tools in different areas.

With Love,

Eliana Goodman