As I move into the third week of my internship with the Hertie School Centre for Fundamental Rights, that some of the work that I do is not direct. There have been times were there is a deadline for a task that is shifted or a change is a priority. There have been tasks that I have been given that have been unclear. This is something that I have dealt with past work experience. When working internationally, the uncertainty of a task adds more pressure.
During my second week, I was given a task to create an infographic for an event that was being planned. I then had to identify what information I knew and still needed to obtain. I knew what the event was about. The Centre was planning to host a research workshop. I knew the locations and the time the event would take place. I did not know how to make infographics in the style that the Hertie School uses. I had to talk to the social media team at the Hertie School to get a better understanding of the organization’s media style. I learned more about certain fonts and colors that are specifically used. There are certain logos that are a pattern for the Hertie School only. From this experience, I learned that you have to be proactive to find a solution to a problem.
Another area where I have struggled with uncertainty has been with research articles. My supervisor would task me with researching certain legal or human rights topics. I would need to produce a summary of the topic. When given this assignment I have struggled with figuring out with where to start or look. There are many issues that are occurring at a domestic level and international level. I would usually start with getting background information on the topic I would use the Hertie School’s Libary to help me with doing this kind of research. If there are any professor at the school that have knowledge with certain topics I would reach out to them. This helped alot when it came to have to write long summarize analysis. I woud also work with press team that covers current global issues. These exposed me to different issues that the Hertie School covers.
When I faced challenges that where unclear or did not have much direction. I had to find ways to use it has an opportunity to learn how to think critically. It alos forced me to adapt to a different work culture. I would seek help from others that I knew could help me. Through doing this I met knew people and learned more about what they do. When it came to research tasks and reached out to professors. I spent time with them learning about the professor’s areas or study. I gained knowledge though talking with them. Some of the professors I talked with mentioned that they would be speaking at an event and offered for me to listen.
People that work within my own office space have helped me with understanding certain task that I have been assigned. My supervisor gave me task to go through multiple document and make formatting corrections. I was told to use Hertie School style format. I did not know what that was at the time. I asked a few people in my office if they could assist me. One of the co-workers sent me a guide that was made by the Hertie School regarding style format. This guide also provided information about how to work the website. The Hertie School has a two view policy. This mean that before anything is offical publish on the website or soical media, two other co-workers must approve it.
My internship has two different buildings. The Hertie School has a main campus where classes and guest lectures occur. The research centers are about a fifteen minute train ride apart. On my first day was was told to start at the main building for any pre-orintation essential needed to be taken care of. Then I needed to hed over the the research center. I was given an address for the research building, but no directions on how to get there. I left the Main building and went to the subway system. I talked to an attended for directions. Once I fiugured out the train to take I then arrived at the research centre. From there had to figure out which door to enter from. There are only certain doors that let you in with the Hertie School key pass.
Agrawal A #01