Looking back on the first half of the summer, I can see how much more confident and comfortable I have become in my role. During my first week, almost every phone call ended with me transferring the customer to Christina or Dennise because I was still learning the processes and wasn’t confident that I had the right answer. Now, I am able to handle most calls on my own. Whether someone has a question about their move or needs help scheduling, I feel much more prepared to guide them through the process. It has been rewarding to realize how much I have learned just from listening, asking questions, and gaining experience each day.
One of the biggest changes has been how independently I am able to work. When I first started, I would come into the office each morning and look for whatever Cindy had written down for me or ask my coworkers what needed to be done. Now, I have developed my own routine. I know what needs to be completed throughout the day, whether that means scanning paperwork, sending confirmations, mailing welcome home cards, writing thank you notes for referrals, updating the white board, or completing follow up calls. Learning the systems we use, like Supermove and Yembo, along with the day to day office procedures, has made everything feel much more natural. Even smaller details, like knowing our warehouse delivery hours or where to get recycled boxes for customers, have helped me become more self-sufficient. While I still enjoy shadowing Christina and learning from her experience, many of the tasks that once felt unfamiliar have become second nature. Managing my own workload has also given me the chance to build better organizational and time management skills in an environment where I feel comfortable asking questions and continuing to improve. I have also had the opportunity to work on more long-term updates, like working with House Account by providing client information for their project. As Brigid continued requesting additional clients, I was able to stay involved and help keep that project moving forward.
One of my favorite parts of this internship has been having the opportunity to use both the creative and business sides of my skill set. I enjoyed designing the birthday board and creating the “Talk of the Town” board, and I have also been able to work on blogs, social media, and other marketing projects. I like that no two days are exactly the same. Some days I am focused on customer service and office operations, while other days I get to think creatively and work on projects that represent the company. Having that variety has kept the internship interesting and has helped me discover that I really enjoy combining creativity with business.
The biggest challenge I have faced has been remembering all of the small details that come with each process. There are many little things that can easily be forgotten, like which attachments need to be included in different confirmation emails or the specific steps for certain situations. To help myself, I have gotten into the habit of taking detailed notes whenever I shadow Christina or learn something new from anyone in the office. At the end of the day, I reorganize those notes into a format that is easier to reference later. Having those notes nearby has made me much more confident when I am helping customers over the phone because I know I can quickly double check something if I need to.
Overall, I feel like I have adapted well and have grown a lot in a relatively short amount of time. I have become more confident in my abilities, more comfortable working independently, and more familiar with how the business operates as a whole. Every week I find myself needing less direction than I did the week before, which has been encouraging to see. I know there is still plenty to learn, but I am excited to continue building on what I have learned so far and contributing wherever I can for the rest of the summer.
