For the purpose of this essay, choose two (2) competencies to talk about

Competency 1: Think about the principles listed below and choose one (1) skill that you believe you already have a good understanding of, but would like to improve.

Competency 2: Choose one (1) new skill that you think you will have the opportunity, or would like, to develop this summer.

Word Minimum: 500

1. Critical Thinking
   • Working remotely or in an office presents different challenges. You may find yourself struggling to stay organized, manage your time, understand your job or adjust to working with professionals in your field. The goal of this item is to make sure you are able to approach any situation, challenging or not, and be prepared to find a solution in order to make you fulfill your responsibilities.
2. Communication
   • While COVID-19 disrupted most office settings, communication is still key. This summer, you will be working with people in person and/or virtually. Knowing how to remain professional on virtual platforms, and in your office, is key to being a good employee. Netiquette guidelines that we discussed in the Spring will be helpful for virtual meetings and email communication. And the email etiquette tips will be useful for your email communication.
3. Teamwork
   • Working with the communication bullet, how can you develop teamwork skills via online platforms? How you practice empathy and respect while working remotely/virtually/in-person? In-person, plan to build relationships not only with your supervisors, but also the other interns. They will understand your day-to-day life and be a good resource when you need to collaborate on a project, and bounce ideas off of someone.
4. Technology
   • Both in-person and virtual internships offer the opportunity to practice skills with different communication platforms, using company software to complete work and other scenarios. What issues do you expect to see with technology while you are performing your internship? How will you approach these issues?
5. Leadership
   • Are you comfortable taking control of an assignment, or asking for more responsibilities?
6. Professionalism
   • Whether you already have positive work habits, or would like to develop more in the area, an internship is a good opportunity to get more organized, work on your personal work ethic, and gain some new skills. What are some ways you can stay organized this summer? How have you dealt with challenges in the past, and how can you develop better problem solving strategies?
7. Career & Self Development
   • An internship is a trial run of your career. It is a way to try on the hat of what you think you would like to do for your career, and then reevaluate at the end of the program. Does your internship line up with your planned career? Are you open to your idea of a career changing based your experience this summer?
8. Equity & Inclusion
   • Diverse work environments are a chance to become more familiar with other cultures, religions, races, genders, etc. This will sometimes take a lot of patience, communication, and listening in order to be a good employee. What types of diverse environments have you been in before? How did you feel? How would you prepare for that type of situation again?