To respond to this week's post, try to pay conscious attention to the corporate
culture at your internship for a day or two. Corporate culture refers to the
"personality" of an organization. It defines "how things are done
around here." Corporate culture guides the way employees think, act,
and feel at work. A good fit between an employee and the culture of his
or her workplace almost guarantees success and happiness, and - one
could argue - may make the difference between a job and a career.
Please read the short article entitled "Uncovering a Company's Corporate Culture" at http://www.quintcareers.com/employer_corporate_culture.html
The author
argues that companies can deliberately build a culture that will
attract the type of employees they want and help their organizations
survive and grow. At the end of the article, he gives links to some
companies that brag about their employee-friendly cultures. He and
other authors I've read maintain that when interviewing for a job, the
culture of the workplace is one of the most important things to notice.
Choose two or three of the components of culture mentioned by Mr. Hansen and describe your internship's culture in these areas. Then note how this culture fits with what you would look for in a work environment. All else being equal (in other words, if the work were the kind of work you wanted to do), is this the place for you?
The corporate environment at my internship is pretty much varied depending on what department you work at. The Physical Therapy Clinic that I worked at definitely has a very relaxed and easy going vibe. All of the employees there are so comfortable with their coworkers and patients because of this. I'm pretty sure this is because most people here are all military, whether army or navy, and this basically creates a more family atmosphere. I would not probably fit into this environment because I'm not in the military however I would definitely like to one day work with an environment similar to this.
ReplyDeleteThe past week I worked with a Business Ops employee. The corporate environment here is a lot different than the environment that I previously experienced. It is a lot more quiet and stressful, mostly because there are not patients or outsiders, and the workers there have a more busy and repetitive work day. I would prefer not to have to work with an environment like this, however, I know that most jobs would have environments like this.
I agree that based on your description, the corporate part of the clinic sounds like an unpleasant environment.
DeleteIt seems like, when you have something in common with your coworkers, you're more likely to interact with eachother.
DeleteIt sounds like the military personnel has been nice to you. Thats great that you're getting along! And it's good to know what you like and don't like, which is why this is such a cool learning experience for us all! :)
DeletePeople I know who are in the military do have that family culture going on. I think it's partly because they are often deployed away from their birth and marriage families and need to create family ties on the base.
DeleteIt's good that you got to know what environment you would prefer to work in. I'm sure this experience will help you a lot in the future when you're deciding where to work.
DeleteIn the microbiology department at Children's, you are assigned time off based on how much you work. For example, if you work a double-shift or a weekend, you get a day off (a shift is 8 hours). However, you do not get to decide when you get your days off. You are instead assigned them. I think that the work hours indicate the level of workplace quality, since the hospital is open 24/7. Even though the workplace hours aren't indicative of the workplace quality, I don't think that I would enjoy working in a place where you can't decide when you can take off. I would rather work in a place that has more freedom.
ReplyDeleteI think that the dress-code at Children's, however, does represent the workplace quality. Even though the lab has a conservative dress-code, employes are unofficially allowed to dress in whatever manner they want to. I think that this relaxed attitude to dress really embodies the reality of the rules at Children's. Even though they have high standards for their employes, they won't get on them for minor things. These relaxed opinions about dress codes make me want to work at an organization such as Children's, because they are somewhat relaxed and easy to deal with.
It's nice that most employees are able to wear what they want. I agree with you about wanting to work somewhere with more freedom. I wouldn't like being assigned vacation days either!
DeleteThe better you dress, the better you act. At least from my experience.
DeleteDressing well is important in a job. For example, I couldn't go on patient rounds the first day because I was wearing jeans instead of dress pants.
DeleteThe clerks at the Alexandria JDR court have strong relationships with eachother. Some of them started in the office, but others started way back in college. Transparency is clearly valued here, as people are not afraid to speak their mind. Work quality is extremely important, since people's records need to be correct. Everyone strives to do the best quality work possible. If they don't, others won't be afraid to point out their mistakes. Work is done quickly since court cases are have specific times. There is not much freedom in the work that is done, but everyone is laid back around each other. There are even office pranks.
ReplyDeleteThe clerks dress formally for the most part. This also shows the culture of the workplace. I wouldn't want to work in this culture. The relationships are good, but the work done can be stressful. There's no room for error. I'd like to be in a more creative culture.
I completely understand where you are coming from. Although having strong relationships with coworkers is really nice, having a job with high amounts of stress can be scary!
DeleteDo you think that close coworker relationships take some of the stress out of the need for total correctness in the work that is done?
DeleteHaving strong relationships with coworkers is important for a working environment.
DeleteClose worker relations do take away some stress and makes the workplace run smoother.
DeleteThe corporate culture at the Public Health building is pretty relaxed. There isn't a strict dress code, however most people dress business casual. Since this is a small building, everyone knows each other. I think that a nice thing about working in a small place is that you are able to be very comfortable with all of your coworkers.
ReplyDeleteMost people work 8 hour days a day. The time off that you get is the same for most Arlington County government jobs. In addition to 12 paid holidays per year, you receive about 2 weeks of sick leave and 2 weeks of vacation time. I think that this is a decent amount of time off.
I would like to work in a place where the corporate culture is as relaxed as it is here. I hope to work somewhere where I am able to be as comfortable with my coworkers. It would be nice to work in a place that is slightly larger than this building, but other than that, the work environment is great.
The culture there sounds relaxed and comfortable. It seems people could easily fit in there.
DeleteI also appreciate being able to interact with my coworkers. I can't imagine how awkward or boring work would be otherwise.
DeleteI totally feel you. While I loved working at the doctors office, it was only one small room outside the examination room. Things can get pretty cramped in such a small office!!
DeleteIn my workplace, the time we clock in and out as well as how much time we have to relax or talk to eachother Inbetween, depends on the patient schedule. Sometimes our first patient comes at 8:30, others days we can sleep in a little. In the same way, the time we leave, the length of our lunch breaks, and our general interactions are affected.
ReplyDeleteMy coworkers and I are constantly making jokes and laughing. Without them, my job would be utterly boring. We became comfortable with eachother practically days after we met. There's no competition between us, if anything, we're very selfless towards eachother. We help eachother and take no credit for it because usually, our boss doesn't see it. My boss used to be a little harsh, but once I got the idea of things, we started cooperating more.
Our dress code is strictly scrubs, which I like. The first week, I didn't have scrubs so it was hard to find something professional yet appropriate for a doctor's office setting. After I got the scrubs, I felt more native to the work place.
I wish I could wear scrubs to work! It's hard finding the right clothes every single day. Especially since I work at the military base where everyone wears their uniform.
DeleteI agree that it's very convenient to wear scrubs. I noticed patients are lot more comfortable and trusting when you're cutting/wrapping a dressing in scrubs compared to wearing dress clothes and tie.
DeleteAnd they beck the heck out of those old nurses' uniforms!!
DeleteGreat to hear that your getting the idea of things and earning respect from your boss.
DeleteI'll be honest -- my workplace is simply working at the Career Center. My coworker and mentor simply call one another by our first name and we pretty much hop from room to room trying to get a source of Internet inside the hollowed concrete block the Career Center actually is. The corporate culture in our little work is so casual as we goof around, have nice breaks, and work efficiently by goofing. I always imagined myself working with a small group of people who know what to do because you know that the only people pressuring you are work and yourselves. Although doing work is a priority, enjoying doing work is also just as important. All of these factors goes back to the philosophy of do what you love and love what you do.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fascinating! It is exciting that you are working in a way that you wanted to.
DeleteIs any of your work done remotely - by that I mean are any of the people you could consider co-workers not actually in the same room (or maybe not even in the same city) when you collaborate?
DeleteThat sounds like fun- the goofing, I mean. I think it's great that you all are so casual together, it probably makes it easier to work together
DeleteSounds like an enjoyable work enviroment
DeleteThe corporate culture at my first internship (the doctors office) was very easy going and relaxed. It was a small office with only four people at most working there at a time. We all were very comfortable with each other. The first day I went, I was totally overdressed. I learned to dress comfortably but also professionally. There were days when patients were not coming that I could basically wear anything I wanted. The environment was never hostile. It was always very calm and relaxing. We would play music and talk when there wasn't much to do. This would definitely be the kind of corporate culture I would want to be a part of.
ReplyDeleteMy second internship at the Inova Alexandria Hospital has been a different experience. I work out of the volunteer department, so I wear the standard uniform. There have been lots of other students there volunteering, so the environment is definitely an eager one. No one is ever afraid to ask questions. Sometimes things can get hectic if multiple patients need something at one time or I get lost and have something I have to do right away. However everyone always says hello in the hallway, no matter if you've been working with them all day or have never seen them before. This would also be the type of environment I would like to work in.
Today I got to look at a placenta in the lab. Pretty cool. :)
I also went way overdressed the first day because I didn't know what was appropriate. It ended up being a lot more relaxed than I thought.
DeleteI agree with Nomin. More layback the environment, the more casual the dress.
DeleteHave any of you (or your parents) gone into a business where the employees were so casual they made you uncomfortable?
DeleteI prefer to be relaxed and casual in what I do. My internship at a newspaper was quite that. I dress business casual just because, and dress varies throughout. The editors wear shirts and ties, most of the interns will wear polos or skirts, and freelance writers can be shirts and jeans because they are out and about. Your position and story determine your dress, and I enjoy that, especially with some of this summer heat.
ReplyDeleteRegarding interaction with others, for the most part, I am sitting in a cubicle filing or writing or copy editing. I will be out and about occasionally chasing down a story or information or covering an event. My work came down to what I wanted to do, and looking back, I wish I took advantage of the freedom I had to go and write more. I settled for doing my jobs here and there for my editor, which was helpful, but not the most fulfilling.
All in all, I enjoy writing, but it may not be for me. Sure, high school and maybe college newspapers are within reach, but a career in as a journalist (or anything for that matter) has not come to me yet.
That's awesome that you got to experience what working at a newspaper is really like. I never knew that the way you dress varies depending on what position you have at a newspaper and what you're working on. I hope you find a job that you find fulfilling!
DeleteIt's interesting that you work in cubicles but dress casually. That sounds like a nice combination of freedom of expression and some order.
DeleteMy workplace is the central library, but we don't work there, we only meet here for the internet access to do work online. Our internship isn't reserved to a single place, so we could have pretty much worked anywhere with internet access. The environment is very chill, and we're not put under very much stress. So in conclusion, the corporate culture in my internship is basically nonexistent because I'm not working for a corporation.
ReplyDeleteAre any of the people you would consider coworkers based in other cities or countries?
DeleteThe corporate culture of the library includes a lot of silence and very little collaboration, I haven't worked with anybody here except for the other interns, disappointing. There seems to be all kinds of interesting people here working on all kinds of projects but very few of them are willing to share. Some of them are homeless, some of them are working on major programming projects, and some of them are using the library computers to check their Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy sitting in a library for eight hours a day but I don't see it as a potential career. You can never know what you are going to do after college so I don't know, I may decide to sit in a library on my computer for a job, who knows! I may be self employed. I hope to find a book on corporate culture at some point.
If I were you, I would start a conversation with the "interesting" people. Try doing that and let me know what happened !
DeleteSome guy who does forensics talked to us and said "Good luck on your education" So that's cool.
DeleteIt sounds like you're having a really great time at the library. I hope you find that book.
DeleteKip Tindell (CEO of The Container Store) wrote Uncontainable. It's been reviewed as "the best book about corporate culture in a decade."
DeleteIt is interesting that you get to see a lot of different kinds of people in your workplace
DeleteAs I am not really working at a company, this question is tough for me to apply. However, I am still working with people on a project and around people who are working on a different project. We are sitting in an open area, so I like the layout as there is a lot of natural light in the area. We are mostly quiet as we work, but when we run into a problem we collaborate to solve the problem. Our mentor is also in a different state, so we talk to him about twice a day as he gets an idea of where we are.
ReplyDeleteAnother advantage to not working for a company is that we can dress how we like, which is a great asset in the summer. Overall an interesting experience although it is unclear how much it will apply in the future.
I agree. The library is nice, and it does have its perks, but it's different for us IT interns. We could work anywhere, but the other PRIME interns have to go to a specific corporate workplace, so they could probably answer this question better.
DeleteSome things I've read lead me to believe that the way you IT folks are working is the way lots of people will work in the future (your future) - either from home or from an IT center, with coworkers in their homes or in other IT centers in cities all over the country or even all over the world.
DeleteAlready, when you call for IT support (Maybe you never have to - lol) or to set up a vacation exchange, etc. the person you talk to may very well be in India or Canada. He or she takes control of your computer, routes you to your vacation destination, etc. just as though you had carried your pc to the shop or gone in to a travel agent and sat down across the desk. Mr. Elkner's students already work with people all over the country on projects. To me, that's a culture in and of itself.
It sounds like the corporate culture at your internship is really working out for you
DeleteAt the Chamber of Commerce, the corporate culture is friendly and professional. The six core employees here are very relaxed and at ease with one another. They communicate well, have fun sharing stories during lunch, and things seem to be pretty good between them all. Additionally, the big boss, Kate, is very kind, but a professional go getter at the same time. Everyone seems to like her, and they all communicate effectively, which I would appreciate in a workplace. Nobody wants the boss everyone secretly hates, people undermine, or is mean to the employees. However, they still are business focused, meaning business attire and a professional looking office. They work 9-5 most days, though I have noticed the boss is very okay with letting people go to doctor's visits and other things like that.
ReplyDeleteI would like to be in a workplace like this in the future as it relates to work environment. I would like a place where I am friendly with all my coworkers and everyone gets on well with the boss.
I agree. The boss is someone who should respect all employees. A positive atmosphere in the workplace is always beneficial !
DeleteI also enjoy working in an environment where coworkers all get along and respect each other and the fact that the boss treats everyone with respect is good and a very important aspect of a productive work environment.
DeleteMr. Hansen clearly states that an organization's corporate culture "can make the difference between job-search success and failure". Basically, if the personality of the organization or company best "fits" your beliefs and behavior, then you will likely work efficiently to help the organization grow. The mission statement, work environment, architectural style of offices, and dress code are all included in the corporate culture of an organization or company. One important point that Mr. Hansen makes is that an employee must work for a number of months to actually know the corporate culture of a company. After spending a month at the Arlington Department of Construction and Design, the corporate culture overall seemed very relaxed. However, I observed that not all the employees share similar personalities. For example, there is one lady who would always laugh and greet me when I come in during the morning. On the other hand, there is a man who would barely speak a word to you unless you come up to him for an advice. Most importantly, no matter
ReplyDeletewhat personality they possess, all the employees seemed busy and appreciative of their work. Employees do not come to the department to have a Nerf gun battle. Once they walk through the front door, all employees greet each other and continue with their business. The dress code is not very strict. The ladies can wear a dress, a skirt, or work pants. For male employees, they can wear anything besides shorts and tank tops. Sometimes the work environment can get too quiet and out of sync. Today, Alex and I turned the volume up on our cellphones and listened to rock music. Immediately, the moody employees told us to turn down our music, but some responded with a huge grin on their faces. I like to be around open-minded people who speaks freely. The work environment/architectural design of the building is not ideal to me, especially with the narrow corridors and unorganized offices. I prefer working in a wide spaced office that allows me to move freely without bumping into things. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my time here and learned valuable work ethics.
To respond to your observation that some employees were depicted as having differing personalities, I'm thinking corporate culture doesn't necessarily cover an entire organization. In other words, corporate culture varies from department to department. I saw something like this at George Washington Hospital, in contrast to rehabilitation, the ER was a lot more quick paced.
DeleteI agree, too, that a corporate culture can be one that does - or does not - accept a wide variety of expressions of personality!
DeleteFor my internship I’ve been working at the Arlington Central Library. Although it’s not an official workplace, I do enjoy many aspects of working there. It’s pretty quiet, and the high ceilings and bright open spaces are inviting, which all help boost productivity. I can also collaborate with my coworkers, who are all PRIME interns. We sit together at the tables, and there’s always an electrical outlet nearby, which is nice. I’m there from the time the library opens at 10 AM until 5 PM. I also work for an additional hour at home so that I have an 8 hour workday. I think the hours are reasonable, and I do get a lot done. Around 1 PM we all go out for lunch, and there are some good food places in the Ballston area. There isn’t much of a dress code, but we all dress casually to blend in with all the other people at the library. Some of the onsite perks include free Wi-Fi and all the books you could ever want. If I ever need a print resource, I’m in the right place. I would say that it’s a pretty fun environment to work.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think I would want to work at the library per se, but it’s definitely a good place to study and do research. I had the chance to visit my mentor at the USGS in Reston, and I think that I could imagine myself working there. The environment is very pleasant, and there are many labs and resources, which are factors I’ll take into consideration if I end up taking an internship there or applying for a job.
Wow, your workplace sounds pretty incredible, It's a shame you don't want to work their for the entirety of your career.
DeleteWould you want your future work environment to have the same time of feeling as the Central library? (the feeling of having everything at your fingertips)
DeleteYeah it would be nice to have all the resources I need within reach. This would help me be more productive because I wouldn't have to spend so much time looking for something. :)
DeleteI think the USGS sounds like a pleasant place to work, with all the labs. I hope those labs had some windows though, to give a glimpse of the outside world.
DeleteThe corporate culture of my workplace is both serious and social. Plenty of hard work is done at my office due to many deadlines that have to be met. The employees here work hard everyday to get their job done. On the other side, there are no cubicles and the work place is very open which leads to a lot of communication and discussion. Not only does this help with work efficiency, it also keeps the workplace positive and interesting. I think this is a very important aspect of a workplace. if it isn't social then you don't get to know your coworkers and you don't get much joy out of working.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting how they mix serious and social in what seems like a good way. Have you been enjoying this aspect?
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DeleteThere is a dichotomy between dress code for both of my intern sites, at Arlington Foot & Ankle, I'm free to wear either scrubs or dress clothing w/ a tie; however at George Washington Hospital, student interns strictly wear formal dress clothing, nurses & therapists (PT/OT) wear scrubs, medical students wear short white coats, while doctors wear longer white coats. Since Arlington Foot & Ankle is a private practice, a lot of aspects of corporate culture is more loose like time, since the hours of every day vary depending on the amount of patients checked in, whereas I was on a set schedule at George Washington Hospital. I really enjoy the freedom and patience at Arlington Foot & Ankle, but I also love how George Washington Hospital is so organized and focused to detail. They both offer different (but satisfying) components of corporate culture in my opinion, so I would not mind working in either establishment, however under a different specialty (surgery).
ReplyDeleteWow, you're lucky that you can find ways to thrive in different environments! It is important to adapt to the culture of your job, even if it doesn't quite fit.
DeleteI also worked at a private practice and I know exactly what you mean. Some days are really busy and stressful, but others can be really relaxed depending on how many patients or doctors are there that day.
DeleteAt my workplace, the Department of Human Services the "corporate culture" is honestly very relaxed. From the first time I went to get interview, to my last week now, every time I walk in its always very quiet, rarely does it ever get loud. When co-workers do interact with each other, they have personal conversations about life outside of their work at the department, which clues me in that all of them have known each other for a very long time and that they are a very close knit group. When I came in I was very much the outsider because of this, but now in my final week I have gotten friendly with some of the co-workers. Attached to the break room, is a door which leads to a balcony for co-workers to eat outside and enjoy the weather! This also gives the office a nice relaxed feel, plus its nice contrast to all the little cubicles with desks and laptops on them.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe this is the workplace for me, because of it being very quiet, calm and ordered place, not saying it isn't a pleasant place because it very much is! I'm very
used to noise, a hectic vibe and running around from place to place instead of sitting at a desk all day everyday. I prefer a place where things are happening and interaction between people is happening every second.
Very interesting! I enjoyed reading your last paragraph. It gives me an idea of the corporate culture you look for in a work environment.
DeleteYou and I both. I can definitely sit still and focus, but eventually I'll get restless.
DeleteLuckily, I got plenty of chances to run around and interact, albeit not all the time.
I am interning at the Jefferson nursing home. I would say that the term "corporate culture" hardly applies to the Jefferson, because the work environment is far from corporate. Decisions are made with group input, or at least group approval-- and even while I have interned at the Jefferson, I have been asked to weigh in on decisions. No matter the job title, everyone truly has equal say. Everyone works together to make the schedule run smoothly; it is not uncommon for my mentor, the head of the department, to be working alongside the people she is technically in charge of. I hope to find a work environment in the future where my opinions and skills are valued as much as the next person's. I do not plan on working in a place where important decisions are made as executive orders rather than collaborative decisions. The work place at the Jefferson is suited very well for me, because it encourages everyone to think creatively, and it values everyone's ideas.
ReplyDeleteI have been working in a similar environment where, because there are a lot of meetings and committees everyone has some say in decisions. I even got to share some ideas in meetings which was a great feeling.
DeleteThis is an important observation. Nothing feels quite so dehumanizing as having your opinions dismissed out-of-hand or having decisions that affect you on a day to day basis made without your input. However, this is something that might be hard to judge from just the interview. Can any of you think of a question to ask an employer that might get at this important aspect of corporate culture?
DeleteThis sounds like a very positive environment! It's exciting that you've been able to have a say in decisions around the workplace.
DeleteWow this was very interesting, and this definitely sounds like a enviroment for you Marie!
DeleteI feel like employees at somewhere like your workplace would have a lot of independence when working with the residence, as decisions are probably frequently made on the fly. I think this sounds like a good position to be in.
DeleteAt APCYF the corporate culture is very relaxed overall. Whenever a coworker went on vacation they made a big deal of telling them not to check emails and enjoy the vacation showing a strong belief in a healthy work/life balance. Also if they have a late meeting one night they will either come in late that day or go home early the next day. The dress code is also relaxed it is usually business casual meaning slacks, skirts, or a dress (no jeans or flip flops) and a nice shirt, though they do have casual Fridays. Overall this has been a wonderful work environment and wherever I end up I hope it is a similar environment with similar wonderful coworkers. It is also nice because I'm working for DHS which is a large agency but the group I'm working with is a small part of the organization and everyone is very close and gets along well so there is a real sense of community in this one part of a large department which I really like.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds really nice! I would not mind having a job with that kind of culture
DeleteThe fact that employees are encouraged to completely relax during vacation is great and very important for staying productive!
DeleteThe corporate culture at CPRO is very laid back. My mentor, the director of CPRO, Takis Karantonis, took a few minutes to tell me how this is more of a 'work' job than an 'hours' job. In thiis he explained how they are not the usual corporate 9 to 5 business where you clock in and out, but they decide when their work is done for the day based off of when they finish specific projects/goals. My mentor lets me wear shorts and polos to work, so the dress code is a little more casual than most businesses. The office here is also a relatively small, open space, with a few desks, a large conference table, and a big window in the front. I was pleasantly surprised by how casual this job is. It seems to be very self-paced, but also has the coworker interaction needed to reflect on ideas. I would definitely enjoy working in a place with a similar corporate culture. I think the only kind of corporate cultures I would not enjoy are the extremes of both ends.
ReplyDeleteThat is really cool Daniel! It must have been cool when you finished projects early. Sounds like a great time.
DeleteThat sounds like a really fun internship Daniel. It seemed great how everything was very laid back and casual, but you still got work done at a productive pace.
DeleteSometime mid last week I was switched to a new internship site at the Arlington County Costume Shop, which is a branch of county funded theater rental shops. The culture there is pretty casual, and most of the people I've met are very friendly as well as knowledgeable in theater (which I am not). But everyone is always open to creativity, organization, and helping others. Even though this job isn't the type of art that I'm looking for, my mentor has taught me a lot of things about fashion and theater; I've even made a few costumes with her during lunch break. The hours are decided by the managers of each section, and it's usually dependent on their own schedule. The shop looks like chaos when you first take a look at it, but it's actually very organized to suit customers, which I thought was really cool. All in all it's a really friendly, close-knit, and fun place to work.
ReplyDeleteI think in the future, I would look for a "culture" similar to this one, but probably for a larger company. I want to work in a semi-loud, creative place with lots of other people to work with
It sounds like they like their jobs. It's cool that it is a little crazy, but still works.
DeleteThat is really cool! I would love to work somewhere that they employees get to be creative in their every day life.
DeleteThe Dress Code at RNL is business casual. This does a pretty good job of the atmosphere here. People are pretty laid back and can fool around sometimes, but this is also an office. You probably don't want to go play basketball during your lunch or anything.
ReplyDeleteEverybody at RNL (except me ^_^) works from 8-5. If you have a busy day that day, then you are probably going to work a lot during those hours. If you have a relatively light work load that day, you might be able to relax a little bit. But this doesn't mean that you play once you are done, you still have your computer on doing something architecture related, just maybe sorting files of improving work on other projects.
During our hours at Cue's, there wasn't a lot of work because business was slow. Whenever clients request a service, one engineer usually suffices.
DeleteThe corporate culture at the General District Court is very positive, and it is definitely a culture I can see myself working in.
ReplyDeleteThe office environment is positive and encouraging, and the employees work together to accomplish tasks efficiently. Even in stressful situations, the employees treat each other respectfully instead of resorting to negativity. For example, a case went missing the other day and instead of blaming the clerks, the Pre Court manager helped them look for the file. Managers and other employees are respectful and helpful to each other.
Employees are also free to decorate their workspaces, which makes a difference in employee outlook on work. Having personal items and motivational posters, etc. in the office creates a positive and productive workplace. The employees also spend time together outside of work, which makes collaboration easier.
That's good, I normally picture law offices as competitive, so it's nice that they are supportive.
DeleteThis culture seems to create a great environment to work in! I think that being friends with your coworkers is very important.
DeleteI would love to work in an environment like that where everyone is encouraging and respectful to one another. I think that everyone could work more productively with quality results in a culture like that.
DeleteAt Delegate Lopez's office the culture is generally relaxed, but it is unlike most offices. When the General Assembly is not in session, the office is out of the Delegates house and sometime a nearby coffee shop. This allows for no personalization of space. Personalization wouldn't be necessary for me, but it would be nice.
ReplyDeleteThe Delegate (who has a day job), my mentor, Jason, and a part time finance person make up the whole team. While their is interaction with community members, I would want more people around.
The hours of office type work are very flexible, but their are weekend and night events. Telecommuting is defiantly possible, I did it a few times. During session however, you have to live in Richmond and things are not very flexible.
Your office is like mine in that it's so tiny! It's also really interesting that you guys work so closely together.
DeleteThat must have been tough working in such close quarters. That is a very interesting type of office that I had not thought about before.
Delete
ReplyDeleteThe office itself may not be the most appealing place to work in. There is no true break room, or any space in the office designed for employees to do something other than work. The office is also a maze of cubicles, some with windows and some without. Only one window from the office offers a view of the playing field, the rest just show the parking lot. It can distract people from the fact that we work in a baseball stadium. A walk around the concourse is always an option, and the press box, with a great view of the field, and a general openness, will always have at least one intern with a laptop in it.
I have yet to see anyone inside of the office, from the interns up to the general manager wear anything more formal than a polo shirt. That is just office wear, on game days, it is not only acceptable, but common for interns to arrive in a t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers. The casual dress creates a laid back atmosphere to the work place. It also helps that the employees are quite friendly with each other. This is a work place filled with sports fans, so we all share common interests, making it easy to find a conversation subject. The coworkers also spend a lot of time with each other outside of the office and stay connected.
Something small that made a difference to me was the ever changing atmosphere of the office. Khakis and polos can quickly be switched out for gym shorts and a t-shirt. One night I could head out at eleven at night, the next day I might have to show up at nine in the morning and only stay until two. Usually if the staff has to stay after a game to move furniture or clean up after a fireworks show (the office staff does these sorts of tasks, not a custodial staff) it is not uncommon for interns to be rewarded with a day off. It is just a preference, but it truly bothers me when things become too routine, and I'm glad I found something that isn't a true nine to five job. The lack of consistency, and the overall friendly and laid back atmosphere make Prince George's Stadium a place I wouldn't mind working in.
This reminds me of my internship but on a larger scale. Us interns at Cue's could easily jump into conversation about bands, genres, equipment; we had similar interests, and three of us played in our own bands.
DeleteBased on your description, the compound was significantly larger than where I worked, giving you more mobility, and I somewhat envy that because we were mostly confined to an office building.
It's interesting to me how you noticed the changing atmosphere at your internship, and how it affected you. The flexibility must be a little bit freeing
DeleteThe corporate culture at Cue's is reminiscent of a brotherhood; everyone is friendly to each other and share strong relationships. Interns are immediately welcomed into the circle. Even the most experienced of engineers are willing to make conversation with the newest of interns.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there is also a certain air of professionalism that resides over the office. This is mostly due to Jeff, the owner of the studio. He is a stoic man, but he is the driving force behind the operations.
In terms of hours, for interns at least, the hours are very flexible. There is also barely a dress code; we mostly dressed casually.
Your workplace sounds so interesting! It's seems very different from where I work in the way of dress codes.
DeleteThe corporate culture at the doctor's office and the hospital were different but equally pleasant. At the hospital, I was expected to dress and act professionally at all times. All the hospital employees were very polite and willing to make time in their busy schedule to help others. This was expected of everyone to make sure that patients and visitors got the best experience as they can. Because the hospital is a bigger facility with various departments, it was only possible to get to know people in your own department very well. For example, I got to help out in the Food and Nutrition Services department everyday. I noticed that everyone knew one another and had very friendly interaction with each other, whether you were the manager or the catering assistant or the chef. It was very pleasant to work in an environment like this where everyone was comfortable to work with each other and could get a laugh out of each other ever so often.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the doctor’s office had small work space and had only four workers at most. Things got a little messy and unorganized sometimes since everyone, except the doctor, was sharing the same work space, but it was easier to have casual conversations with coworkers as well as with patients, which I really enjoyed. We also had lunch together everyday and I got to talk and learn a lot from the doctor. Also, even though we were working at a home office, we were still expected to wear office-appropriate attire everyday except Friday. This helped me take the job more seriously.
If it were more spacious, the doctor’s office would be an ideal corporate culture for me to work in, perhaps more so than the hospital.
That seems like a lovely office to work at. I'd like to be some place where everyone knows one another.
DeleteThe cooperate culture at the office was quite relaxed. Interns are treated as if they were always there. It's a nice feeling. Of course there was a dress code and you were expected to dress office casual. Everyone, to my co-workers and the doctors, were very encouraging to each other. It gives a feeling of closeness in the office-- like a family. The break room was medium sized, but also contained all the files the doctors needed, which at times could get very hectic. I would definitely want an environment where people feel comfortable to talk to each other, but still keep a level of professionalism; which Columbia Assoicates surely has.
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a great environment to work in!
DeleteThat's very interesting Jordi, it seems that you liked the feeling of a "family" in your workplace.
ReplyDeleteThe culture at Suited for Change is extremely unique. The office is set up for collaboration, and the only room that can be completely closed off belongs to the executive director so she can arrange and facilitate private meetings. The rest of the administrative office is fairly connected. All interns share a desk in the main room adjacent from the program manager and right near the open office of our director of communications. Although the atmosphere is friendly and warm, dress in the office is not casual. To set a good example for clients, staff usually wear high end professional clothing. We have a little break room to eat lunch and store our personal items, but we do not spend that much time there. My final impression of the workplace culture at SFC is one of friendship and collaboration. If I pursue this type of work, I'm one hundred percent sure this would be the ideal workplace for me.
ReplyDeleteThe workplace I was at was the Career Center. As expected, my workplace constantly changed from the carpenter classroom to the aeronautics classroom and finally to a classroom that had enough Ethernet plugs and cables. I would definitively say that the corporate culture would be very casual here. My mentor and coworker call each other by first name, we all goof off sometimes, have decent break times, and even then we would still manage to get our work done. I'd taken away that being in a smaller group is more manageable than a large one, as you would most likely be working with just yourself rather than with other people. As if I were to do this exact job in my future, not likely, but I'd like the whole casual, small group-aspect of this internship.
ReplyDeleteFor the first time, I've actually had to think about how to describe the corporate atmosphere of a military facility. Needless to say, the dress code for over half the facility was the standard uniform. For the civilian doctors though, it was rather hard to tell as the ones who weren't wearing scrubs were wearing buttoned-up lab coats. I could only see the full outfits of a few people. However, I imagine it was the standard "business dresses, skirts, and slacks for women, button down shirts and pants for men". Although I loved my time at the Rader Clinic, I found that the dress code aspect conflicted with what I would like when I'm an adult. I personally like wearing rather feminine business clothing and I would prefer to work somewhere where that is accepted, even embraced. I believe I can perform biochemical tests in a chignon, high heels, and a dress just as well as in sweatpants and tennis shoes.
ReplyDeleteOther than the dress code, honestly the corporate culture at the Clinic was to me hard to define. I rotated through different wings and each had its own atmosphere. I saw everything from rather elderly doctors who were a bit standoffish, to motherly ladies who doted on me, to people in their 20's who treated me as an equal. If I had to give a culture to the whole place I would say......peaceful. The atmosphere was peaceful. There were times during lulls between patients that I could read my book in total silence. Everyone was busy typing away, or behind closed doors talking to patients. I'd like to work somewhere that calm one day.
The corporate culture at the Rader Clinic was pretty relaxed. There was just a business casual dress code, nothing fancy that we had to wear. I feel like this really lightened the environment and everyone just got along great. The leadership hierarchy was defined, only because it was the military. Besides everyone's rank, people just all acted like coworkers which I thought was great. What I thought was interesting is that not very many people got actual offices or cubicles, everyone just had there own workspace. I thought that this really helped dissolve a rigid office structure.
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