Nathan Parcells, Author at Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog

Root Root Root for the Home Team

10:30 AM. Peacefully quiet. Everyone in the zone. Headphones on. Most of the time it’s moments like this inside the office where our startup team feels most connected, jamming together on big challenging jobs.

Then, there’s the connectivity felt among a team outside the standard setup, or the home base. As a part of the fast-paced startup world, a step out of the office and into a more playful environment is always a breath of fresh air that the entire team can benefit from.

Lucky for the me, the WayUp team picked AT&T Park as a place to let loose and have some fun last Thursday night. Since my freshman year in college, I’ve become more excited about sports in general, starting with college basketball (it’s a religion for us Carolina fans) and after attending the World Cup final in Spain back in 2010, it was no surprise that soccer picked up my attention too. But Giants baseball? Not so much…

Until now.

Once we made it to the stadium, I grabbed the most expensive garlic fries I’ve ever enjoyed in my life and took a seat. Peering out, I noticed the amazing view of the Bay against the emerald grass and dusty orange of the field, which only looked dusty in comparison to the striking orange of the Giants fans that filled the stands. “I think I could get into this whole team outing thing,” I said to our Community Manager Ashley.

From that point until the last inning of the game, my first baseball game experience got better and better! High-fives all around after a Cincinnati Reds strike. Dancing to Lil’ Wayne with the other interns in an attempt to make it on the big screen cam. Bags of peanuts popped open and passed around. And of course celebrating with the whole WayUp team after another big Giants win, 5-0 baby!

So, why didn’t anyone tell me baseball was so fun? I had the time of my life and in no way would it have been as fun with any other group of people. After working hard in the office, being treated to an authentic San Francisco tradition makes for an awesome memory for all of us to share.

As the shine of a fun night wears off and we dig ourselves into a hole of emails, marketing campaigns, and conference calls, there’s always another reward to indulge in for our professional achievements around the corner. Another outing to look forward to.

Hey team, I do hear SkyScreamer at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is pretty sweet..

Refresh Your Space This Summer

Do you ever arrive at your desk to start the day only to realize that you can’t even find your pen because it’s covered by a heap of papers as tall as Mt. Vesuvius? Organizing the places where you intern and live will refresh you and help you work more efficiently. So here are some tips for organizing your space.

“Clean your room”

Your house or apartment should be a place where you can relax and prepare for another workday, but if it’s messy it will just be a place that wears you down. A messy room can drain your energy just by causing you to think of starting to clean it all up. Set aside 15 minutes to put some music on and dance around your room spiffing it up. You’ll be surprised by how much you can get done in just a few minutes of focused organization.

Assess your work space

Do you feel cluttered when you’re at your desk and other places in your office? Clear away any old papers, old post-it-notes, and old coffee cups. Consider keeping a plant by your desk. Not only will it liven up your workspace, but it will give off oxygen that will refresh you throughout the day. Put pictures of your family, favorite sports team, or hero by your desk. These images will give you positive vibes and encourage you when you’re not feeling motivated. Click here for an excellent source that will help you be comfortable and healthy at work.

Throw away anything you don’t need

After you use papers or cards, store them or throw them away. After someone gives you their business card send them an email, put them in your Google contacts
, and then put all the cards in a small tupperware or other container. There’s no reason to have to sit sideways because you have a wallet that’s 2-inches thick full of papers you don’t need.

Arrange your virtual space

A disorganized computer can also have negative affects on your work. Create multiple folders and be specific when naming any document. If you have so many tabs on your browser that you can’t read them, it might be time to close some of the ones you no longer need. Click here for more information on how to organize your desktop.

Habituate yourself to daily organizing

Don’t wait until you’re covered in trash to start digging your way out of the rubble; organize your materials throughout the day. Get in the habit of arranging everything you use, and you will save yourself a lot of time and stress. Organization is a skill that will serve you throughout your life and in every job, so why not start developing this quality during your summer internship?

Q&A With a Community Manager

Learn how incredible internships, vibrant communication skills, and unshakable confidence led Ashley Mosley to become a Community Manager at InternMatch.

Alma Mater: Howard University
College Major: Film
Current Job: Community Manager at InternMatch
Favorite Musician: Michael Jackson

1) What are the most important lessons you’ve learned from the internships you’ve had in the past?

When I interned with the Federal Communications Committee (better known as the FCC), I got hands-on experience with customer service and learned how to communicate with people from all different backgrounds. I also gained skills in networking and public communication.

My internship with Bigfoot Entertainment in the Philippines allowed me to work in the niche market of Asian independent films and sparked my interest in digital media and target marketing.

I was an intern for the Global Solutions Manager at one of largest media companies in the world, MEC in New York City. At MEC I participated in events with MTV and lots of other exciting companies and learned how to use social media to promote a brand.

2) Tell us how you arrived at InternMatch.

When I moved to Silicon Valley I said, “When in Rome, do what the Romans do; I want to work at a startup.” Initially, I spent a lot of time learning about startup culture through TechCrunch and other similar websites.

Through this process, I found Nathan Parcells, CMO and co-founder of InternMatch, and tweeted at him saying, “I wish there had been something like InternMatch when I was in school.” He responded by asking me, “What would you recommend we do more of on our site?” I told him that I would like to see a Housing Guide and later sent a short email introducing myself. I mentioned again that I liked the company and that I’d love to chat more about how InternMatch could do more with its social media sites, listing 3 ideas for growth. Nathan then offered to meet up and asked to see my resume. I read about the history of InternMatch online and learned more about startup culture so I’d know what questions to ask. We met for half an hour the next day, and the day after that he offered me the job.

3) Describe how the InternMatch team has improved (and is improving) its social media sites since you’ve been on board.

InternMatch has certainly developed more of a voice by adding style to the internship culture. We’re constantly trying out new ideas to figure out what our community is going to respond to. Our goal is to meet the needs of our students by engaging them with fresh content, and it’s clear that we’ve done that because our community has more than doubled in size over the past year and is still growing.

4) What’s your favorite thing about social media?

I’m a huge people person, and social media is a great way to connect with people on a broader level. Often, you may think you know a person, but social media provides a more nuanced view into their life.

5) What advice would you give students on networking professionally through social media?

Know the differences between each site.

On Facebook, make sure to be genuine and continue to foster common connections with people. Suggesting articles/content they may like and commenting on things they post can go a long way to build those relationships.
Twitter is less personal and much more public. Sharing their content, responding to questions they ask, or simply finding unique ways to share information (i.e.: if someone wants restaurant suggestion in your hometown, etc..) are all great ways to build community on Twitter.

For every site, ask yourself how you can offer valuable information to the community, and have something to bring to the table. I think of it as a potluck.

When you’re reaching out to specific people ask, “Is this the only person I can contact to solve this problem and what can I offer”

Customize your message by writing to that person’s voice. Your tone is going to be different if you’re writing to a 23-year-old as opposed to a 45-year-old.

Compliment whoever you’re writing to. A little flattery can go a long way.

Clean up your profile. Everything on your profile should be a good reflection of yourself and should be up to date.

Make sure you’re not only making connections, but also that you’re staying up to date on the latest information in your industry.

***This is an installment from the series, Mastering Summer Internships. These articles will show how to make the most of your summer internship experience and be a rockstar intern in your company.

SF Summer Intern Program: Chill on the Hill Re-Cap

This past Saturday WayUp hosted SF’s first intern potluck & BBQ as part of its SF Summer Intern Program. Judging from the amount of food, smiles, and sunglass tans, everyone had an awesome time! Over 40 interns from big and small Bay area companies alike took over Dolores Park for an entire afternoon under the sun.

If you missed out on Saturday, keep your eyes peeled on your inbox for upcoming SF Summer Intern Program events! Check out the rest of our Chill on the Hill photos on our Facebook Page.

Summer Internship Class of 2012

We’re really excited to welcome our interns onto our team for the summer! Before running off to play FIFA in the game room, we sat each of them down for a quick Q&A – quizzing them about everything from food trucks and their personal goals to how/why they chose a summer job at WayUp. We only accept awesome interns and this group is no exception! Read along to discover how Sara found her passion from a Little Debbie cupcake and Will found his in a tent underneath the stars.

Alex – Software Development Intern

School: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Major/Concentration/Minor: Computer Science
Campus Involvement: I’m involved with a few organizations at UIUC
Graduation Year: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Why did you choose this internship: I knew about it from a friend working here now and applied because I wanted to be in the Bay Area and work for a startup where I would be surrounded with fun people and do actually interesting development work.

I knew that I was passionate about: Programming when my dad walked me through the development of a tic-tac-toe game in C++ and I actually understood the code that looked like gibberish to me beforehand. That year I ended up building a few more simple games like that on my own.

Personal goal for the end of this internship: to be fluent in Ruby on Rails because it’s extremely useful for web programming and whether I end up here or at another company after graduation, there’s a good chance that they will be using RoR as well.

Piece of advice that you’re glad you did/didn’t take: (Did) My grandfather’s advice that overworking yourself won’t make you more successful or happier. (Didn’t) Friend’s advice to choose the most profitable career path.

The last song you listened to: “Hillbilly Man” by Gorillaz

Three things that inspire you: My parents, Elon Musk and his fictional counterpart Tony Stark, and all types of music.

Is the glass half empty or half full: Half full, there’s too much to look forward to for me to be a pessimist.

If you owned a food truck, you would sell: Tacos, coffee, pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, Chinese food, Russian dumplings, macaroni, Kool-Aid and squirt guns during the summer.

Sara – Marketing Intern

School: UNC Chapel Hill
Major/Concentration/Minor: Advertising, Entrepreneurship
Campus Involvement: UNC Entrepreneurship, Persian Cultural Society
Graduation Year: 2013

Why did you choose this internship: From the first time I used WayUp last Fall, I noticed its unique position not only as a source for amazing internships, but as an educational tool for mastering the entire internship process — searching, interviewing, finding housing and beyond. It became my go-to for anything internship-related and as I searched for my own internship in an entrepreneurial field, I realized there was nothing more that I wanted other than to join the WayUp team itself and expand the brand name so everyone can witness their amazing work as a start-up. Not to mention, there’s a FIFA room in the office and no dress code!

I knew that I was passionate about: Marketing when I was in elementary school. I used to buy Little Debbie cakes, re-package them in paper lunch bags, draw a new brand logo for them in purple pen, and sell them in my neighborhood. Operation “Swirlz Bakery” was born. Since then, my love for brand marketing has done nothing but grow. After being accepted into the Entrepreneurship program at UNC last year, my passion geared exclusively toward strategic brand development for startups.

Personal goal for the end of this internship: Connect interns like never before by organizing super fun events as part of our SF Summer Intern Program and encouraging interns to write about their focus.

Piece of advice that you’re glad you did/ didn’t take: Glad I took: “Go to the Mission District. Get a pastry to-go from Tartine Bakery and eat it on a hill in Dolores Park.” (If only I could do this every morning…) Glad I didn’t take: “Don’t live in Berkeley, it’s too far from the city.” (Livin’ in Berkeley and lovin’ it!)

The last song you listened to: “White” by Frank Ocean

Three things that inspire you: The view from an airplane window, A butt-kicking workout, Beyonce

How to Build Your Personal Project

The best opportunity you could have as a summer intern is to build something from the ground up by having a unique project that’s all your own. Owning an independent project will cause you to accelerate your learning curve during your summer internship. You’ll be the sole person to work out any problems that arise and put all that you’ve learned to practice. Being able to have this level of personal responsibility will give you the opportunity to shine as a member of whatever team you’re on. Just like remarkable buildings are appreciated by all, the personal project you build this summer could become a landmark that causes your company to thank you for years to come.

Meet with your manager

The first step to starting your personal project is to plan a meeting with your manager. Before you mention your personal assignment, ask your manager what you’ve been succeeding at and what you could improve on. Write down your manager’s answers to these questions so you can reference them while you work.

Be creative and passionate

The perfect project is found at the point where the company’s goals and your passion meet. Express to your manager that you want your project to help the company and you want it to last. You must be able to display that you’ve excelled in your current job and that you will be able to carry the responsibility of a new task.

Your project could be something like building a unique software, individually reaching out to customers, or writing your own content for a site. However, it could also be something as unique as designing a model for the product your company produces. When you’re in the process of developing your project, don’t be afraid to ask your manager if you can extend the boundaries and do something unconventional.

The project the company needs you to take on may not fit with what you had imagined it to be, but that’s no reason to moan. Delight in the fact that your project is all your own. It’s your opportunity to shine this summer.

Check your progress

Once you start your project, continue to check in with your manager about it. Be as transparent as possible. Don’t be ashamed to ask for assistance when you’re sure you need it, but challenge yourself to make your project as much your own as it can be. Mastering this project will become your key to mastering your summer internship.

SF Summer Program: Chill on the Hill Intern Potluck

The WayUp SF Summer Intern Program continues with our Chill on the Hill event Sat. June 30th!

This Saturday from 12 pm – 3 pm, we’re hosting the city’s first intern potluck at every SF local’s favorite weekend spot: Mission Dolores Park. Stop by with your favorite dish and help us create an endless spread of lip-smacking treats (I’m bringin’ cupcakes!) to enjoy with other interns from around the city.

With six tennis courts, two soccer fields, a basketball court and a lush landscape of hills perfect to soak up some rays, it’s no question why Dolores Park fills spots across a plethora of SF Must-Do lists and is a central location for neighborhood activities, political rallies, festivals, ceremonial dances and much more. If you haven’t had a chance to visit Dolores Park, this is your golden opportunity! And if you’ve already discovered the beauty of this park, then we know you’re excited to share the experience with interns just like you.

We’ll be hanging out from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, so stop by anytime! Keep your eyes peeled for us at the corner nearest to 18th & Church St.

Key Deets:

What: Chill on the Hill Intern Potluck
When: Saturday June 30th
Time: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Mission Dolores Park – @ flat field on corner closest to 18th & Church St. (above basketball courts)

RSVP on our Facebook event page & let us know what delicious grub you’d like to bring:

The 10 Must Dos of Networking

It’s not all about who you know; it’s about on what level you know them. We live in a time where most people have Facebook friends who they don’t recognize and correspond daily with people they’ve never met via email. Real, face-to-face, eye-to-eye contact is something that people have less and less of but still crave. If you can become a clear communicator, an active listener, and a successful networker during your summer internship, people will remember you and desire to work with you. With practice, you can gain all those qualities, even if you’re an introvert, by following these 10 keys to networking effectively with people outside your office.

1) Have a clear purpose.

Set a goal for what you want to accomplish by the end of the networking event, whether it is getting closer to landing a job or simply learning more about a certain industry.Set a goal for what you want to accomplish by the end of each networking event you go to. Your goal could be getting closer to landing a job or simply learning more about a certain industry.

2) Practice beforehand.

Formulate a concise answer to the question, “What do you do?” that reveals that you are passionate and unique. Don’t blabber on and on; just show that you love what you do as an intern, and you want to excel at it.

3) Seek out individuals.

You will have more productive conversations when you speak individually with someone instead of trying to butt into large conversations. If your voice is not being heard in a large group, search for someone else to talk with. Search for people standing alone. They will appreciate that you sought them out.

4) Understand before talking.

People prefer to speak and appreciate when you listening. When they’re talking about something that excites them, keep them talking. Continue to ask them questions to get more of the details of what’s important to them.

5) Look for ways to help.

Once you know a person well, offer to help them in any way you can. If they are formulating a website and you’re good at design, volunteer to help with the process by showing them some pages you’ve designed. Look for little forms of assistance like holding their plate or throwing their trash away. People will remember you and respect you when you help them out.

6) Enjoy small talk

Brush up on your current events by reviewing the web pages of news sites. Local news, the stock market, and sports can be great topics of conversation.

7) Follow up immediately.

Ask the people you meet for business cards. When you go home, add them to facebook and LinkedIn and send them an email thanking them for the conversation and mentioning something they said that was especially interesting to you. Make sure to add details such as the event name, date, and where you were so they instantly remember the encounter you had with them. Click here for more information on following up with people after your first meeting.

8) Set up a lunch date.

Meeting over a meal gives you an excuse to talk together for a significant amount of time. For more on the advantages of business dinners and tips on how to conduct them, learn from the founder of Zagat Restaurant Review.

9) Keep going to events.

If you don’t meet the goals you set for yourself during your first networking event, go to the next one! Networking
is a skill that grows over time. Set a schedule for yourself to go to at least one networking event per week.

10) Be genuine.

All of the advice above will be useless if you are not genuine as you interact with people. Be honest about your opinions, passions and interests.

If you follow all of these tips, you will have success on your way to mastering the art of networking.

3 Keys to Networking at Your Internship

“You love oreos dipped in peanut butter, too!? No way!” Don’t you love finding common interests with the people around you? It shrinks your world and gives you a burst of excitement. Not only are these magic moments exciting, but they can lead to helping you master your summer internship. Learning the art of networking starts by building relationships within your own company with the people working around you.

1. Find their passion point

The only way you’re going to be able to know what interests your co-workers is to ask them questions. Start by asking them simple questions about their favorite books or movies or hobbies. Some people are inspired by sports, some by art, some by current events. Find their passion point and get them talking. This will make them enjoy talking with you and will lead to forming connections between the two of you.

2. Appreciate their work

Learn how the work your co-worker does helps you to do your job. If they don’t work in the same branch as you, set up a brief visit to their office to get a fuller picture of what their job is. Learn what drives them in their work. How did they arrive at this position? What inspired them to go into the field they’re in? Compliment them on a specific aspect of their work that impresses you. Though everyone may not show it, it’s true that people love a compliment as much as they love one of mom’s warm cookies.

3. Hang out “off the field”

Tim Tebow said: “When you have better chemistry off the field, it’s going to correlate to how you play on the field.” When you hang out with your co-workers outside the office, you’re going to work better together throughout the week. Organize a group event for all the employees to go to a movie or game or concert together. Everyone will appreciate that you brought the company together to have a good time. These memorable moments you share will maintain your regard for each other, even during stressful times in the office.

Why it’s important to make connections at your summer internship:

1. When you cry for help, you’ll get an answer.

Naturally, different members of your work team have different skills. If you’ve already established a positive relationship with others, they’re going to be much more eager to help you.

2. You work better when you’re having fun.

Studies prove that people who enjoy their work are more productive, more creative, and better at making important decisions. They key to enjoying your summer internship is forming relationships with the fun people working with you.

3. It could serve you in the future.

When you’re looking for a job after college, one of your co-workers could know about an open position you wouldn’t have found without their help. Countless people have found jobs in ways they never would have imagined just by networking with a purpose.

Goals for This Week:

1. Introduce yourself to 3 people in your company who you haven’t met yet.
2. Extend the conversation past introductions and find the common interests you both share.
3. Start planning a fun get-together with your co-workers.