What 'The Internship' Got Right About My Internship

Fictional Googliness vs Real Dellisms

The Internship starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson got 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, but I'd give it a 3/5 when it comes to depicting what it's like to have an internship in a large tech company. I got the funny idea that some interns should watch The Internship together and I walked away with a few friends and talking points.

3 Points:

• Don't be intimidated. The movie did a great job making the antagonist a huge prick. He strategically creates a team of beautiful people and 'useful' people, which are supposedly separate, and he's a bully the entire time, but the revenge is sweet at the end. 
  
  Although that kind of character is great for movies, you won't find him in the collaborative spirit here at Dell. For the first few weeks, I sat near interns from great schools like UT Austin, University of Michigan, Boston College and Rutgers. Then two new interns from Northwestern joined us. 'Regular' people might say, "Oh cool! New interns!" On the other hand, business school folks say, "Oh wow! New interns from a Top 5 business school? They must be really smart!" Yes, they are smart, but that doesn't take anything away from you or me. We both got internships at Dell that will hopefully lead to promising careers. Collaboration is hindered by being intimidated, which is not Dell-y. 

• You can always help someone. A current Google employee helps the 'Nooglers' with their internship challenges, but Vince and Owen help him with his own personal challenge. Classic geek-gets-the-girl story. 
  
  This internship is a great opportunity to learn about the company, industry, role etc., but don't forget that you're also able to make an impact on your team beyond your project. After going to a few fitness classes with a coworker, she told me she enjoyed having a buddy go with her because it motivates her. Or, maybe your seemingly insignificant discussion about your trip to England could help someone who later has to answer a question about England to win trivia night. Seriously. You never know how you can help someone, but always be open to it. 

• Play to your strengths and work on weaknesses. The point of the movie is that two 'obsolete' salesmen restart their careers in something new. The turning point for Vince is when he realizes he can't just use his strengths, but he actually has to work on his weakness to help his team. 
  
  My strength is I can talk, that's why I'm in marketing. But in my old job, project management (or at least the proof of project management) was my weakness. I couldn't just tell my boss I did a good job managing the project, I had to prove it. So, before starting my internship at Dell, I took a project management class. It kicked my butt, but I started this job feeling more prepared and it has definitely paid off. When a few interns felt unorganized, I shared a few tips I learned from the class and I can see that it helped them. Working on your weakness could help others. 

2 Missed Opportunities:

• It's not the Hunger Games. The movie made it seem like everyone is out to get each other, but even previous Google interns said that isn't the case. Same goes with Dell. You're not competing against each other. In fact, I was surprised when everybody introduced themselves at the Marketing Onboarding session and no one had the same job. You're only competing against yourself. 
• Mentors want to help you. Sergey Brin, one of Google's co-founders, made two quick cameos in the movie, but how cool would it have been if he had actually said something profound? One of the great aspects of my internship is the opportunity to have 1x1s with people from various roles. Maybe not Mr. Dell, but we get to talk to managers, executive directors, and even chief officers who all really want to help us get the most out of our 11 weeks here. 

The Internship was obviously a cheap laugh and not the long-awaited followup to The Wedding Crashers, but I thought it was $7.50 well spent. #DellInterns13

La Fortuna Aiuta Gli Audaci

Lesson #2

I thought I was going to write a story about overcoming the challenge of living with a disability. It turned into a story about overcoming anything instead.

I first met Francesco Tuzzolino at orientation, but we actually had our first conversation after we moved into the same row of cubes. While he was talking, I was shocked to see he didn't have a left hand and it was a distraction for the rest of the conversation; I felt awful for the childish desire to stare when I knew I should be respectful. When people with disabilities are treated as if they're fragile, I've seen them get aggravated. So, the next day I thought I was doing him a favor by asking about the elephant in the room. I've since learned a valuable lesson on tact; it was kinda like that awkward moment in the movie 'Love Actually' when Sarah bluntly asks Mark if he loves Peter in case it was the 'right question' and it was definitely the wrong question. Anyhow, I had to get Francesco's story.

As a kid, Francesco was eager to help his family's shirt business in Sicily, but when a bad investment failed, he had to find his own way to success. He claims he had no social life while studying business and economics at the University of Palermo. Despite limited funds, he was able to study abroad in Ireland and then three months in Spain after he graduated. "I was resourceful," he explained with a grin. Eventually, he took an opportunity to work for the Italian consulate in Houston where he learned how to be diplomatic. Afterwards, he closed contracts for the world's 2nd largest shipping company, a role that helped him realize his ability to bring business in and make sure everything 'proceeds smoothly' as if he were a guardian angel.

Francesco is now pursuing an MBA at the University of Michigan and he currently works in Social Media Insights and Targeting within Dell. But when he's not a business professional, he is DJ Tuzzo Martini. Known as "Francesco and his Walkman" as a kid, he has since DJ'd for the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Versace, Mini Cooper and private parties. He is also a marathon runner, a long-distance cyclist, a tango-dancer, and a magnificent chef. Francesco joked that in his previous roles, he was three different people: a salesman during the day, a student in the afternoon, and a DJ at night. Yet, he considers himself a normal person. When I asked about his inconvenience he said, "Who cares?"and then continued sipping his famous espresso.

I thought the toughest thing he would face in his life would be dealing with how to live life not completely whole, but it's clear to me that he lives life to the fullest.

So my second lesson from Dell is from Francesco Tuzzolino: ""La fortuna aiuta gli audaci - if you're bold enough and you try, good things are going to come. If you limit yourself without a hand, you're left behind." I'm not the only person who couldn't believe he does so many things, but his story is one of perseverance and refreshing positivity. Grazie, Tuzzo! #DellInterns13

Let's Talk About This

Cool Dell Swag

Let's talk about this notebook that looks like a notebook.

So, 'freebies' I've gotten from companies include: koozies, tumblers, mugs, water bottles, pens/pencils/highlighters (I refuse to buy highlighters because of this), a bullhorn speaker, shirts, first aid kits, college survival kits, ping pong balls, booksacks (or backpacks depending on where you're from), USBs (including one that looks like a valve), headphones, screwdriver set, stuffed animals, foam blocks, frisbees, and stress balls that I can never find when I'm actually stressed.

Despite all of that, this notebook is by far the coolest thing I've ever gotten! High five to the brilliant mind who came up with this idea! My inner geek is so excited about this simple, but creatively witty collection of paper. Sometimes we try so hard to be funny or creative, but we can be amazed by simple things. Smiling and causing someone to smile doesn't take much effort.

That is all. #DellInterns13

Tomorrow: Intern Insights

Pay Attention to the Opportunity, Not the Risk

Lesson #1

At 21, I was scared I would graduate and not get a job. At 23, I was terrified of the huge risk of leaving my first big-girl job. Now at 24, I've learned that taking risks is only a problem for people who don’t try to find opportunities. I hope this means I’m on track to be a wise business professional.

Not all 2010 college grads had the luxury of multiple good job offers, so I took the first one that came disregarding whether or not it was a good fit for me. They say “A job is a job!” but after a few months, I realized I made a big mistake in my naive assumption. 22 was a roller coaster ride of feeling like a rock star to being paralyzed by the feeling of failure over and over again plus a few loops.  No amount of schooling could have prepared me for the politics that caused so much misery; I wanted to work, not play poker.

I bid adieu to the corporate world to pursue a Master’s en route to the PhD. in Marketing that I've wanted since my 2^nd year at LSU. But then life threw a curve ball when my MS-MKTG program at Texas A&M required I do an internship. At career fairs, I steered clear of many big corporations; I wasn't ready to be just another cube in the Tower of Babel again. But, I took a chance on Dell and I've realized that a bad job can haunt you, but a good job can help you heal. I've only been at Dell for about a month, but I've found sweet solace in Dell’s culture and value offering; my team has been so supportive and my work is fulfilling.

Sometimes we go through life wondering if we did the right things. But, it takes courage to acknowledge when you’re in the wrong place and confidence in yourself to know that the risks do not outweigh the opportunities for a better life.

So, I didn't necessarily learn my first lesson at Dell, but on my way here.

Tomorrow's blog: Let's Talk About This. #DellInterns13

Hello World! #Dellinterns13

My name is Sheila de Guzman and I am a graduate intern at Dell this summer. I am working in the Global Marketing department for the Talent and Capabilities team. Dell believes in continuous learning and it is my job to support the communication structure to inform and encourage all of Dell's marketers to participate in its career development programs and marketing training.

Join me as I share the lessons I've learned while at Dell!

For more information about internship opportunities at Dell, check out Dell's University Relations on Facebook and LinkedIn. #DellInterns13