Recently in Volunteering Category

I have spent the last 4 months participating in an internship with Braathe Enterprises and Saratogacollege.com. I happened upon it while searching internship opportunities online. I don't think I could have found a better company to learn and develop my professional skills and all by accident. On a whim, I contacted Robert Braathe and so began my journey from student to intern began.

During my very first conversation with Robert, I knew that I would gain so much from his expertise and professional experience. His knowledge from running his own company and working for large corporations is invaluable and span from social media to traditional marketing techniques and far beyond. As a mentor Robert is support and pushing you to pursue and find as much information as you can. He frequently forward information, stories or websites of interest. I felt like my development was always top of mind.

The benefits of an internship with Braathe Enterprises include unlimited knowledge, weekly conference calls, real professional assignments, and access to a free online course through saratogacollege.com. Besides all the benefits listed above, I was impressed with my first assignment. I was asked to compile a list of 6 or 7 objectives I would like to explore during my internship. It's unusual to be able to almost dictate the content and direction. I was almost curious in a way to see what and how my list would play into my 4-months. And sure enough we went through each and every item on my list and I had the chance to explore, ask questions, and complete an assign with real-world application. I wasn't forced to fit into a mold and go through the motions....I learned about things I was interested in knowing. That for me made all the difference.

Saratogacollege.com added a unique element to my internship. I was able to have access to an online course at no charge to me. I also had access to a free online textbook. I was able to locate in formation at anytime and to challenge myself with the course work. We all know how expensive college course can be, what a fantastic benefit to have provided to me. I am grateful for the opportunity to take an additional class.

This on my very last day as an intern find myself elated to have completed an internship in a professional arena and be successful, and even more grateful for the opportunity. I very much look forward to taking the skills and knowledge I attained while interning with Braathe Enterprises and Saratogacollege.com and applying it to my next journey.

Once you are established and well into your HR career, your next thoughts most likely center on advancement. Human Resources is continuously evolving to meet the business needs, requirements, and laws that are ever changing. If you want to move to the next level in your field, you must work hard and prove yourself. This means taking on extra projects, not being afraid to voice new ideas , becoming a Subject Matter Expert, and going back to school for additional training, certifications and/or an advanced degree.

1. Taking on more projects - When new projects arise, that usually means extra work and most people avoid more work like the plague. If you want to advance your career, you must be the person who steps up to the plate. Why? Well, for numerous reasons. When promotion time comes, you will be at the forefront of the minds of management for your willingness to roll up your sleeves and help the company in their time of need. Secondly, you are showing eagerness and a willingness to both learn and try new things and that is also a positive with management. Thirdly, with each new project that you complete, you are proving just how knowledgeable you are and how much your help can improve the HR process.

2. Voice New Ideas - Everyone has an opinion, but most are too afraid to voice them. If you have an idea or suggestion that you feel will help the HR process, then voice it. This shows initiative and drive, and it can also make a great addition to your resume if your idea succeeds.

3. Become a SME (Subject Matter Expert) - Read HR blogs, start an HR blog, answer questions on LinkedIn, build your profile on social media sites, and get recommendations on those sites. In other words, spread the word that you are an HR professional and a true subject matter expert in the field. Not only will your employers take notice, so will other in your industry and that can only help you in the future.

4. Advance your education - Many Senior level positions requires certain certifications, training, and degrees. By taking educational classes focused on HR, you stay ahead of the pack by learning of the new laws, regulations, and business process hitting your industry. Do you think you don't have time? Online education is becoming increasingly popular and is now widely accepted by big organizations. Here is one HR class being offered online that is merely 8 weeks and is centered around your schedule. You already have the education and with training classes, you also have the education, which makes you the ideal candidate for promotion.

With these four steps, you will be on your way to advancing your HR career. Have you recently moved up the ranks in HR? How did you do it?

These past 8 months have been an amazing experience working with virtual interns from all over the United States. Recently, I added interns from around the globe.

I've found one of the biggest issues in virtual work is the trust and communication that needs to exist, developed and nurtured throughout the process. Each intern has their own unique way of doing work, and each has provided me with their own degree of productivity based on their skills, knowledge and abilities and their personality, interests and preferences.

I'm excited to be expanding this program this fall to add more project based interns as well as offering an online course free of charge to interns as a perk for being a part of the Braathe Enterprises Virtual Internship program.

For more information, visit http://www.braatheenterprises.com/internships

In baseball, teams spend a great deal of money on starting pitching. Many teams can't afford to risk another multi-million dollar contract on someone who may not perform. However, teams need to often have a 6th, 7th, or 8th starter in their minor leagues who is ready to come up in the event of an injury.

With the Yankees, Kevin Millwood was one of the players at AAA who the Yankees signed to a minor league deal with the option to be released from his commitment in the event he was not called up by May 1st. With this setup, both the Yankees and Millwood had options on May 1st. If Millwood performed well, he would be brought up to the Yankees, and if he didn't perform well, he could be let go and the Yankees free of commitment (unless he decided to stay after May 1st).

Millwood did not perform well, and decided to take his release and try to find work elsewhere. It will be interesting to see if another team gives him a chance, given that the Yankees were willing to let him continue to work with their minor league team.

Use this strategy similarly in your workplace; don't overcommit to someone too early, as it may prevent you from a commitment to someone who is a wrong fit. From the employee perspective, it is smart to try to find opportunities to prove yourself, as you are willing to take a risk that you aren't a right fit. However, by giving a company a chance to see what you are about through an unpaid internship, part-time work, or other non full-time options, you demonstrate whether or not you can handle or deserve a full-time opportunity. Make the most of it!