The beginning of my senior year in high school we get to intern in a big corporation. I was able to work in the Best Buy Corporation near Normandale, where I took my PSEO college classes my junior and senior years. I was only 17 years old so the environment of a huge corporation was a complete change.

In the program they had told me what big corporations are like and how to be professional. But to me, it was different hearing about it and actually being inside the building and seeing it. I didn’t really expect anything at first because I didn’t know what it was like.

I didn’t know what people do in big corporations, all I though was that people just dressed up fancy in business clothing all day. So I went to buy more business clothes. As a 17 year old girl, I really didn’t have much business clothes. Teenagers my age usually work at Mc. Donalds, the Mall of America, or retail. It’s rare for teenagers to even walk into the big corporations, unless they are going on tours, and I’m going to be working at the Best Buy Corporation! I considered myself fortunate to be offered this opportunity.

Because I was trained over the summer, I knew how to dress and act on my first day of work as an intern. It is surprising to be once I learned about what people do at where I was stationed that when you get down to the act itself, it’s pretty easy.

My initial job was filing and organizing. I was told that people were too busy to go and clean. It was an easy thing to do because cleaning isn’t bad. I edited spreadsheets, word documents and saved files. What I did was not challenging.

The more I observed the more I realized, when you get down to actually doing the act of documenting or editing or data entry, it’s not that difficult for anyone at the corporation. Everyone knew how to use their laptops. The difficult party is the planning for events, the communications because provider and clients, the consideration of other people free time and waiting for approval from your boss (es).

In big corporation there are always big events. I have seemed one of my co-workers stressed on all the little details about the events. She would always have a large list of things to do. It’s extremely difficult to try to listen, because she talked so fast to not waste any time because she has so many things to do. So I try not to bother her often.

I was not able to speak to clients or vendors but I could see the distress that I co-workers had to deal with. They are always in meetings, and this where the consideration of free time come in. I always had a hard time deciding whether I should talk to my co-workers or not because they always look busy. But I was told that if I have any questions just ask them. Sometime I feel that I’m rude for interrupting their work, but it can’t really be helped because they are always working no matter what.

Corporation world is so different that the retail, normal teenage jobs world because almost everything you do needs approvals. Everyone that you work with is practically your bosses because it’s a team environment and everyone has to agree. In retail, you may probably need your boss’ permission for vacation or more training and that’s probably it, the rest of the time you’re on your own unless something major happens. But the corporation, you almost always need permission for everything you do. Even to get access into your computer and folders.

I need approvals for a laptop to my name. I need approval for restricted folders and documents. I need to ask my boss and my team whether I can do something different other than filing. It’s totally different.

I had a difficult time remember to ask my boss for approvals when I was making posters. I had told to make posters for an event that is coming up. But the date got changed so I had to change the date on all of the posters that so already posted up. Everything I did, my boss had to look over and see if there is anything else to change or fix.

I completely forgot to have my boss look over the new posters and give me an OK to post it up. So I went and posted it up on my own before the dead line and when she saw it the next day, she came to my cube and told me I was wrong and she would like me to ask for her OK before I post anything up.

After that incident, I kept in mind that when in doubt, always asks. It’s the best thing to do to not make big mistakes in this big corporation.

I have learned a lot through this experience. I learned how to work civilly as a team. I learned to always be considerate about other’s time because I don’t want to waste people’s time when they’re so busy with life. I learned that in life, I learned that I like the feeling of being approved when I’m in doubt because it calms my senses and it not make me paranoid when I just ask the questions that I want to.

With me working at the Best Buy Corporation, I have learned the ropes of the company and learned a lot about the culture of big corporation systems.

I went with a group of girls, there were four of us. Things happened but we kind of got over it. While we were walking to the club from our parking spot, a few guys hollered but nobody really paid attention. That’s what I have doing, ignoring random, rude guys. We just walked right passed them.

When we came in, it was packed! Even though there was not really a line, but once you get in it’s so crowded. Towards the end of the night we were trying to pass through and it took ten minutes just to get through to the front again. Crazy!

It was a super fun night but the partying got to end because I have school tomorrow! First day of class. It’s going to be stressful. Good thing I only have classes Monday through Friday!

Mom, I don’t even know how old you are, but you still look good.

Love you lots, and hope you live longer than most people. Happy Birthday.

Love,

Your daughter, Binh Nguyen

Good thing, I know it’s going to be fun and I will get to meet a lot of people. There will be lots of activities to keep me busy and food to feed me when I’m hungry. My bestest Wifey will be there, but I think our schedules are different. Lots of my high school friends will probably be there. And basically, all I got to do is wonder the campus on nice sunny days. Well, at least I hope it’ll be nice.

I also love the fact that I will not be working any of those days. Still pretty busy right? Of course, I’m a busy girl. Things are going to be more relaxed once I start school and take out a whole bunch of loans so I don’t have to work. I’m excited for that to happen.

1. I’m going off to college, meaning more time to study.
2. I can concentrate on my business
3. My co-workers can still connect with me and see the other side of my life, not only work life.
4. They said I’ll be missed sweet right?

Well I also want to say the negative reasons too!

1. There are no more steady income, bi-weekly.
2. I like dressing up daily, but I don’t need to anymore.
3. I don’t get to see my co-workers
4. No more free food.

Well that’s that, it’s both and negative and a positive thing for leaving work, ending this internship. But everyone I work with will be missed that is why I want them to sign up for the mailing list so badly!