Reflections from a Metrology Intern The transformation from a student to a professional in a technical career by Michelle Foncannon Weights and Measures Division National Institute of Standards and Technology

Background  Graduated from Michigan State University in May 2006  Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering  Graduated from Syracuse University in August 2007  Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering  Completed last three credits through internship at NIST, Weights and Measures Division in Summer 2007  Under the tutelage of Georgia Harris  Converted to full-time employee in November 2007

Culture shocks I hope to educate new employees and employers by describing some challenges and “culture shocks” I faced transitioning from a student to a working adult

Life is expensive COLLEGE  Like most students, didn’t work full-time to pay for school  Had scholarship and financial aid to cover most costs  Worked part-time to cover incidental or “fun” expenses  Had no experience with budgeting or managing finances

Life is expensive WORK  Learn the hard way how to budget and save money  Learned to adjust monthly budgets based on over- (and more often) underestimates of expenses  Learned the distinction between needs and wants  Often had to go without wants to cover necessary needs  Through trial and error, have become self-sufficient

Getting up early COLLEGE  Used to 10:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. classes  Would avoid 8:00 a.m. classes at all costs  Visit with friends for 5-6 hours a day doing homework or just hanging out  Go to sleep by 2:00 a.m. and up by 10:00 a.m.

Getting up early WORK  Have to adjust schedule to accommodate working earlier  Try to sleep earlier (earlier than 2:00 a.m.) and get up earlier (around 5:00 a.m.!)  Between one hour commute each way and nine hour work days, have limited free time  Evenings, often I am too tired to do much of anything

Working 8+ hours non-stop COLLEGE  Spend 12+ hours on homework/projects a day  But would break it into two hour blocks with more breaks  Learn to juggle many tasks at once  No separation between school (work) and personal life  Had flexible schedules, using time management skills to be the most effective

Working 8+ hours non-stop WORK  It is challenging to focus on one or two projects for long periods of time  Have learned to break large project into smaller tasks  Breaks up the work day and helps avoid “hitting a wall” when focusing on only one project at a time

Working under supervision COLLEGE  Professors take “hands-off” approach to supervision  Mention an assignment once and not again until it is due  Students learn to self-manage to ensure assignments are completed on time  Learn not to “check-in” with professors, just execute task

Working under supervision WORK  Supervisors are accountable to their superiors for your actions and progress  Have incentive to manage your work closely  Tasks may be long-term or have distant deadlines  Need supervisor input to manage  Employees have to learn to plan for short-term and long- term goals  Break big projects into smaller, more manageable chunks

Getting an “A” at work COLLEGE  College was easy to understand  Get an assignment, complete on time, get a grade, adjust level of effort accordingly  Project specifications were defined at the beginning and never changed  The due date was set in stone  Occasionally moved back but never forward

Getting an “A” at work WORK  Work “success measures” may be unclear, hard to define  Project deadlines or specifications may change  Requires flexibility and openness to change  Difficult to define one’s success when work can vary  Important to define major successes and milestones

Take home tips for students  Learn to manage your money early  It is a necessary life skill  Get used to early mornings, long hours, and unpredictable schedules based on work demands  Suggest intermediate or small deadlines with success measures for large and overwhelming tasks  Don’t be afraid to ask for help, clarification or feedback

Take home tips for students  Define success for yourself  “I will feel successful if I complete a task on time and do my best at it, even if the project changes down the road.”  Be open to opportunities to learn from coworkers  How do others interact with colleagues or supervisors?

Questions?