Experiencing My First Internship

On June 3rd I started an 8-week summer internship at Black Diamond Networks as a Recruiter. In this article, I will walk you through my experience during this internship and how I overcame obstacles and learned a great deal.?

Starting on day one I met many leaders eager to teach myself and other interns how the staffing and sales industry worked. The first week consisted of modules about black diamond networks, what the company does, and information on the Life science and technology, and information technology fields. We went through training on Zoom for everything you could think of, including, building consultant recruiter relationships, effective communication, and much more. We did role-plays with our site training manager. They taught of everything we needed to know to get on the phones.?

Most people hate doing hold calls but once I got on the phone I learned how much I loved them. I had to overcome many challenges at first, including the fear of getting hung up on, but later I learned that as long as I am getting the most information I can out of the call, getting hung up on is not a big deal. I also had to overcome the fact of not knowing everything about the business just starting, and that can be very intimidating. I had to learn my introduction, and the first few seconds of the call set the mood for the whole conversation. I had to learn how to effectively pitch contract job directions, and understand if their experience and skills were right for the job. However, each challenge pushed me to grow, allowing me to learn my role inside and out.??

Training and being mentored by my site training manager Cam LeBlanc was what helped me overcome these challenges plus more, as well as being successful in this internship. Cam sat right behind me and was there for me in the other interns when we needed help, while also giving us the space to develop on our own. Cam was never a micromanager by any means but was a recuse, providing guidance and support. I don't know how Cam did it but he always found a way to give one-on-one time as well, if that was just checking in with us at our desks, doing call coaching, or any other way he supported us. Cam’s knowledge of both sides of the desk and the industry was impeccable. Cam also created such a nice environment for each intern to feel comfortable going to him to ask questions. His number one priority was his interns, and teaching us how to be successful. Cam’s mentorship was unmatched and left a lasting impression, with his knowledge, his confidence in the business, and dedication to his intern's success.?

Some Tips I would offer to an incoming recruiting intern at Black Diamond Networks:?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions: Asking shows that you care and you want to do a good job. It shows that you're listening and want to dig deeper. You should want to know the ins and outs of the business. You should want to know what it is like to be a full-timer there when you get a chance to speak to someone who has been with the company longer. It is okay to ask your site manager for help, that’s what they're there for. You will have an easier time learning if you ask the questions that you are thinking.?

Don’t rush through training: Take your time learning the ins and outs. Rewatch that video you’re not 100% sure what it means. Go through all the information and take notes. Make sure you understand everything. Listen to those example calls a few times, to see if you can pick up on a trick or two, or to know what might not be a good route for you.?

Remember the consultant is the one that needs you: Some people that you talk to could be mean, quick to brush you off, or just do not want to talk to you. Get the most information out of them, nicely and respectfully. Always, remember they are the ones that need a job, so if they mean to you, etc, it's okay because, at the end of the day, you’re job is helping them find a job. Have patience, some of the means and ruddiest people at first ended up being the best calls.?

Build Relationships: It is really important to build relations with your consultants. Understanding their skills, experience, wants, and needs can help you in the long run. It also helps them remember you and want to work for you, and not some other recruiter. However, the consultants are not the only people you should be building relationships with. You should be building them with your site manager who’s there to help you. You should be building relationships with full-time recruiters and account executives. Also, building relationships with fellow interns. I had two other interns that sat right by me. One was a recruiter intern with more experience than me, and one account executive intern. We all helped each other, it made going to work better, and it made us all more successful.?

Listen more speak less: Asking open-ended questions and letting the consultants speak is the easiest way to get information. They will end up telling you things before you even ask. You needed that information anyway, and the conversation is just following. Listening more and speaking less is one of the best strategies you can use.?

In conclusion, my internship at Black Diamond Networks was an amazing experience. From the changes I faced to all the things I learned, this experience was unmatched. I am deeply grateful to Ashley LeBert , Crystal Mikha , Kyle Meyer , and especially Cam LeBlanc for all the support in this program. Thank you to Jade Lomanno for helping me to get this internship in the first place. I also want to thank my colleagues Jillian Getchell and Amanda Smith for all their support and help during this internship. Lastly, thank you to Stefanie Boyer, PhD?? for being a resource at Bryant for me during this internship.