Tips for Beginning Your
Field Period

The impression you make will be made by more than just your performance. Your attitude, appearance, language, etc., all will have a strong impact on how you are perceived and what kind of reputation you will start to build. These “non-performance” aspects will also have a strong impact on your supervisor’s ultimate evaluation. Listed below are some tips to help you make a good initial impression and to keep co-workers’ perception of you a positive one.

• Culture: What is the culture of your workplace? Is the customer always right? Is service everything? Is quality the name of the game? Is the bottom line efficiency or profit? Analyze your environment to discover both the explicit values and the implicit ones. Then adapt to that new environment.

• Attitude: Nothing is more important to how you will be perceived than your attitude. A positive outgoing attitude will help others see that you are committed to your task 100% and that you care. Only you can control your attitude; use it as a tool to make your Field Period® a success. If there is something you don’t like, talk about it with your supervisor or co-workers, don’t “cop an attitude” and try to communicate via sullenness, negativity, or withdrawing. Look for what is going right, rather than what is going wrong. And remember that even negative experiences can also be great learning opportunities!

• Appearance: What is the culture of the workplace or site in regard to dress and appearance? Consult with your supervisor and look to your peers or to the front line staff. Remember, there is no second chance for a first impression. First appearances are critical. On your initial day on the job, if there are any questions, dress conservatively! The clothing and styles appropriate for campus may not be appropriate for your Field Period® worksite. It is better to “overdress” than to be “underdressed.”

• Non-Verbal Behavior: Be aware of your non-verbal behavior; it often communicates as much or more than the spoken word. What is your posture? Do you slump? Or do you sit up or stand up straight, indicating enthusiasm and readiness? Use eye contact and smile. Observe others’ non-verbal behavior both for clues and to learn.

• Language: The language of the campus may not be appropriate in Field Period® setting. Particularly in the workplace language will be more formal than what you use in the cafeteria or in the dorms. Obviously foul language is inappropriate, but also be aware of slang, “humor,” tone of voice, and euphemisms. Learn and use names. Be particularly aware of language when using the phone, where non-verbal behavior does not play a part.

• Fear and Apprehension: It can be scary to start a new job or jump into a new environment. Fear and/or apprehension are a natural emotion. Use the adrenaline it produces to power your performance. Remember that people on the site know that you are new and that you are a student; they are not expecting you to be perfect. Do your best, demonstrate a good attitude, and smile, and people will cut you a lot of slack, they will be on your side. In the end, the old saying “Fake it until you make it” can be most helpful!

• Responsibility: A student’s role has traditionally been seen as that of an individual, in which she or he is only responsible for learning for her or himself. The workplace is different; as an intern you are part of a larger whole. Whether you are a member of an explicit team or you generally work more independently, there are others depending on you. Responsibility means showing up at work on time, attending to details, dependability in regard to attendance, and following through on your commitments.

• Respect: You are in a new environment, a new culture, with new rules. You don’t always have to agree with those rules, but you chose to go to the Field Period®; respect the rules in your attitude and behavior. Through your attitude and behavior demonstrate respect for your co-workers and supervisors; again you might not always agree with them, but deal with that through appropriate communication. Respect others’ time when asking for help—they have a job to do too! Let your attitude and behaviors demonstrate respect for the values of the organization and for the customers, clients, constituents, participants, or students of the organization.

• Communicate: Ask questions! Inquire as to assumptions. Talk about feelings. Pay compliments. Discuss frustrations. Admit fear or apprehension. Bottling it up doesn’t help anyone. If you have complaints, be ready to offer solutions. Beware of whining; no one likes a whiner. Check with your co-workers and/or supervisor as to how you are doing on a regular basis. Talk about issues before they become big deals. For every complaint have at least one compliment. Give people the benefit of the doubt; ask questions rather than make accusations.

One of the first things you should do on site is to review your responsibilities with your supervisor. This is a good opportunity to start establishing a good rapport with your supervisor and to show her or him how responsible you are. Remember, you probably established your learning objectives and activities months before you actually start your on-site experiences, and before you actually started working. Take the opportunity the first week of your Field Period® to review your objectives and responsibilities and make any necessary changes.

• Discuss your Field Period® Learning Contract with your site supervisor. What is expected of you during the Field Period® term by your Field Period® supervisor?

• What can you contribute to the organization? What unique skills, experiences, and perspectives do you bring to the site?

• What can you do if the Field Period® is not what you expected? It is important to be flexible and to allow for adjustments. Ask questions when you don’t understand.

• What are your communication responsibilities with your evaluator? How do you communicate during the field portion of the experience? How do you communicate any changes in your objectives or activities? How can you ensure that your learning will be communicated to your evaluator?

• How can you make more of the experience? What extra skills can you learn? What kind of unexpected experiences can you gain? How can you add value to the site and to your own knowledge/skill base?One of the first things you should do on site is to review your responsibilities with your supervisor. This is a good opportunity to start establishing a good rapport with your supervisor and to show her or him how responsible you are. Remember, you probably established your learning objectives and activities months before you actually start your on-site experiences, and before you actually started working. Take the opportunity the first week of your Field Period® to review your objectives and responsibilities and make any necessary changes.