Internship Final Essay
Internship Final Essay
My name is Huang Kai Hsiang and I have successfully completed the educational internship program as an Assistant Manager intern at Tact Squad, which is located in Corona, California. The internship opportunity was one of the memorable and important experiences that I have encountered as a student. I reported directly to Scott Li with clearly specified basic duties as an intern. As an Assistant Manager intern, there were major duties that were needed to accomplish with quality and in timely manner. The position’s major duties include helping the customers by providing them with information in relation to the product that Tact Squad offers to their customers. It was important to provide the essential information that will answer the customers’ questions as it will help them in making decision to do business with Tact Squad. I also handled some of the administrative tasks, such as preparing reports through gathering, analyzing, and summarizing the obtained information.
The internship opportunity with Tact Squad was a seven-week job experience, which provided experiences of a real-life duty as an Assistant Manager. There were various challenges that I have encountered as an intern, which taught me several important things that would help me in my future career. In addition, there were also times that I have experienced some negative experiences that provided more opportunities for my learning stage. On the other hand, the negative experiences were outweighed by the positive ones, such as learning new things that I never thought would be very helpful for a company such as Tact Squad. Thus, these new knowledge that I have gained also gave me more ideas on how to become more productive in my future career.
Place of Internship
Tact Squad is a company located in Riverside, California. It is a company that manufactures uniforms and accessories that are being used for security and public safety market. The company also offers products that are suitable for tactical and law enforcement use. The accessories that the company sells are also essential for achieving the success in tactical operations of the law enforcers as well as the emergency responders (tactsquad.com). Tact Squad is a company that is private
ly held, which also owns and operates its own manufacturing plant. This type of business structure provides Tact Squad a competitive advantage against its competitors in terms of delivering high-quality products as it has a direct control of its workmanship and quality.
The organizational structure of my internship site can be presented using the chart below which generally shows how organization operates. The company is headed by the Tact Squad President and under him are different Vice-Presidents who handle their respective branches of the organization.
The President of the company oversees the overall operation of Tact Squad, ensuring that every branch, such as the marketing, operations, and finance meet their targeted objectives toward the success of the company. For the Vice-President for Marketing, he ensures that the company provides what the customer needs in relation to the products being produced. New demands, such as the need for new designs of uniforms and other related accessories, the Vice-President for marketing must ensure that the company is capable of delivering the needs of the consumers’ demands. This will also ensure that Tact Squad meets the profitable target of on a quarterly and annual basis. On the other hand, the Vice-President of Operations must ensure that there is enough workforce to support the overall operations of the company. This include the identification of qualified personnel on a specific position. This position also oversees the smooth operations of the company’s equipment through available technologies that will help in meeting the required quantity and quality standard.
The Vice-President of Finance is responsible for managing the company’s assets, investments, and cash flows. The three branches of Tact Squad collaborate with each other in order to ensure that the company is aligned with its goals toward profitable and sustainable business. This also includes the assurance that the business will offer products that are suitable for the market’s demands. Additionally, the Vice-President of Finance must monitor the company’s earnings and ensure that the company’s assets provide adequate returns of investments.
Tact Squad employs various strategies when it comes to delivering their products. Normally a manufacturing company, such as Tact Squad uses different forms of selling points. For Tact Squad, it uses different distributors to present their products to the public. These distributors use various platforms, such as print and online media to sell Tact Squad products. On one hand, customers may directly contact the distributors for inquiry and to purchase such products. On the other hand, Tact Squad’s website also provides products catalog that can be downloaded directly by the customers to know what their products are. The catalog is always updated with new products depending on the nature of use. For example, if there is a new product suitable for tactical operations, the accessories and uniforms will be published online through their product catalog.
In addition, the company also offers opportunities to those who wanted to become their dealer partner. Companies who are interested to become Tact Squad’s dealer may call directly and the telephone operators are always ready to assist the interested dealers in creating their account with Tact Squad. This is just one of the usual ways that the company delivers its products to their customers. The company also employs different approaches when it comes to increasing its popularity within the manufacturing industry, especially in producing products that cannot be found easily in the market.
In order to let people know what Tact Squad does or what business they are in, the company uses strategies that will expand its market penetration by employing different marketing strategies. Using different strategies, such as creating a social media account, will increase the people’s awareness about what the company does, including the products that they offer. According to the Uniform Market News (2013), Tact squad purchased some of the distribution centers in order to expand its business. The company also paid for the advertisement of their products. As a result, various online selling channels are now offering Tact Squad’s products, which is another form of marketing and advertisement. Additionally, Tact Squad also hires regional account executives who negotiate to improve the company’s sales through Business to Business corporate environment. Overall, the advertising approach of Tact Squad is done through multiple channels and platforms, such as field marketing and online marketing and advertisement. In that way, people will be aware about the company’s products and its nature of business, which can also lead to additional potential sales.
Employment and Training
Educational internship program is an essential experience that every student go through. The topics and materials provided in a classroom discussion serve as theoretical support for any given discipline. When it comes to educational internship opportunity, it is important to understand how the real-life job works. This is the time that a student will experience how to be a real employee versus how it was described inside the classroom. For students like myself, it is important to carefully choose the company or organization, where he or she will complete the educational internship opportunity. That is because, companies can be different from one another in many ways, such as how the managers treat their employees, and even what the company requires for a certain position. In this internship program, I chose Tact Squad as the place where I would like to earn more knowledge and be exposed to the real-life situations of being an employee.
There are many reasons as to why I made this decision. Primarily, I am aware that that Tact Squad is not the same as the other companies as it produces different products that are specially made for specific uses. I am confident that Tact Squad will provide me with the adequate information that I need to complete my internship. Thus, I know that these information will serve as guiding experience toward my future career. I can also see how tough the job is being in the line of duty, such as the police officers, emergency responders and other law enforcers, but they are able to succeed due to the accessories and uniforms that represent their identity. Therefore I thought, how is like working in a company who provides such identity? I knew that Tact Squad is a competitive company as they are able to provide these products, which also helped me in deciding to complete my internship in this company.
The selection process for this internship was quite challenging as it was my first time to work in company. I have searched for several companies and started to check as to whether they are advertising some internship opportunities or not. I was able to choose some companies that I wanted to work with as an intern. Prior to making the final decision, I have checked the company backgrounds and their nature of business and see if it fits my qualifications as well as my ongoing degree. Upon checking on their websites, I have decided to complete my internship with Tact Squad, which I knew I can gain enough knowledge from. My decision was based on the aspects of how Tact Squad operates on its business environment and its employees became successful with their careers. In that way I can have the information as to how I can be the same in the future.
I have sent a letter to Tact Squad, which states my intention to complete my internship in their company. After few days, I received a letter coming from the Vice-President, offering the position of Assistant Manager Intern as well as the person whom I will report to. I was not sure at first how the interview will be conducted. I previously mentioned this will be my first time working as an employee. However, the interview went well and I was able to answer the questions and satisfied the interviewer. I was a little bit nervous at first, but when after the first day of my placement in Tact Squad I felt more confident as the supervisor supported me and taught me things that will help me in accomplishing my task appropriately. The initial training was mostly positive in nature because of the new ideas that were introduced to me during my first day in the office.
Internship Experience
The entire internship experience covered several aspects that are important for my growth and development. In relation to the professional development, I was able to learn the importance of being punctual in terms of not being absent and accomplishing the given tasks in timely manner. I understand that such aspects are crucial because being always present represents my attitude toward my job, thus finishing the tasks within the given time is a representation of my ability to become productive and contributor to the company’s success.
Another important aspect of the internship is the development it could provide in terms of creating a better relationship with my co-employees. I have learned that being punctual and productive are keys to my professional career’s success. However, building a good relationship with your co-employees is an element that would improve my interpersonal skills in the real-life situation. I have learned that the key to a better interrelationship is to professionally accept the things that I need to improve on. These constructive criticisms must serve as my guidelines to develop my skills and capabilities. This aspect also highlights the essence of becoming a good listener, as it is the key to become a better performer.
Furthermore, one of the most important aspects of the internship is to learn everything from simple procedure to a more complex process of the business. Although there were times that I have experienced some challenging tasks, I knew that everything can be learned if a person will do it with passion, willingness, self-discipline, and professionalism. Most of the time, I was engaged with paper works, talking to different people over the phone, and doing other administrative tasks. I can say that they match what I am aiming to gain, especially the exposure to the real-life situation, including time pressure while maintaining my professionalism.
My initial internship proposal was focused on working with the company that could teach me how the life in the office would work. This includes addressing different issues within the given time frame as well as improving my current skills and capabilities. I can say that the experience with this internship matches my initial internship proposal. That is because, the exposure that I have gone through gave me enough ideas in relation to working with different types of people. I was also able to face some complex situations that helped me in developing my analytical skills and problem evaluation.
Although the initial tasks were simple, there were gradual changes to the responsibilities that were given to me. The changes include the addition of new responsibilities during the start of new workweek. For example, I was only passing some paper works from and to different departments so that the boss can sign for it. On the following week, new tasks were given to me, such as working on Microsoft Excel files. From there, I was able to learn new things and understood how such computer application helps the company in calculating the finances. I can say that these gradual changes in my tasks and responsibilities were beneficial and helpful in gaining more knowledge.
Relatively, the benefits that the experiences have provided to me will be helpful in finishing up my degree. It also taught me how to become a better communicator, although I can say that I had a challenging experience developing this skill. Then again, it was not only that my communication skills improved, as I was also able to know the importance of being an organized person. Even though it is more tiring, changing my duty to a 4-hour work time during the last two weeks of my internship made me more productive. It also benefited my experience when I was included in the meeting along with other employees, as I have witnessed how a manager handles the people’s concern and addresses potential issues in the organization.
There were various courses that helped me in performing and selecting this internship. Primarily, the topic that discusses the different types of leaders helped me identify what type of leadership strategy my boss was using. I was able to compare his traits and characteristics as a leader with the characteristics that were written in the materials in school. With this, I was also able to evaluate if the good leadership style of my boss really had a positive effects toward the employees, especially the ones who are working with the company for quite some time.
Another part of the course is that identification of the company’s competitive advantage. Previously this topic taught me that the company has an advantage over the competitors if the company itself is able to provide value to its customers. By the time that I knew how the Tact Squad works, I realized that it is by far more competitive than the other companies. That is because, the company is able to provide greater value to its customers by offering products that holds good quality as well as reasonable price.
Another course related to my major that helped me in performing in this company for my internship is the topic about professional ethics. This really helped me in performing my duties because, I understand from the start that ethics within the work environment is one of the most essential factors that both the management and subordinated must employ. I can say that the professional integrity as well as the ethical behavior of every employee are crucial for professional success and personal credibility within the business environment. My personal credibility enabled me to build an effective relationship with my co-employees and with my boss. In return, I was able to gain their mutual respect, especially during the times that they are giving me advices on how to improve on several things.
The internship experience was so memorable since it was my first time to work. There were many lessons, both professionally and personally, that I was able to learn. Before, I thought that an office work would just be a simple paper works, where employees need to type-in using computers and file them up. Now I understand that every task in the office is essential because it serves its own purpose.
Moreover, there were major lessons that I have learned aside from knowing how the typical days in the office work and how a very busy day in a company would put pressure on every employee. One of these major lessons is to become more professional in terms of communicating with my colleagues, other people, and my boss. I have learned that professional communication is not simply talking through a polite manner, but one should be a good communicator in order to become more professional in communicating with others.
I also learned that organizing my own things is far different from organizing someone else’s, such as organizing my boss’ paper works. It was one of the most challenging, but good experiences for me. This is especially when I knew that he was happy because of the job well done. Furthermore, I understand the importance of being able to work even though there is a limited time. Working under pressure was one of the challenges that I need to improve on as well. Which is why, if I had a chance to do it again, I would start managing the tasks according to their priorities in order for me not to be pressured.
In terms of my career goals and aspirations, the internship was a big help because as early as now, I can already create a picture of what I should expect once I am already working in a real-life job. Thus, witnessing how my boss manages his subordinated gave me an idea on how to be a good leader in the future.
References
About Tact Squad - Tact Squad. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://tactsquad.com/cms/about-tact-squad
Uniform Market News. (2013). Tact Squad is expanding their operation, investing in their partners and demolishing stereotypes. Retrieved from www.uniformmarketnews.com/tact-squad-is-expanding-their-operation-investing-in-their-partners-and-demolishing-stereotypes
