TPTeaches

How to Go from Intern to Full-Time Employee

kliniger — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 23:03:49 +0000

How to Go from Intern to Full-Time Employee kliniger Tue, 07/12/2022 - 19:03

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My sophomore year of college, all I thought about was getting an internship. Since my family lives abroad, I knew that if I didn’t secure and establish a lasting career, I would have no choice but to move back home. This internship had to ultimately be a full-time position or give me transferable skills to apply elsewhere—it had to set the stage for my entire career. Sounds like a lot of pressure, doesn’t it?

Whether they’re international or not, this is how a lot of college students feel about internships. And, while taking internships is important in establishing yourself as a young professional, your first internship likely will not be the be-all-end-all to your entire career. This is a time to dip your toes into the professional world, experiment, learn, and discover what your ideal day-to-day tasks could look like. That being said, doing well in your internship truly opens doors, whether it is at your place of internship or beyond. So, here are my tips for turning your internship into a full-time position.

Overcommunicate

Balancing school and work can be very difficult. A good way to mitigate being overwhelmed is to ensure you’re communicating with your manager as effectively as you can. From your workload to your mental health, an upcoming finals week, or plans for a family vacation, giving honest and advance notice will undoubtedly be appreciated.

Give every mundane project the same sense of importance

It goes without saying that some of your tasks as an intern will be less than glamorous. In the midst of making copies, filling out spreadsheets, and doing research, it might be easy to feel like you’re not making your impact. But it’s important to remember that there’s a reason behind anything you’re assigned, and in a lot of cases, it is tedious but valuable work that no one else on the team has the bandwidth for. Everything you do moves a project along in some way, and even if your impact is making your manager’s day go a little easier, this is still an excellent way to stand out as a candidate!

Work beyond the scope of the job description

In essence, internships are about exploration. It’s essential to try out varying types of responsibilities to find the best career fit for you, and that can be difficult if you’re stuck in the “not in my job description” headspace. Although your scope of work will likely narrow a bit once you land your full-time position, flexibility is a truly underrated skill that will make you stand out as an intern and respected as a full-time professional.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a transfer

The above being said, sometimes the internship you land in won’t be the best fit. Whether it’s because of the team culture or the work itself, it’s important to be honest with yourself and your manager when there’s a mismatch. It’s easy to think the only step forward is to leave the company completely, but before making this decision, consider if you’d simply be a better fit on a different team. This could help you avoid another arduous job search or company training period, and your advance knowledge of the company itself can be an advantage as a candidate. Do some research on your own about different teams and what they do at the company, and if you think you see a match, have a sincere conversation with your manager about how you’ve been feeling at your current position and express your curiosity about the other teams. Your manager could even have some recommendations about where you’d fit best, and if you’re a standout intern, they’ll have no problem putting in a good word and connecting you to the right people.

If you are looking to find your niche, our recruiters will be able to help! Contact us at sprecruiters@transperfect.com or check out the amazing opportunities at transperfect.com/careers.

By: Yassmin Dehesh

TPTeaches

How Taking Every Chance to Learn Can Help You Find Your Niche

kliniger — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 16:23:00 +0000

How Taking Every Chance to Learn Can Help You Find Your Niche kliniger Mon, 06/27/2022 - 12:23

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When I started at ��ɫ, I was terrified. I was hired onto the ContentLabs team with limited experience in content creation, and I knew there was a lot to learn. Being a recent college graduate with a broad business degree, I did not have years of experience to really home in on what I wanted to do as a career. I knew the things I liked doing, but not necessarily what I was good at, or if those areas of interest were even a possible career.

My first few weeks on the job were filled with tasks that gave me a bite-sized feel for each area of expertise in our content team. Making mental notes as I went along, I was able to get a clearer, more defined vision of my career. Seeing others who had been in my same shoes, now thriving, led me to believe I could do the same. I enjoyed each learning opportunity and welcomed them with open arms. I was most surprised to find that I enjoyed designing graphics. Growing up, I always had an eye for aesthetics but couldn’t draw, so it was surprising to me that not only did I enjoy graphic design, but also I was good at it. If I hadn’t given myself the opportunity to learn, I could have ended up passing by my real passion. The best part of this is that ��ɫ believes in providing their employees a chance to learn on the job, so I didn’t have to worry about failing.

Once I got the hang of the easy-to-use graphic design applications, I was trained on the basics of Adobe Illustrator, which I considered to be “the real deal.” I was so interested in knowing more and pushing myself to learn and grow, that I did my own research and taught myself how to use the application without needing assistance. I enjoyed the work I was doing so much that it felt like there had to be a catch, but so far, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

After assessing my strengths and weaknesses in the different forms of content creation, I realized graphic design was the winner, even though I had never considered it before working at ��ɫ. In my mind, I was not artistically gifted, so I wrote off the idea of a creative future long before I realized I was good at graphic design. It takes people years to realize what they actually enjoy doing, and here I was figuring it out a few months into a full-time role. I didn’t even have to go back to school because I was training on the job!

The lesson I learned about finding my niche is to never write anything off, which is applicable to both a career and life in general. I thought a future in creative design was out of my reach and never pursued it out of fear of wasting time on something that could amount to nothing. Learning a skill, whether it ends up being useful to you or not, is never a waste of time. There are so many small passions inside of everyone that can blossom into something big with the right attitude and dedication to the craft.

Sitting down with yourself to assess your strengths and how to apply them may not be quick or easy, but the fulfillment of owning your “thing” is well worth it. ��ɫ gave me a great opportunity to refine my skills, and I could not be more excited to see where it takes me. A year ago, I would have never guessed that a degree in business could allow me to be doing the work I am today, and it was right under my nose the entire time.

If you are looking to find your niche, our recruiters will be able to help! Contact us at sprecruiters@transperfect.com or check out the amazing opportunities at transperfect.com/careers.

By ��ɫ

TPTeaches

Time Management As A College Intern

kliniger — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 16:54:26 +0000

Time Management As A College Intern kliniger Fri, 06/24/2022 - 12:54

Blog

3 Time Management Tips to Avoid Internship Burnout

When you graduate, you walk down the stage, get your diploma, shake some hands, and then get shipped off to “adulthood.” Wouldn’t it be nice if instead of a diploma, they gave us a 500-page manual on how to be an adult? I say this as a 20-year-old college student who is not only studying 18 credits per semester, but also holding a part-time internship at the same time. And don’t even get me started on taxes! It’s hard out here trying to balance everything.

Throughout this past semester, while interning at ��ɫ, I did learn a lot about the power of time. I discovered that 24 hours are not enough hours in a day, and four cups of coffee will not help me memorize five chapters of financial accounting in one night for my midterm. I also discovered that in order to avoid burning out and stressing out, I needed to have a plan. After watching hours of videos on “How to organize your day” and “How to time manage better,” it became clear that I was going to use those tips and tricks for about a week before becoming overwhelmed and giving up. So, I decided to investigate and see what worked for me in terms of time management. It turns out that you can save so much time by not watching videos about time management.

Find the tool that works for you:

Like everyone else pledging to uphold their New Year’s resolution to “get organized,” I went out and bought one of those fancy planners, but it quickly became an extra item to remember and an extra step in my routine. I realized I needed to keep myself organized with something I already keep with me at all times—my tablet. Switching my paper planner onto my iPad helped a lot. I started getting into the routine of planning out my week every Sunday, adding my classes and what times I would be in class, and doing the same for work. For the hours I would be free, I filled them in with homework time, grocery shopping time, or going out to eat with a friend.
I started to realize I was more organized without having to massively overhaul my daily routine. When a friend asked me out for lunch, I found myself saying to her, “Hold on, let me check my schedule and see if I have time today.” I knew then that I had found the time management strategy that worked for me. My response also boosted my confidence, because it showed how I had my life planned and was not a mess.

Avoid only blocking off time for meetings:

My digital planner would look a lot neater if there were empty spaces, but I quickly realized that any gaps in my schedule gave me the excuse to play on my phone or avoid follow-up work from classes and my internship. I needed to set aside time in my day to get projects and coursework done or I wouldn’t remember to do them. I also needed to plan out important errands, doctor appointments, and time with friends. If I wanted to stay organized, I needed to know when I had time to focus.

Scheduling time for homework actually made it go faster, especially if there was something planned afterward. I found that blocking out time helped me find more hours in the day because writing a short essay only took an hour or two when I didn’t have distractions. I didn’t need to spend an entire evening cramming for a test when regular study blocks were built into my day—and I retained the information better.

Make time for yourself:

Organizing my time quickly became a form of self-care, and it allowed me to tune into what I needed. I was able to eat regularly because I wasn’t constantly running late or stuck in back-to-back meetings without a snack. I was able to plan out time to enjoy my life as a college student and find time to relax, explore New York City, and even sleep. While it is tempting to account for every minute of your day, it is also important to take some time out and be human.
What I’ve learned is that time management is not something that you can learn; you have to adapt your schedule according to what makes you feel most comfortable. Once you find a routine, stick to it, and soon enough it will become muscle memory.
If you are interested in becoming an intern with ��ɫ, please email CareersNotJobs@transperfect.com to learn more about our application process or check out transperfect.com/careers for posted openings.

By ��ɫ

TPTeaches

Five Things That Can Help Keep You From Self-Handicapping

kliniger — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 19:57:02 +0000

Five Things That Can Help Keep You From Self-Handicapping kliniger Fri, 06/10/2022 - 15:57

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Self-handicapping is defined as a cognitive strategy by which people avoid effort in the hopes of keeping potential failure from hurting self-esteem. Meaning, we may self-sabotage because we are afraid of failure. My question to you is, are you afraid of failure or rejection? How do you work through the fear of failure? Do you avoid the initial emotions that come along with fear? How has that affected your personal and work relationships?

As a teen, I remember the start of self-handicapping as not raising my hand in math class because I was terribly afraid of sharing the wrong answer out loud. This came from a childhood upbringing of only being praised when I did something right and being shamed when I did something wrong instead of being encouraged to dissect the mistake and think about how I could have done it better. The shame and fear of not getting it right would overcome me, and soon, the same reaction to “not wanting to be wrong” or being afraid to fail resulted in behavior like not raising my hand in classes I enjoyed in college, not speaking up in meetings, not setting healthy boundaries, and not asking questions even though I wanted to learn. This is something I have reflected on as I have gotten older, and I realized that this kind of self-handicapping can easily pour into our personal and work lives as well as our subconscious.

Some takeaways:

We shouldn’t be afraid of failure, fear, or making mistakes. When we do fail, we must be kind to ourselves and practice self-forgiveness to build more positive self-esteem. We all fail, but what is important is how we speak to ourselves when we do. The way we lead and thrive derives from the actions we take even when we are fearful of the outcome, or of failure. For me, changing the way I looked at failure came from the pride I took in being brave during the moments I feared failure. Releasing impostor syndrome, speaking up when I wanted to learn, and not being afraid of sharing knowledge in a room full of strangers were all positive “side effects” of undoing years of self-handicapping. So, where do we start to unravel the self-handicapping we are so used to? We start small. Below are four things I’ve worked on over the years that have helped me remove self-handicapping behaviors and really thrive.

Make goals not excuses.
- Watch for the warning signs like drawing down your efforts, generating more lists of excuses, and heavy procrastination
Generate goals instead of excuses
- Identify factors within your control
Don’t neglect your emotions; recognize and manage your negative emotions
- Journal
- Meditate
- Connect with a mental health professional
Go for mastery and own it!
- Assume responsibility, even when it’s hard. Brainstorm ideas to get yourself moving in the right direction. Stay present; don’t assume. Work with the facts, not with the fears.
Use positive self-affirmations
- Build self-esteem, confidence, and a positive sense of self, even when you have failed.

Are you holding yourself back from growing your career? Visit transperfect.com/careers to find the next step in your journey to a career you can be confident in.

By Darya Ilazarova

TPTeaches

How Setting Your Career Roots Can Help You Get Ahead

dmarra — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 19:04:56 +0000

How Setting Your Career Roots Can Help You Get Ahead dmarra Wed, 03/23/2022 - 15:04

Blog

Coming up on my 15-year anniversary at ��ɫ, it is evident that I am not someone who job hops. There are many perks one hears about switching jobs every couple of years: potential increase in rank, potential increase in salary, and maybe a new host of problems that are different from the ones you face now.

But I chose to take root. People are people, and no matter where you work, you will have to make changes to your environment, team, or role in order for the position to continue to be satisfying. And that is what I was lucky enough to do.

When I was unhappy with where I was, I spoke up and was able to find a better fit, multiple times. With life changes—a master’s degree, marriage, growing family, and changing interests—I grew into new roles and new teams, and I continued to learn.

Because I had been at the company for a long time, my institutional knowledge grew, and solving problems became more multi-dimensional. I worked to understand more systems—both human and technical—and it became easier to develop solutions when they were needed. Here is what I can share about building a career at one company.

I was able to give back: As I grew more senior and became a manager, I was able to encourage the people on my team to follow their passion, to develop new services, and to change the way we do business to remain progressive and efficient. We faced every change we encountered, every discomfort or dissatisfaction, instead of avoiding or switching jobs. And by facing the challenges, we were able to grow as people and grow our divisions and, by extension, the company.

I learned to problem solve on a new level: I found myself in an organization where if you find the problem and put in the work, you have the opportunity to try your hand at something new. I learned many skills that way—project, product, and employee management, different layers of technology development, including processes and roles. But everything ultimately came down to the people—always.

I built lasting relationships: From the beginning, the people I worked with felt like friends who went to battle together, helping each other through. I was a project manager working for production one year out of college, so those battles were large projects, and we would work together to make sure every project was completed and every PM left the office at a decent time. As roles changed and intensified, and as my involvement in the company deepened, the battles grew. It went from projects to clients and products. We fought for our company for many years. And over all this time, we were also friends outside of work, helping each other with tough life events.

In a work hard, play hard way, we celebrated big and small bright times and supported each other through difficulties. Without a doubt, the people and relationships I have built and cherish are the biggest thing I celebrate with my time at ��ɫ.

Today, as unprovoked violence continues to erupt around the world, affecting people we love and work with, I am especially appreciative to work in a place where people are close and care about each other. As we gather and brainstorm how to help our employees and their loved ones in the less stable places around the world, I am grounded in the gratefulness of having the opportunity to help, colleagues who care, and a system we built together to help others.

If you are looking to grow a career instead of just finding a job, please email CareersNotJobs@transperfect.com or visit ��ɫ.com/Careers.

By: Marina Yoffe

TPTeaches

Sustainable Strategies to Maintain Your Ambition

dmarra — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 19:10:53 +0000

Sustainable Strategies to Maintain Your Ambition dmarra Thu, 03/10/2022 - 14:10

Blog

��ɫ employees show up daily with unwavering passion for their craft, and this dedication is what makes ��ɫ the world’s largest and leading translations company. In an international organization that doesn’t sleep, there is always something that can be done. But ��ɫ employees recognize that delivering quality results in record time means managing time effectively, strategizing ahead of time, and taking breaks to recover.

Recently, Working Women, our Affinity Group dedicated to the advancement, empowerment, and leadership of women at ��ɫ, held an internal collaborative event based on sharing tips about balancing life and work. Roughly 50 employees came together to discuss their strategies, tips, and tricks for having a balanced and fruitful experience both at work and afterward.

Setting boundaries at work can be daunting, especially if you are a consistent go-getter. However, communicating capacity, taking deserved paid time off, and delegating tasks are necessary for bouncing back. We’ve selected the most practical tips so that other high achievers can develop their own strategy for maintaining work-life boundaries.

Creating Work Boundaries: At Work

1. Keep a spreadsheet of all your projects and their status.

Having an at-a-glance spreadsheet of all your projects can help you assess what needs special attention and your capacity to take on new projects. Log how many hours per week you spend on a project and use this information to effectively communicate your capacity. While it is fantastic to have an employee who is always eager to help, it is more sustainable to have an employee who knows their project capacity for producing quality work.

2. Seek and schedule opportunities to take care of physiological needs.

When you’re in the zone, it can be easy to forget about eating, stretching, and even drinking water. However, skipping meals or sitting all day can result in headaches, poor decision-making, and irritability. Try scheduling time to take care of these needs in your calendar like you would a client meeting. Although, if blocking time out of your calendar doesn’t work for you, seize opportunities to mingle work with life to your benefit. An afternoon one-on-one with your close colleague may be an appropriate time for you to not only discuss strategy but also have a snack or take a walk.

Creating Work Boundaries: After Work

After work, there are four common factors that make up the recovery experience: relaxation, psychological detachment, mastery, and control.

1. Relaxation

Relaxation is a state of calmness emerging from low activation and effort. What relaxes you? After your daily activities, schedule time to relax by reading, unwinding with family, stretching, or journaling.

2. Psychological Detachment

Psychological detachment is being able to mentally disconnect from work. This one can be a bit tricky when you’re passionate about the projects you’re working on! Fortunately, researchers from the University of Tulsa found that taking a relaxing break with Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) can help individuals psychologically detach from stressful work events. If PMR isn’t for you, another strategy to take your mind off work is to dive into mastering a hobby!

3. Mastery

Mastery is engaging in non-work activities that provide challenging learning opportunities. Mastering something outside of work can help you develop confidence and parts of your personality unrelated to work. Take up a hobby (you don’t have to be good, just passionate!) and try to master it. Whether it be taking up a new language course or getting back into an old sport, mastering a hobby outside of work is beneficial for the mind and can make your contributions at work more creative.

4. Control

Control is feeling like you have control over your non-work time. Experiencing a sense of control or feeling like you have enough time every day has been linked to happiness. There are true benefits to scheduling leisure time—it’s not lazy, it’s proactive! Be intentional with the way you approach your non-work hours. For example, be proactive about scheduling time to meet with friends (and not talking about work), planning family vacations, and finally using your paid time off without feeling guilty about it!

Engaging in these recovery experiences will not only help you feel better but also enable you to be more present and engaged at work. If you are interested in an employee culture that champions work-life balance, check out our open positions or reach out to CareersNotJobs@transperfect.com. Additionally, if you’d like to learn more about our Affinity Groups, which often hold professional development events like the one mentioned previously, reach out to talentmanagement@transperfect.com.

By: Allisen Casey, TPTeaches

Global Business

TPTeaches

How does ��ɫ define company culture?

kliniger — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 13:53:57 +0000

How does ��ɫ define company culture? kliniger Tue, 02/22/2022 - 08:53

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How does ��ɫ define company culture?

We asked a member of our Special Projects team, Junior Recruiter Jamara Myers, to tell us what sets ��ɫ apart.

Jamara: This is by far my favorite question to answer, when asked by those who are curious in learning more about ��ɫ! The culture at ��ɫ is my favorite aspect of working here. Our culture creates such a sense of belonging, which in turn makes it very easy for our employees to uphold our core values and put their best foot forward in the work they do.

My favorite core values are Own It and Teamwork, and the values work together to create the environment that I love so much. At ��ɫ, we encourage everyone to view their work as if this was their business and they were looking for growth, taking on projects and Owning It from start to finish. By doing this, ��ɫ inspires innovation and the constant pursuit of growth. Teamwork encourages and reminds each person that they are not alone. One thing I always heard when I first started my career at ��ɫ as a sales intern is, “There is no such thing as a silly question,” and I saw this to be true on every level. As an intern who asked a million questions a day, I was never turned away by anyone who was bombarded with my questions. All of my questions were answered because here at ��ɫ we understand the value of lifting one another up.

The two values together work hand in hand to create a strong foundational base that can be seen all over ��ɫ, from sales and production to tech! As I mentioned earlier, a sense of belonging is important and can go a very long way in shaping the future of a successful employee. I can very easily say that I feel that I belong at ��ɫ. I can be my most authentic self at work without holding any part of myself back. This is a powerful feeling that I’m sure many other people can’t say about their employers. Being able to be authentically me allows my work to flow more naturally and makes coming to work much more enjoyable. It encourages me to put my best foot forward in all the work I do because I know my company respects me for who I am and values my work.

The teams I have been a part of have also played a huge role in my love for the culture at ��ɫ. Each team has upheld and promoted the core values and culture that I love so much. It is apparent across the board that ��ɫ values its people more than anything else!

By Jamara Myers, TPTeaches

Global Business

TPTeaches

Three Tips for Managing Workloads and Deadlines

dmarra — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 18:17:27 +0000

Three Tips for Managing Workloads and Deadlines dmarra Wed, 02/16/2022 - 13:17

Blog

Some workdays are busier than others—sometimes leading to the point of feeling overwhelming stress or procrastination.

To avoid long-term consequences like work-life imbalance, an unprofessional reputation, or financial stress, it all begins with time management.

Here are three tips to help you form a time management technique that works for your schedule and projects.

1) Track Everything

When it comes to managing one’s time and efficiency, organization is key. Sometimes we may feel like we spent 30 minutes on a project, but we actually spent hours. This only adds on to the stress that comes with hard deadlines.

As the projects add up, it’s important to prioritize and stay organized.

Signing up for free project management tools, such as Trello, can help you track time by providing reminders about all upcoming projects and deadlines.

Project management tools allow people to input projects, including due dates and important notes, and create checklists. Tracking progress with a checklist can provide that sense of organization and accomplishment.

2) Create SMART Goals

People make goals in life for the month, the week, the day, or even the hour.

For example, a goal for the day could be to finish an expense report. But distractions happened, and the goal wasn’t accomplished. If SMART goals were made, maybe the day would have gone differently.

SMART is an abbreviation that stands for:

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-Bound

Revisiting the expense report example, step one would be to create a goal that’s specific. It could be something like, “I want to finalize my expense report by 5:00 PM today.”

The next step is measurement, which establishes when you’ll know the goal has been achieved. In this case, the goal will be accomplished when the expense report is sent.

The third step is determining how achievable the task is. This is where you find what stands in the way of you achieving that goal and how to overcome it. In this case, the goal is achievable because there is an open two-hour timeslot in the day.

The fourth step is examining the relevance of your goal. This goal is relevant because it must be done; it’s required for the job.

The fifth and final step is determining if your goal is time-bound. Since we know that the expense report needs to be in by 5:00 PM and takes two hours to complete, finding that two-hour time gap is crucial to getting it done.

Following this SMART model for multiple projects can help you stay on track with important deadlines and feel more accomplished.

3) Manage Expectations

As the SMART goals demonstrate, it’s crucial to be realistic and honest about goals and habits. Taking note of your bad habits can help you figure out why some projects are behind schedule or why your performance is off.

Get these habits under control, and it only goes up from here.

Combine your project management tool with a list of SMART goals. That way, you can ensure you’re prioritizing the correct assignments and communicating realistic expectations to your team and yourself.

Next Steps

In October 2021, 46% of stress among workers came from an overwhelming workload. Workloads can feel a bit less heavy through prioritizing, establishing realistic expectations, and managing time efficiently.

If you want to show off your time management skills and efficiency, check out our job openings today.

By: Gabby Pardo

TPTeaches

3 Ways to Incorporate Mindfulness into Your Workday

jbyrd — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 15:51:51 +0000

3 Ways to Incorporate Mindfulness into Your Workday jbyrd Tue, 07/27/2021 - 11:51

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"Recall that in a line six inches long, there are infinite numbers of points, and in a line one inch long there are just as many. Well, then, how many moments are there in fifteen minutes, or five, or ten, or forty-five? It turns out we have plenty of time, if we are willing to hold any moments at all in awareness."

-- Jon Kabat-Zinn, “Wherever You Go, There You Are”

In a time where it is difficult to find the line where work-life ends and family-life begins, how can we remember to slow down and bring awareness to our moments? The answer: mindfulness.

Here are three simple ways to incorporate mindfulness at work into your daily routine.

1) Be Intentional in Your Thoughts and Actions

The idea behind intentionality is that we step out of “auto-pilot” and step toward the person we want to be. Over time, this intentional shift from doing to being can lead to a lower perception of stress and an increase in mindfulness and self-compassion. So, how can you do that?

Being intentional with work breaks

We should be careful of letting breaks be fueled by subconscious addictions, like mindlessly scrolling through social media. By shifting our focus to optimize work breaks, we have to consider how we can make the most of them in the time we have.

And we can do this by being present.

Stepping outside and reflecting for just a few minutes can help slow down how fast our breaks feel. During this time, we can process the day and hopefully return with a refreshed perspective.

Connecting with non-work-related activities

What are your hobbies? It is important to develop a sense of self outside of work.

For example, after work, I find myself picking up a pen and paper to express myself creatively. However, some of my friends find engaging in hobbies after work to be exhausting. They save the weekends for their favorite hobbies and relax or play video games during the week.

Setting aside you-time

Deciding that you will not work outside of hours is not enough. Find a time to thoughtfully cater to yourself and recharge. This looks different for everyone.

You will know if a you-time activity came from good intentions by assessing how you feel afterward. Do you feel drained, heavy, or apathetic? Then the decision was likely from subconscious habit rather than mindful intention.

Whether the you-time activity is taking yourself to a baseball game, setting up a candle-lit bath, or simply cleaning the house, be sure to provide intentional you time in addition to no-work time.

2) Pick Your Cues

Based on Pavlovian principles of classical conditioning, we know creating strong associations is a powerful way to modify behavior. We can incorporate mindfulness into our everyday by taking a daily activity and reframing it as a mindfulness reminder.

Here are some examples to inspire you.

Lunch breaks

Sometimes we get in the zone or the to-do list never seems to end, but our lunch break is a perfect opportunity to recharge both mentally and physically. Regardless of what is going on, take your lunch break! If possible, take this break away from all electronics so you can really be with yourself.

Mindful mornings

Slowing down an activity from our morning routine helps set the tone for the rest of the day. Whether it’s letting the coffee brew, stretching, or stepping outside, there are numerous morning activities that may serve as a space for us to be more mindful.

Other daily activities

Which events or chores can we reframe to be a slow-paced check-in—where we soak up the smells, identify new colors, and appreciate the simple things? Turn a daily activity into a mindful activity, and ensure your blessings do not become burdens.

3) Allow for Flexibility

Working toward a mindset of mindfulness is a powerful decision that will make you a better person, not only for yourself but also for the people around you.

With that said, mindfulness should not feel like a battle.

Mindfulness is a loving ebb and flow that includes listening to your body and reacting accordingly. This dance will look different for everyone, so here are a few things to keep in mind on your mindfulness journey.

Find the silver lining

A vast facet of mindfulness is gratitude. Whether it be for the little things or the unexpected things, there is always an opportunity to re-frame the event.

The more often you reframe an unfortunate event to be a positive gift, the more you strengthen your gratitude muscle, making it more natural as time goes on.

This is not a race

There is no finish line to rush to. As mentioned, finding mindfulness is an infinite dance that we continue to refine throughout our years.

We should not compare our mindfulness journey to another’s, nor should we insist others join us on this path.

When you are caught up in comparison, turn your focus inward.

Every day is different

When you have had a few really successful days, it can feel overwhelming to wake up with no energy for anything beyond the bare minimum.

Perhaps you finally sat quietly with yourself for five minutes, and today you cannot seem to slow your mind down. This feeling is normal! Part of mindfulness is fine-tuning that communication between you and your body.

Whether it is an unexpected surprise that throws your whole day off, or you simply woke up on the wrong side of the bed, meet yourself where you are without judgement. Leave expectations at the door and check in about how you feel today, right now, in this moment.

Sometimes, the hardest part of taking care of ourselves is showing up. We cannot rely on our jobs to make room for mindfulness; it comes down to the individual taking responsibility.

The first step is to not fall for the lie that you are too busy. Remember—you are the priority.

Mindfulness at ��ɫ

Just like how every day is different, every team at ��ɫ is different, too. Across our family of companies, teams find unique ways to practice mindfulness and personal growth.

For example, one of our Special Projects teams starts every Monday with a group meeting, followed by morning meditation.

At the company level, ��ɫ supports mindfulness through our affinity groups and Well-Being Employee Resource Group initiatives.

If you are interested in learning more about the culture at ��ɫ, please email CareersNotJobs@transperfect.com. You can also apply to join our team here.

By Allisen Casey, TPTeaches

Global Business

TPTeaches

Three Tips for Balancing Work, Life, and School from an Intern’s Perspective

jbyrd — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 14:56:59 +0000

Three Tips for Balancing Work, Life, and School from an Intern’s Perspective jbyrd Thu, 07/01/2021 - 10:56

Blog

How often have you heard the term “work/life balance?”

More and more recently, it has been used as something all working people strive to attain—an equilibrium achieved between career work and personal life.

Those who are balancing both work and school know that this can be a bit more difficult to reach, as it’s a work/life/school balance, but it is not impossible.

As an intern at ��ɫ, I am still constantly adjusting my balancing act. However, there are a few things that have helped me stay sane while also accomplishing everything I need to.

1) Set a schedule (and stick to it!).

This one sounds pretty obvious, but I can’t stress how crucial my schedule has been for me.

I block out chunks of my day for the different things I need to do, such as work, school, homework, etc.

I also make sure to include time for simple tasks, like eating breakfast and lunch. Sometimes I will get so wrapped up in whatever project or assignment I have going on that I forget basic things, like taking time to eat a meal, drink water, or stretch my legs.

Using a schedule and plenty of post-it reminders has helped me to develop and maintain healthy personal habits that prevent me from getting to a point of burnout from my balancing act.

Being open and transparent with your supervisors and coworkers regarding your schedule is also super important. Here at ��ɫ, I have been lucky enough to have a supportive team that values education and allows me the flexibility I need to attend class and complete my coursework.

As hard as it may be to close your work email, stick to the schedule you have created for yourself, and remember to take time to breathe.

2) Take advantage of online classes.

Surely after the completely virtual year and a half that we just lived through most people are ready to ditch their screens and get back to in-person experiences.

While I completely understand the headaches that may come from Zoom fatigue, I also appreciate the advantages that come from online courses.

Even before the pandemic, I regularly took online classes because it saved time on transportation and allowed me to work at my own pace and on my own time.

Additionally, asynchronous classes can be goldmines for working college students.

If you are tired of being completely online, even just one online class can be a huge help.

3) Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

One of the most important resources that you can have as you navigate the balance between school and work is a strong support system.

This looks different for everyone, but it can include family, friends, and coworkers who help you to stay grounded.

My family and closest friends always knew when I was on the verge of crashing and burning and forced me to take a break and relax for a little while. Whether it was whisking me away to watch a movie or grab a bite to eat, the time to relax and unwind helped me tremendously.

On the other hand, there were times when they helped me stay focused when I had approaching deadlines.

Communication and transparency with the people closest to you makes all the difference, and it is okay to reach out if you are feeling overwhelmed. Remember, it doesn’t mean you are not capable; it means you are human.

If you are interested in interning at ��ɫ, check out our job openings.

By Kiara Pagan, TPTeaches

Global Business

TPTeaches

Training & E‑Learning