Keeping occupied at work ...

top_drawer_2

hello,

I've started an internship this week with a volunteer type place which I am finding to be very sloooow .... so am looking for things to do. I otice they run a number of courses but they are not well attended so I was thinking of suggesting some ideas for the under- utilised conferance space we have.

I have come up with a list of prospective titles i.e Intro to Language type courses etc but want to come up with a proposal that will get taken seriously as I feel that the manager will veto any suggeston of a deviation from the current titles if I can't show that I am serious and able to pursue it myself.

How would I go about doing this type of thing?


Thanks
TD

scheming_gypsy

top_drawer wrote: »

hello,

I've started an internship this week


. A lot of the people who work there have been there forever and seem to like the lack of work

you're new
they're happy

interfere too much and they won't be happy

top_drawer_2

I think they would be OK with me suggesting some things as long as I did it right and showed that I had done the work, I intend to do as much of it as possible.

Annisele

I'm going to take a guess that you're not particularly experienced in the industry you're in - because if you were, you probably wouldn't be asking how to change things.

Put that together with the fact that it's your first week, and I think that the answer is that you don't try to change things. Do you own job to the best of your ability, help other people out when you can, and relax.

top_drawer_2

I know what I am doing, if you have any experience in the area I have detailed (i.e designing a short course in an interest area) please share.

I should know by now on MSE that a simple question will turn into posters answering a question that was never asked.

redped

I can understand what the others have said about it being your first week, and a lot of people wouldn't take too kindly to a new person rocking the boat (as they'd see it).

Some managers are more likely to take to an idea if he/she thought it was their idea. How about starting off by chatting to your manager, saying you've noticed the conference space isn't being used much, ask if there's been a big drop in usage, and then gently push the conversation into what could be done about it? If you're good at it, the manager will believe it was their idea, let you put some proposals together, and everyone's happy.

Leosmummy

I don't wish to cause offence but the fact you have referred to the organisation as a 'volunteer type thing' does raise questions about how much you do actually know about the sector you are working in and the challenges they may face.

Are you describing a voluntary organisation or a volunteer run organisation?

Most people are quick to think that a money making scheme is a no brainer for voluntary organisations/charities who wish to gain extra funding but reality and capacity do not always make it so clear cut.

This post is not intended to curb your enthusiasm I think it is great you have idea's to help generate income!

Emmzi

what gypsy said

you've been there a week

write them down for now, wait a couple of months, then see if you still think they are good ideas.

Spirit_2

Just to check my understanding:

You are an intern in a slowwww place.
It is your first week.
You have spotted a gap - potential for a learning activity utilizing some existing capacity
That capacity is you and some facilities


Ask your manager about the facility capacity to check it really is available ( not just because someone who usually uses it is off).tell them your idea, ask if they think it would be viable/of use and offer to write a short business case for it.

It may be a no go, a good innovation that can be useful whilst you are there or it may be capable of being sustainable by them after your internship is o

ohreally

top_drawer wrote: »

How would I go about doing this type of thing?

You don't. Mouth firmly shut and go with the flow - when in rome.

top_drawer_2

Thank you to those who offered some useful information. I was thinking along the lines of doing the legwork for her so wanted to know what type of things I should be considering to show the manager I can. Hopefully, she will then think "mmm yes these look like good ideas and I have someone who could work on it" rather than " ... yes they are nice ideas but how am I going to find the time to look at x,y and z." I think I have probably misrepresented them to be fair; its a quiet place and there are different forces at work here which I'm not going to go into on a public forum.

I know a great deal about the organisation from a variety of perspectives but dont feel the need to broadcast it on the internet, volunteer type thing covers everything you need to know to offer advice.

Ohreally - what a exceptionally rude assuming person you are. You know nothing about me or the organisation and based on the tiny amount of information I have provided have assumed all sorts. Please feel free not to bother replying as you are on my ignore list.

TD