Meet Alicia. She’s our Office Management intern and she’s constantly smiling. That’s probably a good thing since she’s the first face people see when they walk into our office. She’s knowledgeable of all things Invisible Children and is always willing to lend a helping hand. I recently sat down with Alicia to find out more about her life at Invisible Children. Here’s what she had to say:
What does a typical day as an Office Management Intern look like?
Typically I start the day by making coffee for the entire office. I wake everyone up. I work with the executive team to ensure efficiency, handle all incoming mail, and greet visitors and supporters, in person and over the phone.
What sets your internship position apart from others and what impact are you able to make in your specific role?
My internship is unique in that I’m able to interact with all of the staff – from the film editors to shipping, and on the same note I meet everyone who comes into the office. It’s a very unique position where I get to see a little bit of everything rather than a lot of one thing. Being the first face that people see when they walk into our office is intimidating but it’s also really cool to have that tangible impact for Invisible Children.
What’s one thing that you’ve learned at Invisible Children that you’ll carry with you after your internship is over?
The power of so many people fighting for the same thing is something really unique here. It’s so easy in our generation to get distracted by everything that’s wrong with the world and to be overwhelmed by that. It’s so powerful when so many of us are collectively focused on one thing. That mentality is something that I’ll take with me into future workplaces.
In one sentence, why do you love working for Invisible Children?
I love working here because it’s so unlike anything I’ve encountered in the way that the staff works together, and the way that we’re able to harness grassroots and inspire and mobilize young people.
What advice would you give a future intern?
Be open to whatever is thrown your way. Be humble, we’re all working towards the same goal and each piece of the organization is equally important. That’s the best advice I’ve been given.
What’s your favorite about living in San Diego?
I’m from Santa Barbara, so we have the beach. I like that San Diego feels like this hybrid of a small beach and L.A. It’s big and it’s busy and there are a lot of people but it still has that very laid-back, chill vibe that I love. Plus, it’s nice being so close to the border. I could go to Mexico on my lunch break if I wanted to.
Invisible Children is all about community. What’s it like working and living with other interns?
It’s like summer camp, but for grown-ups. We all live together and we go everywhere together, we’re always together but everyone’s always stoked at what we’re doing. Everyone is pumped to build and foster that community. There are very few opportunities in life where you get to live and work with the same people, it can be challenging but it’s so exciting. Everything we do goes back to the cause and it’s so unique.
What’s been your favorite memory so far?
Every other Tuesday we have a staff meeting. I love getting to see the whole team together and hear about all the different parts of the organization that I don’t get to see everyday. Everyone is all together, there’s laughter and stories, and there’s that sweet sense of community. Being a part of that is really cool.
Interesting in interning with Invisible Children? We’re looking for an inspiring individual like Alicia to join us as our Fall 2013 Office Management Intern. As an intern this Fall you will hit the ground running in early August when our entire organization makes the final preparations for the The Fourth Estate Leadership Summit. You’ll play an integral role in making this event a success. If you’d like to learn more about how you can be a part of the team this upcoming semester, you can find a full job description and application on our website. The deadline to apply is May 24th.
Curious about what it’s like to work at Invisible Children? Follow Life at Invisible for a daily look inside our work culture, job openings, and tips & tricks from our hiring team. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, & Linkedin.
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