I'm a graduated intern!!!!

I am done with my internship! I have learned so much and feel more confident in myself. I would strongly recommend everyone to do an internship or Co-Op. There are so many things an internship teaches you that you cannot learn in the classroom: like getting along with coworkers, and working in a professional team environment. I am extremely confident now that the career fairs next month will go well with my updated BMW resume!

Last week!!

I can't believe my last week at BMW is finally here. It will be so weird next week to not get up at 630 to work an 8 hour day! I am going to miss my coworkers and the work environment, but I am so excited to get back to Tech. I am ready to finish my senior year. I am confident that I will graduate Tech with strong experience in the real world.

I am giving each of my coworkers a small token of my appreciation, candy and hand-written cards. :)

They are taking me out to Lunch on Friday to celebrate, which will be fun. I hope my bosses will be able to come.

I am still waiting to hear the date of my final review!

2 weeks!

I am really looking forward to going back to Tech. My work at BMW is starting to slow down. My boss is starting to give my work to the new full time employee. So I have less to do right now. I've developed strong relationships with my coworkers. My supervisor wrote me an amazing letter of recommendation to become a tutor for the Athletic assocation at Tech.

Lauren has worked in the Finance Department under my supervision for several months. During that time I developed a very high regard for Lauren based on the outstanding contributions that she made to the department throughout her employment. In fact, Lauren has been the most productive intern I’ve seen in my long tenure here at BMW.
Ms. Clements has exhibited a rare combination of understanding the subject matter, good judgment and the sense of urgency that has enabled her to produce a very high volume of work while maintaining very high standards for quality. Lauren was able to follow complex directions in a thorough and detailed manner and also worked very independently without close supervision when it was appropriate. Rarely did staff need to explain a process or procedure to her more than once and is an organizational whiz who can work on multilayered tasks and balance multiple projects concurrently.
Lauren's upbeat demeanor and can do attitude brightened the office and made her a very low maintenance employee. Her strong human relations skills enabled her to interface very effectively with many different areas and levels of the organization. Lauren's strong verbal and written communications skills allowed her to relay information in a clear and coherent manner.
As you can tell by now, I am quite impressed with this outstanding young woman and give her my strongest recommendation for roles which require intelligence, organization, communication skills, service and a positive attitude. Please feel free to contact me if you need additional information or perspective.
Sincerely,

Tami R Kight
Accounting Supervisor

Evaluations

Last week I suitted my three page detailed evaluation form to my supervisor for her to complete. I hope to have made some improvments from last semester. My lowest score, average, was in Communication. Theytold me that my email an phone communication with suppliers. I feel like I have improved. Hopefully it goes well!

Wrapping Things Up

Yesterday, my mentor/boss/supervisor sat down with me to discuss all the work I have completed during my internship. She was impressed with the daily log I kept. I STRONGLY recommend doing this during your internship or Co-Op, because the work you complete will be great resume additions. Also, you want to have a list of all the specific assignments you did to explain in a job interview.

I'm looking forward to the final performance review with my supervisors in a few weeks. The Georgia Tech evaluation is very thorough, so I'm looking forward to seeing the feedback. I've tried to emphasize the fact that I am very interested in working for BMW after I graduate. It's difficult to get a job at BMW even if you have completed an internship.

Only a few more weeks left!!

Raleigh Visit

I went to Raleigh this weekend and visited my BMW roomie from the Spring! We went kayaking on Saturday, which gave me my first sunburn of the summer! LOL. We went to this awesome Mongolian restaurant, a make your own stir-fry place. And, of course, we went shopping. :P

It was a nice time to get away and chill!

Next week, I am going to Orlando to meet my niece and help my sister out! I can't wait!

Hopefully, I will stay busy at work this week. I'll probably ask my boss to give me more work, haha.

Aunt Lauren!

My sister had a baby girl last week, Aubrey Jane Magana. I really wish I was able to be there when she was born. Day in the life of an intern who lives 2 states away I guess. :(

I am flying down to help out on the 21st. I can't wait to meet my niece.

I am really ready to move back to Tech to finish my senior year. I don't think this last month could go fast enough. My bosses are so busy, sometimes they forget to give me work.

I have been keeping pretty busy though.

First big purchase

I just bought my first big purchase for my apartment in the Fall. I bought a duvet, down comfortable, and sheets! Thankfully, my boyfriend and I will be able to borrow all the furniture we need from our families. We are starting out small. I am so excited though, because we will be living a block away from the management building, where I take the majority of my courses. This will be very convenient. I won't have to worry about relying on the Tech stinger buses. :P My application for the loan was accepted for the rent!

It is all coming together very nicely.

Posting Invoices!

So I know I'm an accounting nerd, but I'm proud of it. I FINALLY have access to post invoices! Throughout this internship I have performed the role of an accounting analst and an accounts payable specialist!

My co-workers have told me that I am their favorite intern. Apparently the last few interns were boring, lol. They say I am the "typical intern." :)

I am sad, because I am going to miss a luncheon that our managers are having for us. I will be in Orlando helping my sister take care of her newborn. I'm excited though!

Keeping Busy

I have been keeping very busy at work, which is exciting! My new roomies are fun! We are going out tonight to celebrate one of their bdays. We have about 50 new interns/co-ops this summer, including some new German interns. They have been enjoying watching the world cup! :) One of my roommates has mentioned how tired she gets by the end of the day, which is so true. We work from 8 to 4 every day, and by the time we get home, all we want to do is lay down!

I have discovered listening to Pandora at work with headphones. I would not have done it if my coworkers didn't listen to music. I don't feel bad, especially since I don't get many phone calls during the day. Listening to music definitely makes the day go by faster.

I am going home to Atlanta this weekend, so that will be fun! In a few months I will be moving back here. It will definitely be a transition going to back to taking classes and studying on the weekends! I have really enjoyed the homework and study break these past several months. :P

More Responsibility

This week my boss will give me all freight invoices to post. They told me it is important to learn how to do this in Accounts Payable. I'm excited!

My dad came up on Saturday for BMW Family Day! I walked him around the plant and showed him my office space. He was very impressed!

Only a few more months at BMW. I am starting to give my coworkers and bosses the hint that I really want to apply here for a full time job. I'm hoping they will get the hint by the time I graduate.

New Accounts Payable home

It is the start of the summer semester and my A/P department has moved to the ITRC. The building is beautiful and very high tech. The only sad part is I will not be able to eat lunch with my other intern friends in the plant cafeteria. :( But there are new interns I will meet in this building.

I am going to post a few pictures I took of the building and sign last week.

Sad week :(

Most of the interns/co-op students are leaving this weekend, since their rotation is complete, including my roommates. It will be really sad to see the friends I have made this semester go back to their colleges. Hopefully I will see them again if I get a full time job offer from BMW for next fall!

We are really busy this week, as one of the contract employees was let go. We are having to make up the work that she usually did on a day to day basis. Its the hard part of the real world to see someone you have worked with every day no longer be here. But life goes on.

Performance Evaluation

I just survived my first performance evaluation!! I was so nervous going into the conference room. The general accounting manager and an accounting analyst who I work with daily were there. They were given an evaluation form by the BMW student recruiter to complete. They just went down the list and read off what they put for each one. I did really well! The only thing I really need to work on, and they just said this comes with practice, is communication. I send emails to suppliers daily to answer their invoice questions, and sometimes I do not answer their questions completely.

They were really supportive and appreciative of the work I've done. I told them I really like the company and would be really interested in applying to BMW after I graduate. :)

Midterm Evaluations.....

This week I am meeting with the General Accounting Manager to discuss my performance throughout the Spring semester. I am a little nervous, especially since I have not had a lot of contact with her, because she is always so busy.

I have already been given one bit of advice from a fellow coworker. She said that I tend to speed through some of my assignments. I am trying to work on this, so hopefully my boss will notice my improvements.

This will be my first formal evaluation!! At least its just a midterm! ;)

Looonnnggg week! I had my first "feel sick at work" experience. My mom always says "Don't waste your sick days at home." LOL. Which, I think is a good motto. However, I had to leave work early one day this past week.. not fun! My co-workers were pretty understanding though. I had a nice pile of work waiting for me the next day!

I am meeting some family in Spartanburg this weekend. It will be nice to get away for a day!

What happens in Accounts Payable, stays in Accounts payable...

Another Monday at work! It is a beautiful day. As I am typing this blog, I am looking out into the courtyard into sunny skies and birds chirpping! (I guess you can't hear birds chirpping, but you get the idea!) I've been telling my BMW mothers, coworkers, that we should work outside! I truly believe we would get a lot accomplished! A lot of interns are getting together this week to have a potluck, so I will enjoy eating some free food!

I am still busy trying to get all of these invoices paid! My bosses are giving me more comprehensive work to do, so I keep learning new things every day. I really wish I was given a mid-term report to see how I am progressing!

Charleston 2010!!

Several BMW girls and I went to Charleston, SC this past weekend! We had a great time. Unfortunately, it was FREEZING!! Definitely not what you would expect from the beach. :P We were not able to actually go to the beach due to the weather. However, we had a great time being tourists and going to cute shops and eating!! :P

This week is non-production week at BMW. No cars are being produced, but bills still need to be paid, so that's why I'm here! There are several interns who got vacation this week. I am glad to be here though, and we get Friday off. :)

Mid-March

Tomorrow lots of college students will come to the Interview Day to try and get an internship or Co-Op with BMW. I am so excited to help out, because now I will be able to experience this day from the employee side! I won't be nervous, and I will be experienced. Hopefully, I'll be able to help ease some of the interviewees stresses.

My job will be to take pictures throughout the day of the students as they go through the various days activities. We will make a brochure to advertise the Internship & Co-Op experience at BMW.

I am still waiting to hear back on when we will be moving to the new location. I just spent over an hour with one of my co-workers. She was showing me how to post invoices in our accounting system! One more thing to add to my resume!

This weekend, me and 5 other BMW girls are going to Charleston. We are staying in a lake house, I can't wait!!

New Things

Lots of things happened last week... My department is expanding, so we are moving to a new office. We are moving to the Clemson University research building. It is called the ICAR center. It is supposed to be really nice. The only sad thing is I won't be able to eat lunch with all of my engineering intern friends. I really like my coworkers though, so it won't be too bad. Because we are moving, I have been given more work than ever. I am really enjoying it though.

Internship Extended!

My boss has just confirmed that I will be working until the end of the Summer! It will be very good to gain more experience and a little extra cash. ;) This week, I was in charge of answering suppliers questions about invoice payment. I've made a few mistakes, but my co-workers are very helpful and understanding. I've heard that to become a full time employee at BMW is very competitive. I hope that after graduation, I will have a good shot at getting an offer. I love living in Greenville. Everything is so close, but you still have the "downtown feel."

Fun Coworkers!

I am really loving my coworkers. It is a very open environment where people aren't afraid to talk and laugh while they are working. It makes the day very enjoyable. :) I definitely lucked out with them. I am considering asking my boss if I can extend my internship until August, so I can gain even more experience. Hopefully my boss will think it's a good idea too! I have finally been given a "duty" to perform day to day. Vendors email me from all over the country requesting status updates on their invoices. I research and figure out why they have or have not been paid. I am still learning a lot!

Getting the hang of things!

I really feel comfortable with the work I am doing. This week I got to go on another tour of the plant. It is so much fun to see how the BMW plant operates. All of the interns took a picture with the president of the plant this week. I decorated my cubicle last week with pictures and a new name tag!

Busy week!

I am really start to get the hang of my daily responsibilities at work. I feel really comfortable around each of my co-workers. I am getting positive feedback from my bosses. Whenever I am done with an assignment, I try to see if anyone in my department needs help with anything. I am glad that everyone in my department feels comfortable giving me tasks to complete. The accounts payable employees make work feel more like a home environment. They joke while they work and talk about their lives outside of BMW. It makes the day progress very positively. I feel comfortable interacting with the employees each day. However, I do try to make it apparent to my bosses that my work comes before socializing.

At the office...

This week, I am investigating invoices on our accounting software for duplicates, missed payments, or inaccuracies. Pretty soon, I will learn how to post invoices on our software. I am creating excel spreadsheets using hundreds of pieces of data. I am also formatting these excel sheets to be posted on our accounting software, also known as SAP. I am calling vendors to request invoice statements. We are very busy in the Accounts Payable office because we just took over BMW North America accounts payable. I feel more like a full time associate than just an intern. I am doing work that my co-workers are performing. All of my co-workers are jealous that I have this opportunity. They really wish they got the opportunity to learn real world knowledge before graduating college. I really hope they give me a progress report soon on my work.

Pay week!

It was very exciting to get my first pay check. This past Friday, all the other interns/ co-ops got together to discuss the short and long-term projects we are working on. We try to meet every Friday to catch up. And about once a week, we also leave the plant to go out to lunch! All of my co-workers in my department left early on Friday to escape the snow and ice. So that meant I got to leave early! I am working about 40 hours every week. As long as I am given tasks to do, the day goes by pretty quickly. However, Those last two hours might be a little slow! But the best part about coming home after a hard day, is knowing there is no homework to do!! This weekend, my roommates, who are both industrial engineering majors at NC State, relaxed, slept in, went shopping, and went out to eat! It has been a great experience so far. I am learning a lot. It is very cool to meet people from all over the country and from other countries! There are several German interns, so it is a great experience to learn their culture. Sometimes the language barrier is hard, but you get used to it.

Bean Counter In Training.... Week 2

Alright, two weeks into my internship! It's the busiest I've ever been. It makes me appreciate all those classes at Tech. I feel like the work I've devoted to studying has really paid off at BMW. I really like all of my co-workers/supervisors. They are helping me get acclimated to the culture and environment. I get up at about 530 every morning during the week, and get to the plant around 730. It only takes about 18 minutes to arrive. I leave in the afternoon around 430. In the cafeteria, there is an "intern table" where all the interns and co-ops sit, so we can share stories about our days! I am learning so much, and so far, none of the work has been to over my head. It is nice to relax this weekend and not having to worry about homework! :P

Successful first week!

My first week as a bean counter in training is over!! My co-workers/ supervisors are very nice and are very "motherly" towards me. I have two other girls living in an apartment with me only 15 minutes from work. It is definitely an experience waking up at 5 every morning and getting to work when the sun is still coming up. ;) I am very busy each day, but I am learning a lot. Hopefully I will do well my second week!

FIRST DAY!

The hard part is almost over! I am finished with the first half of orientation. :D I got to meet one of my supervisors over lunch in the BMW cafeteria! My first day of real work starts Wednesday at 8. I hope I do well. I really want to impress my bosses!

The night before...

I am all moved into my apartment in Greenville, SC!! I am nervous about starting my internship tomorrow, but I cannot wait to meet everyone and start gaining invaluable experience. It will be nice to take a break from school and focus on improving my accounting skills! I assume tomorrow I will fill out MORE paperwork and meet my teammates. It was nice meeting my roommates yesterday. Both girls are engineering majors from NC State. I will learn to get outside the Tech bubble and meet new and exciting people!