Welcome to the Dwellworks 2017 Summer Internship blog! Each week for the next 12 weeks, our summer interns will be blogging about their experiences and musings from the Dwellworks Internship Program. 

Jeff Britton | My First Impression of Dwellworks/My Leader/My Team

On my first day of the internship, I walked into an office that physically looked very much like a modern company that was started in 2007. As I spent time at my first day in the office however, I began to get a very established and confident sense from the atmosphere and the people I interacted with about what they valued and the way the company was run. The internship program’s opportunities and structure also surprised me, especially with a company as young as Dwellworks. I was very impressed with the training and thorough introductions about various parts of the company. I did not really know what to expect on my first day and can say that Dwellworks has exceeded those initial expectations.

I have been greatly impressed by the openness of both my leader and the team I will be working with. They were gracious in answering questions and making sure I had all the information and knowledge to handle what was being asked of me. Each member has taken an interest in making me feel comfortable and at home here at Dwellworks. They continue to answer my questions and show an interest in developing me into a more competent and productive member of their team. 

Dan Berghaus | Why I Decided to Intern at Dwellworks

There are a variety of factors that led to my decision to accept the internship position at Dwellworks. As a college student nearing graduation with little out-of-classroom experience in my field of study (Journalism & Promotional Communication), I knew that it was important to find an internship before graduating. When applying for internships, I had three main goals in mind:

1. I wanted to work somewhere where the employees would have a legitimate interest in preparing me for work after college.
2. That my already acquired skills would benefit the company.
3. That there would be plenty of room for professional and career-related growth within the internship program.

While applying for positions online and attending interviews at various companies, I realized that finding a job that achieved all three of my goals was going to be much more difficult than I had hoped. It seemed as though many companies wanted an intern who already had professional experience, and many places weren’t interested in promoting professional development and real-life skills in their interns. For me, these were red flags; I wanted to work and use the skills I had learned in the classroom, but I wanted to grow and learn new concepts, too.

Cue Dwellworks.

After interviewing with the members of the Marketing Department at Dwellworks, I knew that all three of my internship goals would be achieved if I was offered the chance to work for the company. Not only was the team friendly, fun, and knowledgeable, but they also understood that learning and development are crucial aspects of a college internship. And it wasn’t just the Marketing Department that believed this to be true. After speaking with associates in the Human Resources and Corporate Housing departments, it was clear that this was a company-wide belief. Dwellworks would be there to help me just as much as I would be there to help them.

I knew this position was the opportunity to work, learn, and invest in my future, so you can imagine my excitement when I was offered the position to work with the Corporate Housing and Marketing Departments. I can’t wait to see where this opportunity takes me!

Leslie Flynn | My First Impression of Dwellworks/My Leader/My Team

We jumped right in to the intern program during my first week at Dwellworks. On Monday morning, we began with introductions over a breakfast cereal buffet. It was a busy day, filled with orientations and meeting new people. We also celebrated the 10^th birthday of Dwellworks with cake and ice cream during one of our afternoon meetings! By the end of the week, I had a great understanding of the company and my projects for the summer.

I am excited to spend this summer learning alongside my team. It has already been rewarding to use what I have been learning in class to help improve the Dwellworks experience for our customers. My leader and department are extremely helpful in explaining projects and making sure we understand the background behind each task.

I think that everyone is a little nervous when starting a new job because of the uncertainty of what to expect. With Dwellworks, however, I was very excited for my first day! The interview process and correspondence with HR had been pleasant and prepared me to start the intern program. Based on my experiences this first week, I know I am going to learn something new every day!

Katharine Zavagno | Why I Decided to Intern at Dwellworks

Thus far in my college experience, I have had the fortunate opportunity to study abroad twice. Last January, I put my beginner-level Spanish skills to the test during my month-long stay with a host family in Costa Rica, the place where sloth sightings are considered commonplace and rice and beans make for a suitable breakfast, lunch and dinner. The following Fall, I moved to a tiny apartment in the heart of Florence, Italy for a semester of weekend trips exploring Europe and Italian culture classes by the experts: my native Florentine professors.

Through these experiences, I learned the meaning behind an expression I had often heard associated with foreign travel, “culture shock.” I experienced this phenomenon not only while transitioning to life in another country, but also upon returning to my home in the United States. I know first-hand what it is like to feel overwhelmed with living in a place that feels unfamiliar.

Therefore, in learning about Dwellworks and destination services, I was able to connect and emphasize with what each transferee experiences in moving to new location. I understand the importance of each service Dwellworks offers and saw this internship as a positive opportunity to utilize my skills as a communications major along with my experiences abroad. This internship allows me to think about my communications major in a non-traditional way, widening the breadth of my experiences as I prepare for my future career following my May 2018 graduation. I hope to learn more about small business culture and am looking forward to the many different experiences that the summer promises.

Aruni Prakash | Why I Decided to Intern at Dwellworks

I chose to intern at Dwellworks because the internship program really makes an individual well-rounded. Not only are you immersed into a close culture, but also are taught a variety of skills needed for a career after college. As a finance major, I am improving my quantitative and qualitative skills needed in the financial industry through this internship and am learning how to become more professional through the various meetings and trainings here. Overall, I felt that the company really cares about its interns and wants them to meet all of their individual goals in life. Now that I am interning here, I know that this is true.

Hailey Atkins | My First Impression of Dwellworks/My Leader/My Team

Flash back to Monday, May 15th where I experienced a day of many firsts. It was my first day at Dwellworks, where I will have my first summer internship and it was my first day of driving to Southfield, MI in rush hour traffic. I was not sure what to expect for my first day. I was quite nervous and second guessed myself and my abilities. After my hour and 15 min commute, merely due to the fact my GPS took me in the longest route possible, I finally arrived and still managed to be on time. I approached the door to the Dwellworks office; I took a deep breath and I reminded myself why I was here.

As I walked in, I was greeted by Kelly. She welcomed me with a great smile and showed me to my cubicle. I was not expecting my own desk and thought it was so special to have my own space. I then was introduced to Cat, who happens to also be my mentor. I knew she and I would get along great when she handed me a box of donuts. Kelly took me around the office and I was introduced to the remainder of the team. They were all so welcoming, my nerves vanished, and I realized this was going to be a wonderful summer.

Dwellworks definitely made a good first impression on me. I realized a couple things from the first day of my internship. One, everyone is friendly and strives to work together. Two, as I met everyone, I felt as though I was wanted there, and I wasn't looked upon as "just an intern,” but someone to play a role in what Dwellworks does. Three, everyone here loves food. In the first two days of my internship, I was greeted with donuts, taken out to lunch by my team to this amazing pizza place, had a cereal breakfast bar, and participated in fruit kabob making. On my first day, Kelly, Bethany and Cat all mentioned food was a popular subject around the office, and I took that with a grain of salt until I actually experienced it. I am so grateful to have had a great first impressions and look forward to a summer full of learning, growth and food. 

Alex Leszcz | My First Impression of Dwellworks/My Leader/My Team

My first thought when my leader was showing me around the office was “Wow, I’m over dressed.” Although they did tell me the dress code was relaxed and jeans were acceptable, I did not realize how casual the office was. I think that the casual dress really sustains and guides the excellent culture. On my first day, I quickly realized that this is not a stuffy office building. It is an open floor plan with a relaxed atmosphere.

On my first day, I was the only new intern upstairs, and everybody made me feel more than welcome. Walking to the kitchen, people would smile and say hi and made me feel comfortable and welcome on my first day. Two weeks in now, everybody is still as nice. I haven’t gotten a chance to meet everybody upstairs yet; however, those who I have met are interested to hear more about me and are excited to have us interns here all summer. Everybody seems to maintain the perfect balance between working hard and being relaxed and having fun. This is what Dwellworks promotes and is apparent after a very short time working here.

Anna Zschuppe | Why I Decided to Intern at Dwellworks

Aside from living in my hometown and being in Cavs territory, I decided to pursue an internship opportunity with Dwellworks without hesitation because of the remarkable company culture. Just from the website, you could tell that Dwellworks promotes a positive, engaging work environment, which is especially crucial from a human resources perspective.

I actually applied here for a summer 2016 internship but ended up interning in North Carolina. However, when searching for an internship this summer, something drew me back to Dwellworks. Throughout the past year, the company has undergone tremendous growth that I wanted to be a part of and contribute to. After meeting with the HR team for the final round interview, it’s no wonder that people love working here. I spoke with them for over an hour and have never felt so comfortable in an interview before, which helped me realize that this company was a perfect match for me.

Now when I walk into work every day, I couldn’t be happier to have such down-to-earth, passionate people around me who I am lucky enough to call my colleagues and friends.

Maggie Lowman | My First Impression of Dwellworks/My Leader/My Team

My first real impression of Dwellworks and the Marketing team took place this past March at the time of my interview. I had been nervous going into the interview, but after a few minutes of engaging with the team, I felt incredibly at ease. As we talked through my credentials, I began to pick up on the transparency, opportunity, and authenticity that defines the Dwellworks culture, and after accepting an offer as a Marketing Intern, I wondered if that impression would last throughout my internship experience.

Upon my arrival earlier this week, I found that it would. Everybody at Dwellworks has been incredibly friendly. Despite my first day nerves, I was included as a member of the Marketing team instantly. On my office tour and throughout my initial training, people from every department have made a point to get to know me and make me feel welcome, even the CEO himself.

But the culture here goes beyond the character of the employees. It also lies in the opportunities. While many of my friends in other internship programs have spent their first weeks filing and making copies, I have been training on innovative Marketing platforms, conducting competitor analyses, and participating in meetings. I’m given new tasks every day and if I finish those, there is always more to be done. My time at Dwellworks is respected and put to good use doing impactful work.

My experience with Dwellworks this first week has left an incredible impression. I can already tell that this summer will be full of personal and professional growth because of this internship, and I‘m excited to further explore the possibilities.

Oona Haffey | Why I Decided to Intern at Dwellworks

This year, I changed majors to accounting from biology. I am new to the business world, and I wanted a holistic experience this summer. Dwellworks was the perfect fit for me as this internship allows me to see how every aspect of a business operates and works together.

To read the intern's thoughts on their second week, visit the Dwellworks Intern Blog. Or, learn more about Dwellworks Culture.