Welcome to the program.

Let’s kick off the Positioning Self program with getting to know ourselves as the professionals we’re becoming each day.

This program provides you with two ways to stay successful and get the most out of your internship.

#1 Take on a professional challenge that feels personal to you.

The challenge will help you tap into an interpersonal skill–or soft skill. Soft skills are attributes and behaviors that positively influence how you interact and collaborate with others. Some examples include communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and emotional intelligence.

Soft skills are essential for navigating social and professional environments. They’re different from hard skills, which are technical abilities and knowledge acquired through training or education. The best thing about soft skills is that they’re flexible and transferable across different jobs and industries.

You can think of soft skills as a combination of traits that make up your work style. Establishing your unique work style is crucial for building relationships, communicating effectively, solving problems, and working in teams.

#2 Keep a log of your internship experience.

This isn’t just any kind of log. This is a track record of your work and your work style. Each week, you’ll take notes about five areas of your experience.

TRACK: Tasks, Results, Approaches, Contributions, and Key People

• For each task you’re assigned, write down what you’ll be doing, the reason for doing it, and the result or outcome you’re aiming to get from doing it.

• For each result, write down the business needs it meets and the positive impacts it has on others.

• For each approach you take, write down how you got started working on the task and the steps you took to complete the task.

• For each contribution, write down the knowledge you applied and the skills you used to complete the task and get the results.

• For each key person you worked with, write down their name, title, contact information, and the role they played in what you worked on, and the reason you want to stay connected to them for the future.

You can't reflect on what you don't take note of. The notes you take about your daily tasks, results, approaches, contributions, and key interactions will show ways that work assignments from your first week grow bigger, more challenging, and more rewarding by your last week.

This strategy is not about simply logging hours or creating a boring checklist. It's about moving beyond just completing the assignment you’re given to understanding your tangible contributions.

This strategy positions you to transition from unconscious effort to conscious contribution. You'll gain concrete evidence of your progress, move from simply completing tasks to making noticeable impacts, understand how your work connects to broader goals, and recognize the professional growth within yourself.

This way, your supervisor and team members see in you a proactive, self-aware professional who understands their value. You'll have clear examples of your achievements and growth, making you a more compelling candidate for future opportunities.

It's understandable to feel that logging your work is an extra chore, or that your daily tasks are too small to matter. But it pays off to be diligent and consistent in your note-taking. These reflections become invaluable evidence of your development. You’re already doing the work; this TRACK Record log simply adds a layer of intentional reflection and documentation to your work.

• At the beginning of each week, you’ll get a new soft skill challenge to work on. Share it with your supervisor.

• At the end of each week, you’re supervisor will send you a link to add notes to your TRACK Record log.

• For questions and issues that arise, your supervisor is available to provide a listening ear and help to find solutions.

Where are the sessions held?
Program lessons are digital—no login, no class time. 

• Soft skill challenges are delivered to interns via a weekly SMS/text message sent to your mobile phone. (Save 216-294-0444 in your contacts as “Careerlog”.)

• Supervisor support strategies are delivered via a weekly email message sent to your inbox. (Save info@careerlog.co in your contacts as "Careerlog".)

This allows participants to complete the program while working.

Do the lessons involve tests or quizzes? How do I successfully complete the program?
Interns receive no tests or quizzes. To receive a certificate of completion, interns must complete a weekly TRACK Record log entry.

Are there program materials?
No. There are no program materials to download. A copy of the TRACK Record log entries will be sent to interns and their supervisors.