To My Supervisor,

I wanted to write this special letter of thanks to let you know how much I appreciate your time and efforts and how much I really enjoy working for you and with you. Starting a new job and learning new skills can always be daunting but with your leadership and direction it has always been easy to do my job, as you have provided a clear road map, outlining the goals of my position and given me autonomy and encouragement, knowing I would do a good job. I appreciate that you offer correction through learning and positive reinforcement, and have never doubted my skills. I'm also thankful for the challenges and how you always come up with a creative yet effective way to handle them efficiently. I like that as my manager you will go to bat for a team member and even help pull us up when our numbers are down. Thank you again for allowing me to take part in your awesome leadership, as it really makes a difference when doing a job from home and working to meet the quotas and goals set forth daily. I also want to thank you for allowing me to work as an intern and providing me with additional tasks that offered me a way to connect with more leads and challenged me to step outside my comfort zone to meet the goals set for me. I have learned a lot from this internship and job opportunity and I look forward to being able to apply what I have learned at this company to another position in the future.

Sincerely,

AJ

Internship Learning Experience

Although I started this journey more than a year ago, working as a Senior Family Advisor, it was the internship that really helped me see the value in what I do everyday helping others and how rewarding it can be when you know your efforts make a difference in someone's  life. In looking back at my very first blog entry I stated that I had 3 goals in mind for my internship, and that was to learn more about the many aspects of assisted living and levels of care, work to achieve monthly company goals, and assist as many families as I possible can in their search for senior living resources. To date  I am proud to say that not only have I met the goals I set forth, but I continue to strive for more in my position and have taken on additional responsibilities to help grow the company and reach more seniors. My new tasks have allowed me to not only reach out to families via phone, but now I can establish contact via email and help those who are not in a position to discuss their situation but still need information on resources in their area. By being of service via a live chat or email it helps families who are facing emergencies and addresses their concerns with a sense of urgency. In efforts to meet my goals I also received the support and encouragement of my supervising manager who gave me words of motivation daily, that alone pushed me to go the distance everyday on every call and try new things on a call to help explain the services we provide and connect them to. I have enjoyed the daily challenges as no two days are ever alike and I have learned a lot about assisted living, care levels and techniques that help when dealing with sales over the phone.

There are many strengths in my organization, that I draw from and admire. The fact that the company that I work for was birthed out of a social mission is awesome in and of it self. I look upon the company as a pillar for the senior community because it is a free referral service that provides important information, and we help families that are usually in distress, facing a serious emergency, or in need of desperate help. In offering our services we partner with other public and governmental agencies to promote their services and work to take care of people nationwide. Our extension of help simplifies things for seniors and their family members who cannot navigate the internet and search for communities in their area. The company as a whole is very engaging and is building a name for itself all in the efforts of caring for the seniors of America.

If I were in charge of a similar organization, I would do things a little different. Our company is completely virtual with the exception of the two headquarters, I think that in order for us to join the ranks of the competition, we should have territorial representatives who can help build our brand and book of business by personally meeting with the providers to establish a relationship and incorporate them into our directory to enlarge our base of referrals that we can offer the seniors. Other than that I believe the company has done a great job in standing by what they are here to do for the long run.

As an older adult learner, I have had many experiences in dealing with career services and needed the additional input many a times to secure employment. It has been quite sometime since I have been unemployed so I really don't have a need to attend many of these workshops or events. I am juggling 32 hours of work a week, and I am enrolled in 18 units this semester and raising two children alone. I spend many of my waking hours busy from sun up til sun down. However, once I complete this degree program, I anticipate changing my field of work and looking into working with in government at either the state or local level.

The only draw back I have is with the pay that many companies offer and with the state often times you start at an entry level and progress as time and skill permits. I was recently at ASU for a meeting with my guidance counselor who gave me a few good internship ideas that could possibly lead to gainful employment with the government but it would be difficult for me to make a lateral move and take a pay cut now, as I do have bills and a family to raise. I look forward to when I will be ready to make another transition into a career that offers growth, success and the opportunity to work with others the way that I would like to.

Free Write

A few months ago I was commissioned to do a special project at work that would enable me to help more seniors get the information they needed regarding communities in their area that fit their needs. I was approached by my supervisor to assist in the customer care department that answers emails for those who are unable to discuss this by phone or not in a position to talk, which happens often when they are searching for a loved one, but don't want them to know they are looking to move them due to the inability to care for them in the home still. At first it concerned me because I wouldn't have the ability to book tours and give them more input on communities. However, repetitious boredom pays off and many of the potential residents became more interested and began communicating with me via phone and email. It quickly grew my pipeline and as I started sending out info, many of the leads converted to residents and moved into the suggested communities.

I can honestly say it has become a highlight of my day to spend time working on the self qualified leads that need help just as much as the person who answers the phone. I was able to meet the company goals and quotas set for me by contacting enough people and getting move ins. I have learned a lot on email etiquette and structure letters that are appealing and get people to respond.

Free Write

 I started working with my company a little over a year ago. Since that time I have had the opportunity to learn more about the needs of seniors. I have also become more informed on the difficulties of aging and the many ailments that follow. It has been a crash course in medical terminology to say the least, and an extraordinary experience helping families in need. I enjoy the fact that we work off a script but have the flexibility with the conversation. Many of the conversations take time and can last at least 20 minutes to up to an hour. They can be very intense and even emotional especially when the person has to make all the decision for their loved one. It is the most rewarding when I can find a community that meets their needs financially and medically. It really helps to find facilities that are close in proximity to the family so they can be close to visit, and help support the needs of the loved one once they become a resident.

Since the population of aging seniors is growing there has been no shortage of work or people to assist. We are a growing company that helps to refer thousands of family weekly and hundreds daily. Many of the communities that we partner with are experiencing a influx of residents and have very long waiting lists. I see a lot of growth in many states where they are building new facilities everywhere since this have become a huge industry.

Learning Via Online Courses

I have been a fan of distance learning since its creation! I'm not sure who invented the idea or implemented it in schools but they were on to something for sure. I remember when  I started college over 20 years ago, when the internet was still known as the worldwide web, I enrolled in a distance learning class that would satisfy as a general ed course. The course was taught through video taped lectures and audio tapes, along with books. The class met every 6 weeks for a full day to go through coursework and address any questions that students would have. The classes lasted a full semester and you received 3 credit hours that were transferable upon completion. I knew then that would be the only way I could attend school and the correspondence approach to courses would allow me to get my college education, work and contend with being a single mother.

Today distance learning has evolved into online course ranging from every subject and extending far beyond just general education classes. Classes can be anywhere from 7-8 weeks or as long as 14 weeks. The evolution of the internet connects students from around the globe to schools of various majors and studies that produce sought after degrees in many fields. The easy of learning in your own home or an environment that is conducive to your schedule allows so many working adults to return to school and encourages younger students to stay connected. Now there is no excuse and learning has never been easier nor has obtaining a higher education. I just finished registering for my final semester at ASU to complete my bachelors. I am taking all my classes online because I have to work and keep up with my two teenagers.