My internship at Copycats had a casual but professional workplace culture. The dress code was casual formal, so I usually dressed in all black with a zip-up outfit that looked professional but still comfortable for work. Everyone at the company stayed very focused on their own projects and worked quietly in their own space, which helped create a productive environment.
When I first arrived each day, I would sign in on the computer near the front of the workspace, greet everyone, and then set up my desk for work. The company gave me my own desk, and I always tried to stay organized. I usually brought my laptop charger and connected my laptop right away so I could begin working. When I first started, I would ask my supervisor what tasks I needed to complete, but after a few weeks I began understanding my responsibilities and what projects I should focus on.
The company asked if I was comfortable using my own laptop for work when I was hired. I had no problem with that because I actually felt more comfortable using my own device. Most of the time, I used Adobe Illustrator because I worked on the production team and focused on die-cut projects. Before the internship, I mainly used Adobe InDesign, so learning Illustrator more often helped me improve my design skills and learn new tools.
I worked in the same area as the account managers, along with the CEO and COO, even though the CEO and COO had their own office spaces. Communication at the company was simple and professional. Whenever I had questions about a project, I would usually walk over to my supervisor, Joelle, show her my work, and ask for feedback. Other times, I would upload my work to Dropbox and let her know so she could review it later. This helped me learn how to communicate professionally and accept feedback in a work environment.
Overall, the workplace culture at Copycats was organized, creative, and professional. My experience there helped me become more independent, responsible, and confident in my work.
