DOROT, Inc.

Intern

August 2023 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I like the communication between staff members. It is very respectful, and the work is fairly easy as further explanation is always available for any confusion you may have. The diversity of responsibilities is good, and is catered to your personal career interests.

What I wish was different

I don’t think I would change anything besides maybe it becoming a paid internship, although the involvement expectation is not overwhelming.

Advice

I would suggest making sure they know your career interests because this lets them know which tasks would greatly cater to you.

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Intergenerational Program Engagement Intern

June - August 2022 • New York City, NY

What I liked

In this internship, there was plenty of freedom and responsibility to lead workshops that I wanted to. I had full responsibility for leading a workshop about New York City and its history which allowed me to have creative freedom to however I wanted to structure this workshop.

What I wish was different

Coming into the internship, I was a bit confused about my responsibilities as a full-time intern. Therefore, I wish there had been clearer expectations listed.

Advice

I did not do this but ask for words of affirmation and appreciation! The team can sometimes forget to give a pat on the back but they are more than willing to do so as long as you ask!

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Intern

May - August 2022 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I loved how flexible the virtual aspect was! It was tough at first, but everyone at DOROT was so understanding to the struggles that come with being virtual. The work was meaningful and my supervisors really allowed me to do as much as I was able to as an intern.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have worked in person. At the time, it was not an option for me, but seeing other interns working in person made me wish I could interact with constituents and coworkers in real life.

Advice

I would say do as much as you can! You are only an intern for a short time, so ask questions, ask if you can help with big projects that seem interesting to you-- it's awesome to be a part of something bigger!

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Intern

June - August 2020 • New York City, NY

What I liked

This internship was very interactive. DOROT made an incredible effort to truly involve all the interns and provide tasks that were meaningful. I gained a great amount of experience and a better idea of the non-profit world.

What I wish was different

Due to COVID-19, the internship was remote. DOROT handled it very well, but being in the office would have added an extra benefit to the experience.

Advice

I would advice, as did many DOROT staff, to reach out to the staff and really pick their brains. Everyone working there wants to share their experiences and help newcomers to the industry. Taking advance of their knowledge was a great asset.

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Volunteer Services intern

September - December 2021 • New York City, NY

What I liked

Colleagues, conversing with older adults, the chance to work with different supervisors.

What I wish was different

I wish that I could have spoken to more older adults.

Advice

This experience was humbling because it allowed me to be more outspoken about my opinions. It showed me how older adults need our help, especially in this period that we are in today.

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Summer College Intern in Intergenerational Programming and Engagement

June - August 2021 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I appreciated that I was able to be fully integrated into the organization as though I were a full-time employee. It allowed me to gain valuable and appropriate insight into what working for a non-profit social services organization would be like. I never had too many tasks that I was overwhelmed, but I never had a lack of tasks to the point where I felt bored or like I wasn't working or contributing.

What I wish was different

Advice

I would encourage interns to take advantage of and utilize all the resources available to them during a DOROT internship. The full-time employees are so friendly and their doors are always open––they are there to provide you with valuable guidance and support. There are so many departments (social work, programming engagement, volunteers, marketing, tech support, etc.) so there is something to learn from everyone, especially if one of the departments is in your field of interest.

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Volunteer Services INtern

August 2020 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I liked the people I worked with and what I got to learn from them.

What I wish was different

I wish it had been in-person instead of remote, but I understand the circumstances.

Advice

Always ask for help when you need it! There are people willing to assist you.

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intern

January - June 2020 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I enjoyed working with my supervisor who was patient and guided me through the internship. She gave me opportunities to speak with graduate interns who have the same major as me to talk about graduate schools and their experience at DOROT. She was transparent about my work and encouraged me to do reflections on the day, which helps in any internship to have a document about your thoughts and feelings. You can refer to this in the future and in interviews to refresh what you did.

What I wish was different

Not much! I had a good experience working one-on-one with clients in-person and also on the phone. I just wish I asked for a travel stipend earlier as I did not anticipate weekly visits to add up over time. Nonetheless, the staff is open and friendly when you bump into each other in the coffee room.

Advice

I would encourage people to look into matching with a client with "differences". I am most familiar with Android, but I worked with clients who had Apple phones, so I learned to be flexible and learn alongside them. Also unexpected requests for tech help comes up so be open to those as well. These in-person meetings with clients keeps them connected, so also be open to listening to their stories and their interests. Although it will be a long time until we can do this again, over the phone is just as important to hear them out.

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