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ILR Connections Secure International Internship By Sachiko Uno, MILR ’05 When classes started in September 2003, I began searching for a summer internship in my native country of Japan. I gradually realized that finding a human resource internship in Japan can be as difficult as getting an offer in the United States without U.S. citizenship. I sent hundreds of e-mails to companies to inquire about internship opportunities. Only half of them replied, most saying, “We do not have an internship program for students specializing in human resources,” or “We do not hire interns without human resource–related experience.” As I faced the tough Japanese job market, I saw flyers advertising ILR’s Winter Internship Program (WISP) and attended an information session. Although WISP sounded like a good idea, no positions were posted for Japan. This is when I realized how valuable the ILR alumni network can be. ILR alumnus Andrew Doyle ’96, who was himself an HR intern in Japan as an undergraduate and is now working in Tokyo at Merrill Lynch Japan Securities, agreed to host my WISP. My first day at Merrill Lynch exceeded my expectations. Mr. Doyle introduced me to the CEO of Merrill Lynch Japan and to the HR staff there. After a brief, yet amazing tour of the stock trading rooms, I went to work. I was assigned three projects with only three weeks to complete them. I wasn’t expecting to be given responsibility for such significant projects—I thought I might be doing administrative work, data entry, photocopying, and so forth. The reality proved quite different. Mr. Doyle knew firsthand how valuable real projects can be to ILR interns. I recognized how fortunate I was to have this WISP and decided to take full advantage of the opportunity and exposure. Although all three projects were equally interesting and demanding, the one on trend analysis in training programs was especially informative. Unlike data we use in our class projects, which are assumed accurate (something that rarely happens in the real world), this project taught me to think critically when data are less certain. I thought I would just enhance my résumé, but my internship turned out to be an invaluable experience. As my ILR mentor, Mr. Doyle also offered good advice on taking full advantage of the MILR program at Cornell, tips for success, and courses he found especially useful. He also gave me a chance to learn just how important communication skills are in HR. Understanding the customer’s point of view and communicating one’s own are critical skills to the human resource specialist. What I might think is the best answer is not always the case for the customer. Again, these were classroom lessons that became more “real” in the workplace. After this invaluable experience, I decided to register for a Semester in Manufacturing course, which requires me to spend the entire spring semester with people from the engineering school and the business school. Doing several projects with students who have never thought about human resource issues is very challenging, but I believe I am learning critical soft skills such as building team cohesiveness and communicating effectively. I hope these soft skills will serve me well during my upcoming summer internship at GE Japan, which was also developed through ILR’s wonderful alumni network. ■ 24 ■ ILR Connections/Fall 2004 www.ilr.cornell.edu
Maximize your annual gift by joining a giving society at Cornell. As a member of a giving society you can help build the School of Industrial and Labor Relations and Cornell to a level of fiscal strength that is second to none. Have you heard of giving societies but wondered what they are and how they work? Giving societies at Cornell were created to encourage alumni and friends to continue a high level of personal annual giving and to recognize this accomplishment. Membership, an end in itself, is recognition for this annual giving that so strongly benefits the university. Giving society members provide the colleges and units at Cornell not only the security of annual cash flow but also a margin of excellence. With a gift at the right amount, you automatically become a member of a giving society at Cornell. Did you know. . .? • your annual gift designated to ILR counts toward membership in Cornell giving societies. • your gift to a particular project or program at ILR, such as the Fund for ILR Faculty Excellence, counts toward membership in a Cornell giving society. • your annual gift designated to ILR counts toward university totals for fund-raising. • your annual gift designated to ILR counts toward class totals in your reunion year. The Giving Societies at Cornell Membership President’s Circle Annual Gift $25,000 or more Dean’s Circle $10,000 to $24,999 Tower Club $5,000 to $9,999 Quadrangle Club $1,000 to $4,999 Charter Society $500 to $999 Ivy Society (for alumni 10 years or fewer from graduation) $250 or more Young Alumni Tower Club $2,500 (for alumni 10 years or fewer from graduation) Cayuga Society: Recognizes donors who have made a planned gift to Cornell University. Annual gifts are the most important source of unrestricted funds for the operating budget for the School of Industrial and Labor Relations and for Cornell. They maintain a healthy cash flow and protect endowment. Gifts to the Cornell Fund for ILR (those designated to come directly to ILR but unrestricted in use) create faculty and program support, enhance the quality of the undergraduate and graduate experience at ILR, enable the ILR School to preserve facilities and avoid deferred maintenance, help to create state-of-the art teaching and research technologies, and provide student support and support for creative initiatives. Membership in a giving society at Cornell is the heart of annual financial support. This university-level recognition can be achieved through gifts designated to ILR. “In HR, you always advise your management team to reward excellence, and I’m proud to be giving Dean Lawler the tools to do the same. Since ILRie’s are achievementoriented anyway, giving societies enable us to give back to the School at increasing levels, matching what we’ve gotten out of it. As one of those lucky few whose college education actually prepared them for what they do for a living, I feel fortunate that ILR prepared me for the work world. And, as a human resources practitioner for 25 years, including many years in compensation, I know how important it is to recognize and reward superior talent. That’s why I chose to direct my giving to the Fund for Faculty Excellence. ILR has a premier faculty but can stay competitive only if we support the research and programs that make us number one in the field.” —Nancy Sverdlik ’79 www.ilr.cornell.edu ILR Connections/Fall 2004 ■
Page 1 and 2: ILRCONNECTIONS A publication for al
Page 3 and 4: Faculty Spotlight Getting Off the E
Page 5 and 6: Inside the Classroom Globalization
Page 7 and 8: students are learning from ILR facu
Page 10 and 11: International Projects France Indus
Page 12 and 13: The ILR School and the ILO: Researc
Page 14 and 15: ILR C e l e b r a t i o n Our award
Page 16 and 17: Study of NYC Firefighters Shows Eff
Page 18 and 19: Cornell Tradition Fellows Frederick
Page 20 and 21: Students in the Spotlight Jack Cogn
Page 22 and 23: ILR Alumni Across the Globe • •
Page 24 and 25: Alumni Profile Louisa J. (Jane) Hay

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