The End is just the Beginning

We have been fortunate enough to have had Alyson as our Intern in Employee Services over the summer. Her internship is coming to an end, but as you'll see that end is just the beginning...

As my internship at Pinnacol comes to an end, I wanted to write a blog about what I have learned. While I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about the company, specifically more about human resources, I think the most valuable lessons I learned are not something that can be graded by my professor or my mentors, but rather are personal lessons that will help me develop within my career.

One of the most important things I learned was continue to develop and maintain your network. Networking is the most important thing that you can do for yourself professionally. This simple act can take your career in directions you never imagined possible.

Another important lesson I learned is that people are more than willing to let you shadow them if you just ask. If the organization you are in is committed to developing you professionally, they will be more than accommodating to allow you to explore career possibilities.

When you put in hard work, it will pay off. Whether you are seeking gratification from your manager, peers or just yourself, taking pride in the work you do is important. If you spend time to get things done the right way and give 100% to a project, you will recognize that the best kind of gratification you will get will be from yourself.

Always ask questions. There really is no such thing as a stupid question. When you don’t have any questions, that’s when people (co-workers, managers, etc.) start to worry. There is no one in the world that knows everything so ask for help when you need it and ask questions.

Your reputation is important. It will follow you. Be kind, humble, and do your absolute best. When you’re feeling negative, walk away and take some time for yourself. Take a short walk or a short coffee break.

Lastly, don’t make it about the money. If you want a career you love, make sure you focus on the culture of a company and how you fit in with others. While a company is judging you , you have to judge them as well. Most people take jobs based on the money, but in reality we all just want to be happy with our jobs. You spend a good majority of your time at work, so make sure that you fit in and the culture is nothing short of fabulous.

I am fortunate enough to have been offered a permanent position at Pinnacol. While my internship is ending, my career is just beginning. I couldn’t be happier to explore all the possibilities that Pinnacol has to offer me. I literally can grow my career under the same roof and never get bored. The culture is what drew me in and the people are what drew me to stay. I’m so fortunate to have had this opportunity. Megan, David, and Dolores (along with the rest of the Employee Services team) have really taught me so much about professionalism, my career goals, and personal development.

Alyson's other blogs:
Attending a Job Fair? Some tips...
Flashback 2002
My Life as an intern at Pinnacol

Pinnacol hosts Halloween Spooktacular!

As a Human Resources Representative I've used a lot of adjectives through the years to describe life at Pinnacol but "SPOOKY!" has never been one of them. That is, until today.

Through the years we've hosted Pumpkin Carving and Costume Contests for our employees but today we'll be having a very special group of visitors including a fair share of Lady Bugs, Ninja Warriors, Tinker Bell's and Fairy's, and especially topical for this year all sorts of Star Wars characters. The children of our employees will be trick or treating throughout our building this afternoon and all of the teams have decorated their work areas in a manner to have the kids shrieking and screaming as they meander from one candy filled jack-o-lantern to the next.

Tinker Bell rates as one of Good HouseKeeping's top costumes for 2015

Workers' Compensation deals with very serious issues so it's nice to celebrate special occasions such as this. I'm sure all the adults will be exhausted but the kids will remember this event at least until tomorrow when they celebrate the official Halloween and they and their exhausted parents get to do it all over again!

Check out our refreshed Website!

Pinnacol.com has undergone a complete refresh so check it out and let us know your thoughts!

The folks in charge of the website are always looking for ways to make it easier to find information whether you are on a desktop, tablet, or handheld device. For those interested in exploring opportunities with Pinnacol the Careers button is still at the very top of the page!

Thank you to all the candidates we met at Dice Tech Fair

Brian, Jesse, Tim, and Cory looking
forward to speaking to candidates

On Tuesday of this week I and Megan (my counterpart in Human Resources) participated in the DICE Tech and Engineering Job Fair held at the Denver Tech Center Marriott Hotel.

We had a chance to meet with a lot of great candidates at the Fair which had a strong turnout. I had asked some of our IT folks to join me so I owe a special thank you to Cory, Tim, Brian, and Jesse for helping out. My knowledge of IT goes only so far, so Megan and I spent our time introducing candidates to Pinnacol and getting them to one of our four IT pros for more in-depth conversations. Cory heads up our application development side, Tim runs our Help Desk area, Jesse runs our Security function, and Brian comes out of the Data and Network Services area so candidates could talk shop directly with some of our hiring managers.

Thank you to DICE for hosting the Fair and thank you especially to everyone who stopped by. It was great to meet you!

What does Global Warming mean for the upcoming Flu Season?

Pinnacol, like many employers, offers free or low-cost flu shots to employees hoping to avoid the aches and pains associated with whatever variation of influenza will be circulating this season. At Pinnacol we'll be getting our flu shots on October 29th. Not every employee signs up, but I can't remember the last year I didn't receive my poke in the arm. Last year's shots were apparently only mildly effective as a prevention as the folks that make the shots have to make an educated guess months ahead as to which virus to protect against.

Here in Colorado, as well as in much of the west, we're having beautiful, and unseasonably warm, weather. Denver yesterday broke the high temperature record for the date with a high of 87 degrees. Even in the mountains the weather has been warm with no ski areas as of yet able to start making snow. Normally ski season starts in just a couple of weeks, but this year they'll need quite the change in weather to have us sliding down the hills anytime soon.

I'm not sure if global warming is the cause for the climb in temperature this year and I'm not willing to prognosticate as to whether the mild weather will continue or for how long. But it does make you wonder - will the milder temperatures have any impact on the upcoming flu season? We are in week 42 of 2015 and according to the chart from last year that's about the time when the Center for Disease Control normally see's the spike in reported flu symptoms start to climb.

As you'll notice, the height of flu season last year was in the last week of 2014. Of course, flu hits different parts of the country at slightly different times. Here in the office we're already seeing an increase in people fighting colds and other respiratory ailments (it can't be the flu yet, right?) and we haven't even seen the first snow. Whether you are a believer in global warming or not, one can still hope that the milder climate may keep those pesky viruses at bay. But just in case, I'll be standing in line, sleeve rolled up, to get that jab in the arm as I always do. Regardless as to whether you participate, here is hoping for a quiet flu season. How about you - are you getting a flu shot this year? Do you think the climate impacts the flu season?

Getting the most out of an Internship Experience: You Get Out What You Put in

Back in June our intern Alyson had blogged about her experience with Pinnacol. Over the last several months Alyson has been working hard to make the most of her internship so we thought we'd have her write another blog about getting the most out of your time with a company...

So you’re close to graduating, or you just want to make you resume stand out, or you want some experience; whatever the reason, your internship is one of the most important experiences in college. Many students often wonder why an internship is necessary. Well the answer is simple. An internship can be of considerable benefit to you. Internships will introduce you to potential future work environments and you will be able to decide whether these meet your career wishes and interests. You can also acquire important supplementary skills during an internship and make contact with potential future employers.

It would be disappointing if you left your internship and realized that you really didn’t learn anything new or you didn’t develop your skills professionally. You might kick yourself and think, “Well they (the organization) didn’t help me do this or that… this was a waste of time…” The reality is it is your responsibility to make the most of your time at the company so here are a few tips to making the most of your internship:

Strategize: Before you walk into your first day at your internship have a strategy in mind. Know what you want to gain from this experience. Is there something in particular you might be interested in within the company? A certain department or job? Do you know what you want to learn or what skills you want to enhance?

Use your time wisely: You should be aware of how much time you have at your internship. If you only have 300 hours verses a whole semester it is important to use your time wisely. Set up meetings with anyone doing a job you might be interested in. Visit different departments to find out what they do within the company. Use the time you have to pick the brains of the professionals you are surrounded by.

Communicate: Communicate your wants and needs to your mentor or preceptor. Let them know what you are interested in so you can find work or a project that is motivating and will help you gain something professionally. Talk everyone you meet. Being open and communicating with everyone will expand your network and it will show the organization that you fit in.

Ask questions: This is your time to ask whatever questions you want relating to the business or the industry. There is no such thing as a stupid question when you are trying to gain as much knowledge as possible from this experience.

Participate: Make sure you put yourself out there and participate. Lunch and learns, meetings, social events, or whatever other events the organization does is an opportunity to really get out there and meet professionals and show them you are part of the team. Again, this is a networking tool.

Your internship is what you make it. You get out what you put in. This is your chance to really make something of your career and enhance your confidence and professionalism. When you put in 100% you will get a great internship experience. Be on time, be professional, and be open-minded.

Other blogs by Alyson:
Flashback 2002
My Life as an Intern at Pinnacol

Pinnacol In Action: PIA Days 2015

In celebration of 100 years of Pinnacol’s commitment to Colorado, our Pinnacol In Action (PIA) Advisory Council will be coordinating 100 Pinnacol employees who will be volunteering in five different volunteer events from October 12-16. Pinnacol In Action is our volunteer program that gives every Pinnacol employee two days of paid time off each year to volunteer in the community.

This year's PIA Days events include:

• Ronald McDonald House -  for the past 36 years, Ronald McDonald House Denver has offered a loving home away from home to families needing to be near their seriously ill or injured child while they are being treated a Denver area hospital. 
• Montbello Central Park with Denver Parks and Recreation. I did this one several years ago and though it was hard work it was great! Pinnacol volunteers will be painting, removing debris, turning playground sand, and beautifying the baseball field.
• Project C.U.R.E. - Project C.U.R.E. is the largest provider of donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries around the world. Our volunteers will be packing boxes of medical supplies to be shipped to the developing world. This is another event that I've been fortunate enough to do in past years and it's very rewarding. 
• George Washington High School with Denver Public Schools Foundation -  Pinnacol volunteers will be painting and organizing the student union and the volunteer center, organizing supplies, and supporting the Community Engagement Officer with various projects around the school. I've never done this event but our volunteers spend a fair amount of time at GWHS through other organizations including GoodWill through whom I'll be volunteering in November helping students learn how to conduct a job search. 
• PawsCO - PawsCO is dedicated to reducing pet overpopulation and offers a comprehensive approach through their three programs: PawsCo Spay/Neuter, PawsCo Pet Food Drive and PawsCo Adoptions. Our employees will be assembling feral cat enclosures. These enclosures are very important during the winter to keep community cats, a group that includes ferals (who are afraid of people) and strays (who've been lost or abandoned). No matter how resourceful these outdoor cats are, they need help surviving winter.

Even our Grand Junction office will get into the swing of things helping clean up a section of Highway 50. 

Thank you to all of our employees who will be involved in these events!