Cotential is looking for a “Mentern” (an intern who is also seeking mentorship!) to help manage research and business development aspects of Cotential based in NYC. Erica Dhawan (CEO of Cotential) is looking for someone to work with her to manage and execute tasks in a fast-growing leadership business working 10 hours a week- 1 day/wk in the NYC offices and optional virtually.
Personality traits:
- Energetic & passionate, prefer an individual who is passionate about personal growth & leadership development
- Willingness to learn and grow through this job opportunity
- Able & willing to give and receive feedback with grace
- Flexible (Is able to tolerate ambiguity, communicate via email and video chat/skype with a team in a different time zone, and is open to change/feedback — not set in one way of thinking).
- Able to manage independent tasks while also being able to work in a team environment
- Excellent online communication skills (Examples: email, Google Documents, online survey tools such as Google Forms, Skype, video conferencing, etc., social media awareness of things such as Facebook and Twitter.)
- Visionary & forward thinking – willing to share ideas and feedback about how to improve processes/tasks
Job Responsibilities:
- Research articles, ideas, blog posts and social media posts on leadership, Gen Y, future trends of the workplace
- Maintain tracking spreadsheet for leadership events, conferences, client events
- Publish pre-written blog posts, send corresponding tweets
- Help manage Erica Dhawan and Cotential Facebook page by posting pre-written questions 1-2x/week
- Support design and development of client research activities and marketing events
- (We will provide clear instructions on all of the above)
Opportunities:
45 minute career coaching sessions and mentoring support from Erica Dhawan twice a month (value: $4500 in 3 months). Includes access to her network, references and recommendations and can include attendance at events where Erica is the keynote speaker.
Skills & Technical Requirements:
- Rapid response time; work hours based in eastern time zone
- All work is computer/internet-based: must have “fast Internet” speed and 24/7 access to computer and Internet
- Required Language Skills: Must be fluent in writing, reading, and speaking English.
- Is able to manage multiple tasks at one time
- Strong communication: is able to meet deadlines and communicate clearly if a deadline will not be met
- Skilled in managing online technical systems (WordPress, Google Documents, Gmail, MailChimp) — strongly preferred, though willingness to learn OK.
- Committed to working 16 hours / week (2 full days) and to working exclusively for Cotential. Atleast one day in person in NYC offices. Total 5 months. For immediate hire
This mentership is unpaid, yet is highly geared for those who would like serious career coaching to elevate their career.
If you are seriously interested, please send an email to erica@ericadhawan.com with your resume and cover letter. Please share why you are interested and when you would be able to begin.
Some Frequently Asked Questions:
Will the mentern work for free forever?
Yes and no. For three to six months, it will be a collaborative working relationship that will not involve financial compensation. But over the following months, we will modify that arrangement if it is working well and we continue to grow the enterprise. For example, I am more than happy to offer bonuses if we achieve certain milestones (start a big project, land a new opportunity, grow a follower/reader/listener base to a certain point, etc.). And if you turn out to be a true star, I very likely will offer a paid regular position.
I currently have a job or am in school. Can I still work with you?
Absolutely. Since the internship is virtual, I expect that people might complete the tasks or develop the ideas for projects during breaks at work or in free time at night or on the weekends. It is an unpaid position, and I expect that at least some of you out there have school or work to do.
How many hours a week would I work?
How involved you are and how hard you work are really up to you. If you really enjoy what we are doing, you can work as hard and as long as you want. Obviously, I am looking for someone who goes above and beyond what is expected, but I also don’t expect you to be able to commit 30 hours a week with me. The tasks and projects I would start with would take 10 hours a week, but if we agreed to give you more autonomy and projects, you could certainly do much more.
Are you just taking one mentern?
Ideally I would like only one, if I can find someone remarkable. But I fully expect that some people have different skill sets than others, so I am open to having more than one. I could envision a situation where one intern serves as more of a research assistant, while another intern coordinates the social media and traditional media efforts.
How long is the internship?
How long do you want to do it? If you’re great and we work well together, we can work together for many months or years. Ideally, though, I want an intern for at least three, and preferably six, months because it will take me a few weeks to train you on some of the processes.
Can I get college credit for the internship?
I am not listing the position with schools, so I don't know many schools would approve it for college or graduate school credit. But if you can talk to your school and they will give you credit for it, I will complete any necessary paperwork and keep the appropriate records to help in any way.
Will it be all busy work?
Great question. Absolutely not. I might ask you to do basic tasks as they pertain to bigger projects, but I am in no way looking for cheap labor. I am looking to work with someone for their brain, their creativity, their ideas, and their enthusiasm.
What would I get out of this?
I’m glad you asked. Except I think the better question is yours. What do you want to get from working with me? Nothing is off the table, but you have to ask. Do you want to discuss and learn more about the leadership topics I’m writing about? Do you want to be involved in a growing consulting firm at its inception and help it grow into national prominence before moving on to bigger organizations? Do you want to get career coaching at a $4500 value in 6 months? It’s up to you.