When should you consider an internship as your first job out of college?

When most of us think of internships, we think of work experience you get while you're in college (some college's even offer credit for internships). However, internships can also be a great opportunity after you've graduated college.

Tim Groth, 25-years old and currently the Development Specialist for the Minnesota Wild (NHL), is a great example of how taking an internship after college can be a great investment in your future career.  


Tim attended the University of Kansas and majored in Sports Management. 
During his first two years of college he volunteered a lot in the sports world - refereeing rec sports and volunteering at big relays. "I was always willing to volunteer my time so I could learn how they ran these events and build more relationships with people who were running the events."


Very smart.


Tim's professors in his sports management courses became his mentors. Tim needed an internship as part of the curriculum, and one of his professors knew the community relations manager for the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) and helped him get his first internship. 


Tim graduated college in May 2009 and moved back to Minnesota, where he is from. He had been "applying for jobs left and right, lived at home, and worked a summer job to figure out what was next."


When working in his first internship he had met someone who had interned for  the Orlando Magic (NBA). Tim saw an open position in web design with the Magic, and while he didn't have any design experience, he applied anyway and also noticed their internship positions. 


His friend helped him get an interview for the Orlando Magic internship program. "Someone sent a quick email. Who you know really can help you get an interview, and having that personal connection to get that initial opportunity is huge." 

While having a personal recommendation helped Tim get an interview, he still had to compete with the 300-500 students that apply for these kinds of internships. 


Tim's previous experience with the Kansas City Chiefs and his extensive volunteer work in sports helped him get the internship. The internship was paid, but, like many paid internships, "it was just enough to pay the bills and rent." 


But Tim believed it was worth the risk. 


The Orlando Magic internship program helped Tim get set up in an apartment with three other roommates - all Orlando Magic interns. All of these guys had traveled from other states to take advantage of this internship opportunity. 


Tim moved to Orlando and started work the next day with his roommates. 


"The guys were my brothers. We lived together, ate ramen together, and we really became close friends because of our extensive work together."


Tim did the internship for a little over a year, and then applied for and was offered a full-time position with the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation. 


The job Tim got was posted internally only, meaning it was only available to current employees and interns. This is one of the best reasons to consider an internship even after college. It is almost impossible to get a job at a big, well-known company in your early career without having that kind of insider/intern access. 


Even being an intern, however, you're competing with many other current and past interns with similar expereince. I asked Tim how he stood out and what advice he has to turn an internship into a full time job: 


"My work ethic I think is pretty strong. When I was an intern I strived to be the first one in the office and the last one to leave. I would never say no and always say yes to tasks, even if I didn't want to do them. I realized I was at the bottom and that this is what I had to do. I repeatedly asked my supervisor what can I do to help you? I'm free right now, what can I do to make your day any easier? It shows that you care and that you want to work hard. Supervisors have contacts and can help you get interviews elsewhere even if your organization isn't hiring."

"When you get an internship or starting a new job you have to be aware that everyone is paying attention. If you are just kind of hanging out, people see that. You need to be working and try to figure out something to do, whether it is the off season or not. Do your job really well and you will get a promotion, a full time position, or a great recommendation."

Internships are an incredible inroad to companies and industries that are difficult to break into (e.g. the sports industry). If a company has a relatively large and competitive internship program, it is a good sign you will need to be an intern in order to be considered for an entry-level job as your first job out of college in that organization. Otherwise, you'll be competing against interns with company-related experience and most likely won't have a chance.

Below are links to learn more about internship programs at some of the top ranked large companies where Millennials want to work: 

1. Google

2. Apple
3. Walt Disney Company
4. Ernst & Young
5. Deloitte
6. JPMorgan
7. Nike
8. PwC
9. Goldman Sachs
10. KPMG LLP

How to work for Google in (and after) college: ranked the #1 company to work for by Millennials

Last week I introduced you to student ambassador programs, and recently I was able to interview some people who work directly with one of the most exciting ambassador programs - Google's. 

Time and time again Google is ranked as one of the best places to work - especially among Millennials. I'll never forget the first time I learned about their California-based headquarters - the Googleplex - in my Organizational Development class: an office with pool tables, laundry-mats, dentists; a place where you can get your haircut and bring your dog to work.   


And I am a huge personal fan of Google's amazing (and free) products - I often recommend in my book and blog how Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Calendar save my life daily and offer incredible tools for college success (e.g. using Google Calendar SMS reminders for assignment due dates). 


I've had many students tell me they desire to work for Google one day, so I thought I'd give you some insight into their Student Ambassador program and what it takes to work there via my interview with Miriam Schneider, the Google Marketing Manager on the Google Education Team, who also runs the Google Student Ambassador program, as well as my interviews with two former Google Student Ambassadors: Veronica and Andy. 


I was so delighted to meet these three, and it was obvious by their energy and kindness that Google really is a great place to work.


Miriam studied Communications and French and UCLA, and then, without a clear direction of what might come next, moved back to her parent's place in Laguna Beach for the summer.Miriam applied to a temp HR job with Google's Irvine office: "I was unaware that it was a difficult application process at the time and didn't get the job for a good reason: because I had zero HR experience. But I did get to talk to some of the recruiters who helped me figure out what would be better fit for a new graduate with my skills and interests. I eventually found a role on the consumer operations team (online support)."


Miriam was "in the trenches, answering user emails, and troubleshooting technical bugs and inquiries on Mobile and Picasa."


Getting to meet recruiters at a large company like Google can be a great experience in and of itself, even if you don't get the job you applied for. 


Miriam owes her current position to the initiative and proactivity she showed in her first position. She learned a lot about the company in the "trenches," and found that she learned a lot about her strengths and interests in that experience - she loved learning about the users and anticipating their needs. As she grew to enjoy marketing, she eventually moved to the position she has today. 


Miriam's advice to students who want to work for Google? "Be flexible. Everyone wants to find their dream job right away, but it takes time. Answering user queries about highly technical issues happening on their mobile devices wasn't exactly my dream job; my coworkers would laugh at me because I was helping users with mobile issues and I didn’t even have a flip phone at the time."


"But I gained so much from that experience because it gave me a first-hand opportunity to learn."


"Many students have super high expectations when they graduate and are used to getting what they want - especially those who graduate from top-tier universities or at the top of their class. But you have to make a conscious choice to be flexible, be willing to start from the bottom, and make the environment that you’re in a positive one. That is a trait that has helped me enjoy my work and want to continue it."


Today Miriam works with universities that are using Google Apps and looks after Google's student outreach efforts such as the Google Student Blog, Student Google+ Page, and generally anything relevant to university students. Miriam's favorite part of her job? "I really enjoy talking to students who have this infectious enthusiasm. I've been at Google six years, and like any job, your day-to-day can get exhausting. Talking to students who are so passionate and enthusiastic and knowledgeable and hearing their ideas is motivating and inspiring."

Google has Student Ambassadors around the world. Currently positions are open by referral or nomination by people in the school's administration (e.g. check with your College's IT department) or current Google interns. 


An interview with Google Student Ambassador, Andy


What is your major? I majored in Politics and Sociology, at Brandeis University - a college that uses Google Apps for Education. I started college thinking law school might be a good avenue, but as I continued school I realized education and technology was really enjoyable. At Brandeis there are people who implement technology in the classroom and I found it to be a really fascinating field because its constantly changing. 


How did you learn about the Google Student Ambassador program and how did you apply?  I worked with tech support at Brandeis University. I kept my eyes and ears open, got involved in a lot of clubs, and got to know a lot of people and that opened different avenues. Initially the whole idea of tech hadn’t even occurred to me, but it was the people I met and the connections I made through clubs. 


The help desk at Brandeis hired all sorts of students regardless of their technology background. They felt that they could teach technology, but what they were really looking for is enthusiastic people who like talking to faculty and students. 


Someone who worked with Brandeis library and technology services referred me to the Student Ambassador program. 


Not all people at Google were Computer Science majors either. There were students in art, advertising, business, English, etc. That shocked me and was very cool to see. 


What has been your favorite part about this program? The best part was getting to go to Google headquarters. Google is unique in that they really bring you to Google and give you a lot of stuff to distribute to students. They give you a chrome book (Google’s new laptop) and 50 Tshirts to give out on campus.  You see all these articles about Google being #1 place to work. It really is true. It’s absolutely incredible.


What are some of the things you did on campus as a Google Student Ambassador? I held a Google Sites workshop at Brandeis where I invited club leaders from all over campus to come to a workshop. Google gave money to provide pizza and I taught them how to set up websites for their club. Since Brandeis used Google Education Apps I also often asked students how they use Google Apps in the classroom and would give their feedback to staff at Brandeis who would then use that feedback when they talked about their apps at conferences. I felt like I was both benefitting Google and Brandeis.


What kind of students do you think Google looks for in its student ambassadors? I think they are looking for people who are excited about the brand and really already networked into their community and their school. For example, there were a lot of ambassadors in student government. 


What did you like about Brandeis using Google Apps for Education?  Instead of a school using their own email service, which can very expensive and hard to maintain, schools have Google provide them with Google Apps (some packages are even free). For example Brandeis' email is hosted through Google, and we use Google Calendar to make appointments with faculty and staff, or see the registrars calendar of due dates. We can even use Google Calendar to reserve rooms on campus on our phone - I love it, the faculty seem to really like it too. The email is also a great way to ensure students actually check their college email - which is so important. 


How do you feel like being involved in the Google Student Ambassador program benefited you? It was so exciting to be able to say I worked for Google. It sounds really cool to tell people that and it was really fun to get all that stuff and you really feel like you are a valuable part of the company. When you do a good job, they really make you feel good about it. It was also really valuable to gain that professional experience and learn about a new working environment and industry, which led to my current full-time job after graduating college - working with the technology at Brandeis. 


An interview with Google Student Ambassador,Veronica

What are you majoring in and how did you figure it out? 
During my freshman year I wanted to major in engineering or the sciences because that was considered “practical” in today’s increasingly technical world. But I soon realized that was a stereotype inflicted upon me by society, and not really in my heart at all. Luckily, I chose a school with an open curriculum (Rice University) because I wanted to also explore my options and figure out what I wanted to do. 


I soon realized that I loved my economics and business classes, and for a lot of my extracurriculars I found myself doing a lot of movie making and media creation (I used to blog for Seventeen Magazine). By the end of freshman year, I decided that I wanted to double major in economics and visual arts via the film track. 


Ever since I've been engaging in as many technology and startup opportunities as possible, such as Google Student Ambassador program, an entrepreneurial event that I helped plan called Rice 3DayStartup, and my current internship with an amazing up-and-coming startup this summer in New York City called SideTour.com. I'm also constantly reading about other startups, internet corporations, and the future of technology. 


One thing I’m realizing that’s very refreshing is that you don’t have to be technical in order to make a difference in the world of technology – that is, you don’t necessarily have to know how to code or actually build things. As much as there’s a push for technical talent, we still live in a world of humans who are going to use the products that technical individuals create, and I honestly believe that we humans are way more complicated than computers and technology. An understanding of people is crucial to technology’s successful implementation in our world.


How did you learn about the Google Student Ambassador program and how did you apply? I got incredibly lucky. Since I had been a part of a leadership retreat and done online media work with Seventeen Magazine I was recommended to the the Director of IT Communications at Rice. She was putting together an on-campus IT Ambassador Program and she wanted me to be a part of the program and use my media skills to create movies and content to help the program take off. When I came in for an interview, she told me that she was also looking for an outgoing marketing persona to be Rice’s Google Student Ambassador, especially because we were about to move to Google Apps for Education and someone would have to help facilitate that transition. So, she recommended me to apply, and I was lucky enough to get it!


Honestly, so many of the opportunities that we get in any college are due to the mentors in professors, staff, upperclassmen, and faculty members at our colleges. I wouldn’t have had the amazing experiences that I’ve had with both the IT Marketing Ambassador position or with Google if it hadn’t been for my boss believing in my capabilities. I don’t think I’d have found my path if it hadn’t been for her providing me with the means to discover my passions.


What has been your favorite part about the Google Student Ambassador program? Tough question, because I’ve loved every part of it! It’s amazing getting to work for a company like Google for so many reasons, but I think the big reason why I’ve enjoyed the program so much is because as ambassadors, we get to be a part of the front end of implementing the newest and most exciting projects in technology. Not only is that exciting in and of itself, but it really provides an incredible avenue for creativity in discovering ways to implement the technology.


For example, one of the programs I put together during the Fall 2011 semester was a Google+ Hangout for Teach For America with alumni of diverse career backgrounds across the country (some were even Google employees!). I collaborated with the Rice Teach For America Ambassador and a former Google BOLD intern at UC Berkeley so that we had one projected screen of the Hangout in a UC Berkeley classroom and one in a Rice classroom. Then we invited students who were interested in TFA to come to those rooms at an apportioned hour to witness the alums all across the country talk about their TFA days via Google+ Hangout. They also had the opportunity to ask the alumni questions. 


It was ridiculously exciting to see that we had all worked together to put together a program that had probably never been done before in that capacity, with so much national integration across three time zones for a good cause in disseminating information to students who were interested in TFA. Google Hangouts is a perfect example of what I mean when I say that technology comes to its full power when we implement it in creative ways. All the while, the Google Student Ambassador program and Google employees provided unwavering support to make the event happen – it was incredibly empowering to be able to make a difference like that, and the program supports each of us 110%.


What are some of the job duties you did as part of the Google Student Ambassador program? Well, every day I’m giving out swag – t-shirts, sillybands, stickers, pens, keychains, and the list goes on. I know that other ambassadors are even making relevant food, like Chrome Cookies! But most of the time, ambassadors are planning events and putting together programs on campus to make sure that our fellow students know about the incredible capacities of Google products. The extent and diversity of what we put together is entirely dependent upon what we come up with. 


Personally, along with that Google+ Hangout with TFA, I’ve organized a 10-day Google+ Scavenger Hunt, Google+ giveaway promotions, hangouts with professors and administration as office hours, and consulted with and presented to many clubs and organizations on how they can use Google products most effectively to benefit their communities. 


Next year, when Rice officially switches to Google Apps for Education, I’ll probably be running doing more demo sessions along with some outrageous programming. It sounds like a lot, but for people who love Google and technology in general, it’s a blast!


What advice do you have for students who would want to get involved with an ambassador program? If you’re interested in getting involved in an ambassador program, I’d recommend that you research the companies in fields that you’re interested in. Lots of companies are launching on-campus ambassador programs because they see a lot of potential in college markets, especially because our generation is so tech-savvy and can execute on social media and new age marketing really well. In particular, a lot of internet-based companies and startups are putting together ambassador programs. Since there’s such a diverse array of internet-based companies, you should be able to find an ambassador program that’s in line with an industry you’re interested in, like fashion, sports, marketing, journalism, career development, nonprofits, travel, leisure, and of course, technology. It’ll give you an opportunity to make a difference and get experience in a field you really care about, and if you stress your passion in an application when you reach out to a company, you’re that much more on your path to success!


What are the benefits you feel you received from the program? How do you feel it will help you in your future career? I’ve absolutely loved working as a Google Student Ambassador, and I know that ambassador programs are incredible in general – they’re opportunities for students to hone in on so many skill sets. You’re likely going to be working a lot on your marketing and creativity muscles, as well as your ability to execute and deliver programming and projects effectively. You develop communications skills, sales skills, and if you’re working with something that you’re passionate about (like technology for me) then you’re bound to learn a ton about the field. I know that I’ve been able to experience all of the above benefits and more.


For me, working for Google has been an incredible experience not just because I’ve been able to hone on experience and work for an amazing company, but because they’re an undisputed leader in the world of technology. My career is going to be in technology in some capacity, so this is a great jump-start to my knowledge and experience in the field. It’s like an awesome fulltime job that I embrace with everything I’ve got, and my friends can attest to that fact by the amount of Google shirts I wear around on campus!


Huge thank you to Miriam, Andy, and Veronica for sharing your incredible experiences with me and my readers! 


You can learn more about Google's Student Ambassador programs below. 

 Student Blog

Student Google+ page

Student Twitter

Student YouTube

Student Facebook

Say This, NOT That, to Your Professor: a review of a book every college student should read

I dedicated a third of my book to elucidate the value of building relationships with professors because it is one of the most important factors in your college success. In addition to improving your grades, your relationships with your professors will directly impact the amount of scholarships and awards you win and can also give you incredible guidance when it comes to finding your first job out of college.

And when you move into a mentorship relationship with a professor you will gain some of the most invaluable benefits - the kind that occur when a professor looks you in the eye and tells you what he or she sees in you, your potential.

I owe so much to the wonderful professors I met in college who raised my bar higher than I had set for myself. There is nothing more powerful in college.

But building these kinds of relationships with professors is not automatic. It takes time, hard work (in class), and specific communication skills. 

The answer to building these communication skills and knowing exactly how to handle every professorial situation is Say This, NOT That to Your Professor, Ellen Bremen's new book. 

Ellen is an award-winning community college professor and writes the blog The Chatty Professor. 

She is also a great friend and partner to me. We wrote our books around the same time and had many great conversations about student success. What impressed me most about Ellen is how much she cares about you. 

Ellen has a very busy life (i.e. 2 kids). In addition to being a professor and a mom, she goes above and beyond in her professional life. It was so clear from talking to her that she didn't have any self-interest in writing this book. She is still a professor and is very happy in this role. She isn't trying to be a "writer" or gain fame and fortune. This book was a labor of love to help you.

And wow, will it help you! 

This book is such a useful, practical guide that will give you exactly what to say and what to do in the most common challenging scenarios that you will encounter in college. 

As I read Ellen's book I found myself thinking....yes....yes...yes....YES!!!!

She shares insider advice that you can't get anywhere else. 

My favorite part about the book is that you don't necessarily have to read the whole thing all at once. I highly recommend purchasing it and having it in your backpack during each semester. The chapters are organized so that you can quickly turn to the section you need most. For example:

Did you get a zero on a test? There's a chap for that.

Do you want to find out what's on the test? There's a chap for that.

Do you need to conquer procrastination? There's a chap for that.

Do you need help when work is conflicting with class? There's a chap for that.

Do you need to know the best way to email a professor? There's a chap for that.

Do you need to report a professorial problem? There's a chap for that.

Say This, NOT That to Your Professor is also jam packed with interesting, entertaining, and even funny stories Ellen has encountered with students. You will relate to the scenarios she explains, and will be able to see yourself or your classmates in these stories. The book opens with the following scenario:

Nicole, a student advisee, sat in my office, firing off complaints about her professor.

In this case, Nicole was pissed because she couldn’t follow what was happening in class.

I said, “So what have you told the professor about this?”

Nicole replied, “Nothing. I don’t know what to say.”

I said, “Well, how can the professor help you if she doesn’t know that you’re struggling?”

Nicole shot back, “I’m just going to fail. I know it.”

“Well, you don’t have to fail. You could go talk to the prof.”

“But I don’t get what’s going on. She doesn’t really care, anyway. If she did, she’d know that I’m struggling. It’s not like my grades have been good.”

“Do you want her to come to you?” I challenged, sincerely, but firmly.

Nicole didn’t answer.

“Seriously, Nicole,” I said, looking right in her eyes. “What’s your role in getting your needs met here? Isn’t this your education?”

Nicole still didn’t say anything.

Just reading our exchange, you may think I was being confrontational, but Nicole and I had an excellent relationship. I knew I could speak to her straight. But my words weren’t making an impact.

I realized that the student just didn’t know what to say.


Ellen's book will give you the words to say, and help you build the kind of professorial relationships that top students enjoy. It's not about sucking up. It's not about being perfect. It's about knowing what to say so that your true self can shine through and you can make the most of the relationships with the incredible people standing up to teach you every day. 


If you ever have any questions about your professorial relationships/scenarios, Ellen is so great at offering personalized helpful advice. You can contact her here. 

Students Seek Solutions to Minority College Dropout Crisis

Last weekend I was the keynote speaker for one of the most incredible events I've ever attended - the Mobilize.org Target 2020 Community College Summit. 

I met incredible students who really care about improving their campuses. And I fell in love with them. 

The Mobilize.org model brings students to the table to bring solutions to solve the college completion crisis. And I think this model is one that should and could be replicated at every community college across the country. It starts with you. If you are reading this blog you are exactly the kind of student who can make an impact.

Group of students talking to me about an amazing coalition they are starting to unify the Miami Dade college community  towards civic engagement

You can check out the article I wrote below for Fox News Latino that features the top barriers and solutions that the students identified - and I challenge you to think about what you could do to make an impact. You may not realize it, but there is so much you can do - nothing is too small :) 

Students Seek Solutions to Minority College Dropout Crisis

When to start looking for your first job out of college

When is the best time to start looking for your first job out of college? 

Right now. 

In whatever stage of college you're in, there is something you can be doing right now to prepare yourself to find that first job out of college. While many of us find ourselves looking for a job after college (which is completely okay and understandable in our current economic climate) the earlier you start searching, the better.

And when it comes to actually applying for the specific job you want to get after college, that search is best done a few months before you graduate from your 4-year university. 

I recently spoke with an incredible woman and 26-year-old Forbes Reporter - Jenna Goudreau - who graduated college in 2008 and had a job offer from Forbes the day after she graduated. 

This is the dream - something many assume will happen after that squared cardboard hat is thrown in the air. But of course, that is not always the case. And while Jenna is the first to admit the economy made it a lot tougher for post-grads after 2008, after talking to her it was clear to me that she worked very hard and did a lot of things right in order to land her first job. 

Her story will give you insight into what you can do while you're in college to help you land a job as soon as possible after graduation.  

Jenna began college with the intention of becoming an actress. To save money, she attended the State University of New York, Purchase College in order to be in New York - the heart of the theater world. She did some college plays, but also took some journalism classes. "I had always been interested in writing and I really loved it." The plays become less and less important to her, and she realized she "really liked journalism."

A year into college one of her journalism professors pulled her aside and said, “you are really good at this" and encouraged her to think about transferring to a top-of-the-line journalism program. Jenna took the advice, and transferred to NYU. 

Notice how Jenna was willing to alter her path when she found she had a talent that was being noticed by professors and that she found she enjoyed. Never be afraid to change your path/major. Explore many opportunities to use a wide variety of your skills in college, and always be on the lookout for what professors and advisors are saying about your best talents. Listen. Take their advice. 

While at NYU Jenna began honing her journalism skills and applying for internships. When asked how she found the internships she said: "There's really no secret. I just checked the job boards and applied." (She mentioned a great job board for media/journalism internships: MediaBistro.com). Jenna searched and applied for internships and got some incredible positions: a full time summer internship with Businessweek and an internship with Ladies Home Journal. "Those internships were pivotal in my getting a full time job right after college."

Both internships allowed Jenna the opportunity to contribute to the magazines, which gave her an incredible portfolio to start applying for full-time jobs in February of her last semester at NYU. She had work to show. 

It can be difficult to figure out what kind of job you want early in college, and it is okay to change your mind. However, the sooner you are able to hone in your best skills, top interests, and where those intersect with market need (e.g. what someone will pay you to do), the easier it will be for you to start developing work to show and relevant experience to get a job sooner.

I love Jenna's advice: "Identify what kinds of jobs you want while you’re in school and tailor your extracurriculars and internships to get that job." 

I think this is especially important to do in your last two years of college. Take your first year or two of college to explore a variety of classes and activities that allow you to uncover your interests and talents, but by your last two years you'll really want to be able to tailor your extra curricular activities and internships to build relevant experience for the industry you'd like to pursue. 

In addition to the internships Jenna also did freelance writing and worked on the college newspaper. 

When it comes time for you to apply for jobs: "Quantity of applications isn’t the best route. You should really go for things you know you are qualified for and would be a really good fit for, and then spend a lot of time tailoring each cover letter and resume to fit those positions. Make looking for a job your full time job as long as you can."

I highly recommend Jenna's work on Forbes. She has an incredible Youth in the Office series that was inspired by her own life; she started Forbes at age 22. "People were constantly commenting on my age. It was ever-present, and often felt like a barrier to my authority. I was interested in talking to other people who were my age and explore some perceptions on being young and looking young in the workplace."

The series had been very popular, and I am a huge fan.  

Jenna's primary reporting revolves around navigating success for professional women, via the The Other Half segment of ForbesWoman. 

Since Jenna is an expert on women in the workplace, I just had to ask if she had any specific advice for my female readers when looking for their first job (sorry guys). She had some great advice:

"When looking at qualifications on a job posting, sometimes women undercount themselves. For example, when there is a list of five requirements and a woman has four out of the five she might say 'I don’t have all the requirements, so I won't apply.' Round up and go ahead and apply. Go into interviews and be strong. Don’t use words like “but” or “just” (e.g. it was 'just' an internship; I have management experience, 'but'). Be confident in your abilities."  

Jenna is a great resource as you are looking for or perhaps navigating your first job out of college, and has a huge following. You can keep up with her on her blog, Twitter, and Facebook.