Previous internships: Group Exercise Instructor Internship (Spring 2012), Nutrition and Fitness Internship (Spring 2013), CDC Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program (Summer 2013), Sodexo Nutrition Marketing Internship (Fall 2013)
Nicole outside of the CDC in Atlanta, GA!
Two I found through offerings on campus: I had an interest in them, reached out to the faculty who oversaw the internships, and then applied from there. My most recent internship with Sodexo was passed along to me from a faculty member I have been working with for the last two years - she heard of an opening and suggested me for the position. The CDC internship was the hardest to find because my university does not have a public health program, so I looked to the internet to find opportunities in that field and came across it there.
What new skills have you learned through your internship experience(s)?
Above all I would say I've learned how to put myself out there and pursue things that I needed to get something done or do the best I could when preforming a task. I definitely learned how to build a professional network, and how to utilize a network for guidance, advice, critique and ideas. I've learned to manage a range of responsibilities, and how to conduct myself as a professional working under many supervisors.
Describe a conflict or problem you faced as an intern, and how you coped with or found a solution to that problem.
I think my biggest problem has always been managing my time, and I had to be very cognizant of that when mapping out my plans for my internships. Finding the balance between planning a realistic time-frame for work, and promising too much because you genuinely want to deliver is a difficult aspect of being an intern. I think in the end I may have been a little unrealistic at what I could actually accomplish, but that's when you need to be honest with yourself and your mentors/supervisors etc. and address the issue with them. This is also an important lesson to learn as far as communicating with supervisors and being flexible to change: no plans should ever be set in stone...many times we begin a task, and it ends up taking far more time than we expected, so we have to go back and rethink our original plans. That's something that will always happen, and the more adaptable you are, the easier work will be.
What was your favorite part of your internship(s)?
I loved being able to work on things that I found interesting. Being able to step away from the classroom and the lessons was extremely beneficial. Unlike many students, I'm not quite learning what I'm looking to do, so classroom lectures don't exactly translate into tangible skills for me, which is why interning is even more vital: I was able to get experience in areas that are directly related to my prospective career path, and actually have a hands on feel for the work I will be doing in the future. I also loved the people I met, and the inspiration I found in speaking with passionate, successful professionals who wanted nothing more than to encourage me to find the same passion and success for myself.
What did you find out about yourself after completing your first internship? Did your career goals and/or aspirations shift or change?
I realized that I loved interacting with people, but in a leadership/teaching type of role. I had never really considered teaching as a profession, but looking back, ever since my freshman year it seems to always be a part of my education. I now consider the idea of including teaching somewhere in my future, which was something I would have never expected when starting out in college.
What advice do you have for new interns?
Keep an open mind, ask questions and never let your curiosity be extinguished. The most curious people are also the most knowledgeable, they get the answers and know what they're doing. If your supervisor gives you materials, use them! Read them, understand them, ask questions about them. You will look incompetent if you ask questions that have already been answered by something you already have in your possession, provided by your supervisor. Talk to people, you never know what connections you may make. Keep up communication with people you work with and nurture your network by keeping in touch for reasons other than necessities: no one wants to help the person that only reaches out in times of need. Be genuine - I don't care what field you're in, being genuine is a character asset that everyone should have, and practice. People can see right through a facade, especially when they work with you for several weeks. Do as much as you can, in as many areas as possible: if you ever get the chance to work outside of your department, DO IT! That's more people for your networks, more skills to use, more exposure, and more experience to call upon! You'll be a more versatile asset, and that gives you an edge. And finally, as much as interning is about gaining experience, it's also about interacting with others around you. My biggest suggestion is to be careful of quick judgements: we all make judgments, it's human nature, but letting those judgments dictate how you treat a person isn't right or fair. Internships bring people together from different background, and so do jobs, so keep the work environment an environment conducive to success by treating fellow employees in a professional way, or just try to minimize your interactions with those you prefer not to deal with.
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