What are the most important skills (business/technical) and people that you have discovered in your internship? Is there a skill that you didn’t have before but realize that you absolutely need? Is there a person that you discovered that you definitely want on your side (besides your boss of course)?
Elizabeth Nguyen says
Throughout my internship, I made many discoveries regarding important skills and individuals to help guide me. One skill that proved to be invaluable was the ability to collaborate across functions without hesitation. This is known as cross-functionality, which became extremely useful in each of my projects. The ability to reach out across multiple functions also allowed me to form meaningful connections at the company. As for people, I quickly discovered the importance of seeking support beyond my team, ‘Professional Development’. I particularly sought out members of the ‘Business Intelligence’ and ‘Data Analytics’ teams. Erik, the manager of data analytics and integration, emerged as an incredible mentor throughout my internship journey. Since I worked closely with SQL and Tableau, Erik was able to address any technical questions that my boss couldn’t resolve. Moreover, Erik served as an exceptional mentor in all things analytics.
Nicholas Bortz says
The most important skill that I learned was SAP. I never realized how crucial an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software is to a company’s operations and success. It’s fascinating how this system integrates various functions into one complete system to streamline processes and information across the entire organization. My understanding of its importance grew each day as I delved deeper into its functionalities and witnessed firsthand its impact on efficiency and decision-making.
One person who played a pivotal role in my internship experience was Amrish. Discovering him was akin to finding a mentor who genuinely cared about my professional growth. Amrish was incredibly supportive, going above and beyond to develop me into a competent intern. He would generously take time out of his busy schedule to teach me the different skills needed to succeed, not just in navigating SAP, but also in understanding the broader business context in which it operates. His patience, knowledge, and willingness to share both were invaluable to me. Through his guidance, I learned not only about the technical aspects of my role but also about the importance of collaboration, strategic thinking, and adaptability in a fast-paced business environment.
Veronica Li says
During my internship, I would say the most important technical skill was learning to use Sap BusinessOne. As a manufacturing planner, being able to use SAP for traceability and planning purposes is an integral part of my job. But I would argue that communication and interpersonal skills are even more important. Now I am working part time while attending classes, I find it even more important to “over-communicate” to make sure that processes aren’t interrupted when I am not there. As for interpersonal skills, I work with a lot of different departments on a daily basis, so learning how to communicate with people of various backgrounds/skill levels is very important too. A lot of times, I become the liaison between the engineering team and the production team, so I think building relationships with people is an important key to success. One person who played an important role in my success at the company is Jarred. He was the other manufacturing planner who helped train me with SAP/planning. Even when he left for paternity leave and I became solely responsible, he would always check-in and make sure everything was going well and asked if I needed anything. He was also super supportive of my decision to switch to working part-time in order to focus on my classes. There was a lot of internal restructuring, which led him to switching to a different job role. While, he combination of me working part-time and him working 2 job roles was definitely challenging, but the experiences I gained of working in an ever-changing environment was invaluable.
Camryn Zavacky says
The most important skill that I had learned throughout my internship is the demand for work across all Microsoft applications. I don’t think that it is talked enough about how important it is to know how to use Excel and PowerPoint with precision. Every single day I was required to do something with each application, whether that was mails, communication, presentations, or meeting notes. Another important skill I had discovered is networking. Within the business school that seems so repetitive but its necessary not only during work but outside of it too. Following my internship with an analyst job, networking is the way to get put on new projects and heighten experience. Someone that I definitely would want on my side is a good relationship with the client. They are the people who are “always right” in the situation and to ensure they are happy, being able to communicate with them well is vital. My supervisors all report to the client and to be on good terms with them is crucial to ensuring a smooth implementation.