OT: Internship Experiences
I am currently doing an internship for L'Oreal in Streetsboro, OH (yes, I know, but I'm taking their money and bringing it back to Michigan) and we are having a L'Oreal Operations Intern Video Contest to win an iPad. I was hoping that my fellow MGoBloggers could support a current U of M student by voting for my video.
The link is http://www.facebook.com/LOrealUSACareers/app_180054292569 and all you have to do is "Like" the L'Oreal Careers in the US" page and scroll down to vote for the "Team Streetsboro" video. You can vote twice (even for the same video) so I appreciate all of your help.
This is my first internship, and it got me thinking how everyone else has started their careers and their experiences, since no two internships are alike. My question to everyone is...
Where was your first internship and what experiences did you have/gain from there?
I am currently co-oping in Columbus(tomorrow is my last day, thank god, been here for 7 months) and I love the company. I'm working for an investment company and learned more about finance and economics in 1 week here than I did in 3 years of college.
Eli Lilly doing toxicology research a couple summers ago. My boss carried both a PhD and an MD with degrees from Penn State and Michigan State.
As mentioned above, I learned more about microbiology/toxicology/research than I did in any class I took. It's something about getting thrown into the mix and applying what you know to real world situations.
Also, my boss wasn't a blow hard at all. Teased me a bit about being a UM student, but said had he gotten in he would have gone to Michigan in a heart beat. I used him as a reference and because of his word I got a student research job at UM that eventually led to me getting my first "real" adult job from the same lab.
Speaking of internships, if any engineers (BSME/BSEE/BSOE) need an internship in West Michigan next summer, let me know.
Where in West Michigan? I personally don't need one but I have very good friends (1 BSEE and two BSME who need an internship next summer) Any chance they could apply?
I sent you an email with some more info, but 1 of my friends is interested. the one going for his BSEE
Hi! I'll be emailing you shortly! I'm an ME at UofM.
working on analyzing the genetic variation of soybean aphids in the midwest in between my freshmen and sophomore years of high school. Yeah, I worked for the bad guys. It was also just as boring as it sounded. Although it was easily the most boring/worst summer of my life, it was easy money. I only had to do actual work for 1 or 2 hours a day and spent the rest of the time waiting for the tests that I was running to finish. I spent my time watching the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Youtube videos and reading books, all while getting paid for it.
That's par for the course there. Just ask Devier Posey
I interned in DC for a Senator, but to follow the "no politics" rule, I won't say who, but the internship did have one very valuable result for me: it convinced me to get the hell out of politics and public policy.
Take 271 north until it meets 90.
Go to Burgers and Beer in Willoughby.
Get the Hamby (1# angus burger, grilled onions topped with melted American on a nice crusty roll). Wash it down with your beverage of choice and a half-half mix of regular curly fries and sweet potato fries.
Loved that place when we lived in Cleveland...liked it better than Melt in Westlake, partly because of the lack of an hour wait, especially when Melt got on both Man v Food and Drive Ins/Diners and Dives.
My 1st internship was a research internship sponsored by the American Heart Association at the Medical School. Good times.
I was a Public Relations intern for a small tennis tournament in Michigan. I thought it was super awesome at the time, however, it was a TON of work. Now looking back at it, I don't think it was so great, but I did learn so much from the people working there...some good things and bad.
I live in Hudson and work in Cleveland. And my company's product's are manufactured in Streetsboro so I know the area well. Good luck and. let me know if you need any direction or advice locally and I'll be happy to help if i can.
I went to RIT and for my program (Computer Engineering) we had to essentially have 1 year of work experience before I could graduate.
My first internship was writing software for Office of Naval Research in Panama City, FL and it was pretty much one of those "set you in the corner and we'll see you when you're done" kind of things. I didn't have any mentor, nobody really interacted with me and I just flailed around making tons of mistakes but did finish my assignment before all was said and done. Learned a lot about how to help myself and got to see what government work was like.
My second internship was for 6 months writing software for a "design shop" in Rochester, NY and it was a little more structured. I actually had someone who would review my code and let me know what was wrong with it or why I should do something a different way. It gave me an idea of what the environment is like when your software is the product you sell.
My third internship was for 6 months writing software at Intel out in Hillsboro, OR and it was the best of all my internships. I had a phenomenal manager who really helped paint a picture of how things in IT work and while I didn't really have anyone giving me tips on my code, I got a lot of value out of understanding organizationally how things fit together.
So, between all three of those experiences, I had a pretty good idea of what I was looking for in a full time gig and what type of company I really fit in with. Ultimately, I think my internships were the most valuable parts of my education and put me above a lot of smarter but less experienced people when it came time to landing a full time job (not to mention all the interviewing I had to do along the way).
In NYC for an accounting firm. Fantastic experience. I ended up moving there to take a full-time offer.
I'm interning right now at Ford. Finance stuff in the Product Development Center. It's been absolutely fantastic so far. Ford must have trouble retaining finance interns because we get to do all sorts of fun stuff. They have an intern-only ride-and-drive where you get to play with the new toys on the test track. Breakfast with the CFO. Ice cream social-slash-town hall meeting with Alan Mulally. Tigers game. And as a bonus working where I work I've gotten to see all kinds of future-vehicle models. 2015 Mustang, stuff like that. Overall it's been pretty much top-notch. I have a great manager, he has a great manager, who also has a great manager, I'm getting tons of support on my project, and yet not too much support where I feel like I'm not in control of it.
As a born-and-bred and very loyal Detroiter, working for an automaker is as close to a dream job for me as there is in the world of moving numbers around, and I'm optimistically crossing my fingers that I'll be offered full-time after the internship is over.
Worked in the financial services office of UMHS summer after my junior year. Really wanted to stay in Ann Arbor every summer.
Summer intern for GM back when that meant something. They paid me more per hour as an intern than most folks back home made in their real jobs.
My first internship was in a factory for a company that just before went Bankrupt. I made good money at it (sounds odd, but I made better money there then at any internship after). A lot of things I saw there made me really question the automotive industry (which I was already doing, but this made it clear that it wasn't the industry I wanted to be in), but at the same time I take none of it for granted. I may have learned more at that internship than at any of my subsequent internships (such as NASA and Blue Origin, both of which I also learned a lot at).
A couple lessons: 1) never let other people's pissy moods about their jobs affect you. Lots of people were angry old guys that were didn't like me even being there. They didn't work hard and wanted things to go back to the way they were. Don't let them bring you down; 2) Working with unions can sometimes suck, but; 3) Some of the scrubbiest, dirtiest, weirdest people working a factory line know a hell of a lot more than you and your potential college degree. Learn their name, show them respect, joke with them, talk with them, learn as much as you can from them. You never know when it will help you with something down the road. And getting on their good side is always a good thing; 4) Learn as many names and people as you can. Try to make an impression. Don't act like you're above people because you go to a great school. Be proud of your education, but understand that most people in these industries are there for a reason and have knowledge in many things you don't learn in college; 5) Don't be afraid to ask questions and speak out. That's how you learn a lot and a big reason they bring you in is to get fresh thoughts and ideas on how to do things.
There is a lot of advice I can give, but that's a pretty good base. Enjoy your time and use it to your advantage, as well as reward the company for giving you the opportunity by doing good work.
Still the best work experience I've ever had. Wish I could go back.
1st internship was with Okland Construction as a flagger/project clerk. I had no knowledge of construction or how anything got done. When I was done with my internship I still felt that I didn't know a thing. When I got back to school though, I vaulted to the top of my class. It is amazing what internships can do for you and what you can take from them (even if you don't feel like it is helping at the moment). BTW I am a senior at ASU studying construction management.
All great stories/advice so far, but I'll throw mine in as well:
First "internship" was a job right out of high school working for a local government in their IT department. Most of what I did was manage backups and reinstall Windows on PCs, but I learned how to do the jobs other people don't, be helpful when you're working with people who don't know as much as you (ladies who thought their PC was off when it was really just their monitor...), and being proactive about meeting people.
Next was two years at a large, not huge, company. Learned how real business happens, how things are prioritized, and again, how to meet people and find out how you can help them. That was a fantastic couple years with a great manager. You'll find out quickly that how much you enjoy your job has more to do with the people you work with than the work you're doing (within reason).
Spent a summer out in California working in a government internship program and learned that a) I didn't really want to do research, b) I love having a lot of autonomy to solve problems on my own, and c) the government definitely isn't for everyone. Some of the work is fascinating, but there's a lot of red tape.
Ended up getting a full time job at the same company as my two year internship. Just couldn't beat the people, the flexibility, and the fact that I was excited about what I'd be doing.
Pay careful attention to the type of people you like working with and the types you don't. Get to know a lot of people because it really is usually who you know, not what you know. Finally, do what you love in a place you love instead of just chasing dollars. More money won't make you happy with your job.
First real job was an internship in finance. I majored in the humanities and couldn't tell you the difference between ROI and a CIO when I started. Learned so much, worked with great people, and loved it.
the last two years in the Detroit area for one of the US presidential candidates (will not share who, respectively). It's been eye-opening so far and I did not realize how hard it could be, especially for an unpaid internship. There are good and bad days with no in-between.