What inspired you to work with CareerDC?
I actually started working at CareerDC as an intern alongside my university studies. The main thing that attracted me to the company was the opportunity to assist like-minded students in helping them achieve their career goals. The leap from studying to gaining practical work experience can be very challenging and having experienced this first-hand, I thought CareerDC would allow me to pass the skills and knowledge I have gained onto other students.
Visiting Positano on the Amalfi Coast, Italy
Describe a typical day as an internship coordinator.
My day typically starts with working through the emails in my inbox to answer any questions that our students may have, as well as to see if we have any internship opportunities for them. The rest of my day is centered around contacting companies to find the right internship for our students, as well as finalizing internship documentation for the students we have placed.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is receiving positive interview feedback from our students and companies. The lead up to an interview can be stressful so it is great to hear that a student enjoyed the interview and is excited by the opportunities discussed. Most importantly, hearing that our student was successful in getting the internship is even better!
Working at the office
How do you manage relationships with partner organizations?
Consistent communication is key in managing relationships with partner organizations – whether this be via emails, phone calls, or in person meetings. This ensures that we understand their dynamic needs and are able to meet them.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them in your role?
The biggest challenge of all is managing both the needs of our clients and host organizations. Prioritizing these needs, as well as finding the best solution through problem solving and working closely with other internship consultants at CareerDC ensures that everyone is happy throughout the process.
How does your background in psychology, finance, and international business influence your work today?
Having a diverse background ensures that I have an understanding of multiple industries, helping me to better assist students looking for internships within these particular fields. Specifically, my combined experiences in psychology and international business have led to my current interests in HR and career development.
What qualities are important in a successful intern?
A successful intern is someone who is not disheartened in taking on new and challenging tasks. They will also take on the initiative to try and solve problems on their own and are not afraid to seek assistance and ask for help when required. Companies love to take on interns because of the new and fresh ideas that they can provide, so another good quality to have is not being afraid to speak up to share opinions and thoughts.
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In what ways do you train new interns?
Most new interns have had minimal interview experience. One of my roles at CareerDC is providing students with interview training so that they can be successful applicants. Such interview training includes learning about the interview process, some of the typical questions and how to approach them, as well as mock interviews.
Why do you think it is important to travel and experience new cultures?
Traveling allows someone to gain new experiences, broaden their knowledge, and to also boost their confidence. Experiencing new cultures allows one to become more understanding and accepting of different cultures, and this skill is invaluable with the increasing number of multinational workforces.
Working on interview preparation with a student
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel, to me, means traveling with some sort of purpose. This could be just exploring and discovering new cultures, or it could be more structured such as completing work experience overseas through something like an internship. Here at CareerDC, we help students to find and carry out an internship abroad. This not only allows them to experience what it is like to work in a different country, but they also get the opportunity to travel and explore on their weekends.
What makes CareerDC’s programs unique?
Our programs at CareerDC are unique because our focus is on a holistic approach to career development, not just in finding an internship. Even though the internship search service is at the center of our program, we also assist students in improving their CV, interview skills, and any other personal requirements related to their internship.
What hopes do you have for the future of the internships that CareerDC offers?
I hope to see that CareerDC continually expands to more countries so that we can provide students with more diverse internship opportunities!
