Find out what our students and recent graduates gleaned from their internship experiences.
What I Gained - Julia Wittrock '15
Strategic Sourcing Analyst with 3M who interned with Polaris
“Through my internship experience with Polaris, I was equipped to do analytical work by gaining competence in tools like Microsoft Excel and Access. It also gave me many helpful stories to share in interviews. Most importantly, though, my internship made me excited to find and analyze data—I didn't realize it could be such a fun challenge.
“Internships also help you figure out some other important aspects of working life other than the work itself. Do you want to work for a large company or a small company? What do you want your work/life balance to look like? How do you make a conference call? You learn so much—even from mistakes—during this three-month trial period.”
Challenged Every Day - Matt McCrary '14
Analyst in the Sponsor Finance group of BMO Harris | Interned with BMO Harris
“My internship with BMO Harris was a great experience. It allowed me to see what the banking industry was like. As a result of my experience, I knew this was an industry I am passionate about. I really enjoyed learning about different businesses, and I was intellectually challenged every day. The internship was basically a 10-week interview. Since I performed well, I received an offer at the end.”
Strengthening Local Economies - Anita Lin '10
MBA candidate at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan | Interned at a high-end bicycle manufacturer in Vietnam
“My internship helped me develop stronger cross-cultural skills and gave me the opportunity to witness the power of business to allow people to earn a living wage in developing country.
“My office was located in an industrial park in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Though I could communicate in Mandarin with some of my co-workers, I picked up some language skills and practiced a good amount of dramatic hand gesturing to compensate for the language barriers with others.
“The firm itself was a Taiwanese firm that built facilities throughout Southeast Asia. The internship allowed me to see for myself how international businesses could be used as a tool for strengthening local economies by providing steady employment for those who might otherwise have none.”
First Choice Applicant - Tyler Garret '16
Executive Vice President for Global Engagement, Wheaton College Student Government | Interned with the U.S. Embassy in Mozambique
“I was the U.S. Embassy in Mozambique's first-choice applicant for their internship position because of my familiarity with the political, economic, and cultural conditions of Sub-Saharan Africa after traveling and studying there for a month the previous summer with Wheaton’s ISI program.
“I split my time with the State Department in Mozambique between the political/economic offices of the Embassy and the communications office of the CDC (Center for Disease Control). The highlights of my work experience were drafting five diplomatic cables reporting back to State Department in DC and drafting two speeches, which the CDC Mozambique Director gave at the CDC's opening of a new gender-based violence center in rural Mozambique (with the First Lady of Mozambique and other government officials in attendance for one of them)."