Isela Barrera expanded her role at her current employer to gain skills in account reconciliation and learned to manage service scheduling.
How did you get your internship?
I got my internship by making a pitch to my current employer. Once I told them I was looking for an internship, they actually created an internship just for me because of the contributions I had already made to the organization. This was perfect for me because I was recognized as an asset to the company for my work ethic, I already built connections with my coworkers and was familiar with the company, and I also could still stay in Tucson.
What kind of work did you do throughout your internship experience?
Some of the work I did throughout my internship was learning about reconciling bank accounts and checkbooks. I learned how to use our online banking platform and categorize each transaction we have to improve accounting accuracy. I also learned about the service department of the company, which was not at all planned but something that allowed me to gain even more skills. With these added responsibilities, one of my biggest tasks was how to manage my workload to make sure I wasn’t overly stressed about work and to still make time to live life outside of work.
How was the internship related to your Applied Humanities degree?
This internship was related to my Applied Humanities degree because I have an emphasis in Business Administration, and I was able to expand my skills and knowledge in management and accounts payable. I was given the opportunity to learn something new, and I did so well in the role that I was then tasked with teaching a new hire how to run the service department, which I had learned how to do in about two weeks. Since then I have been offered a full-time position to work from home and run the service department which is a nice transition from this experience since I can continue to as I get to be managing my crews and all the incoming jobs.
What did you find most challenging about your internship?
The most challenging thing about my internship was navigating internal changes in the company--it’s difficult to be learning things and have the process or personnel around them change. There were days I was so stressed and overwhelmed, but then I would take a step back and tell myself I am only getting tasked with these responsibilities because they trust me to handle them. With the help of my coworkers, I was able to get everything under control and set a daily schedule for myself to not get overwhelmed. Another challenge was not allowing myself to think negatively or hold on to feelings of self-doubt, which is one of my biggest flaws. From this experience, I was able to build confidence in myself in what I do and how I do it which has been a big help in my work.
What is the impact of your internship experience?
The impact of my internship is better than I could have imagined. As an intern, I thought I might just have to do the tasks that no one else wanted to do, but they made sure they were teaching me things that were relevant to my major and minor. I am very pleased with the turnout of my internship; I was even able to advance my role within the company further than I thought I would in the short time I have been there. I have also made many new connections that will benefit me in the long run. I have grown as a person and as a worker from the experience I have had at Open Enclose.
What advice do you have for other students as they search for and/or begin their internship?
Some advice I would give is ask questions when you are starting; never assume there is a bad question because I’m sure that someone has had the same question. If you need more reassurance on how to do something, let someone know so you can check if you are doing it correctly. Try not to overthink things when starting a new internship. Instead, try and remind yourself of what you have accomplished because the majority of the time you are probably doing better than you think. Have fun with your internship, because you are there to learn and enjoy taking advantage of the opportunity you have.