Luis Benitez interned with The University of Arizona's Foundation and gained skills in data reporting and visualization.
How did you get your internship?
This opportunity was presented to me by a recruiter who looked at my LinkedIn profile and thought I would be a good fit for the position. After their outreach, I was scheduled to have an interview over the phone and I spoke with the recruiter about my experiences. Then I moved on to the second stage of interviewing - this interview was with the hiring managers. The second interview was more involved and I was asked to share stories and experiences in my background, describing what I have done in past positions. After the interview, I received a call that they wanted me part of the team.
Why did you choose this internship and what was the focus of the experience?
I ended up choosing to join this team because it gave me the chance to build on my knowledge and experiences while also allowing me to have new opportunities and gain new skills. For example, the work had much in common with what I had previously been doing and wanted to continue to do as an analyst - such as Tableau, queries, and reporting. I also chose it because it seemed like a good environment and a great place to work.
The focus of my internship is to support the many units throughout the University by providing metrics and updating information on Lynx. Further, I provide clarity and insight in response to any questions people have about Lynx, such as policies and procedures. I also put together 12 reports by the end of the week, and I create monthly and quarterly reports. These reports are made in Tableau to represent many different metrics, such as goals and their progress to that goal. Making sure the data is clear and correct is my number one focus.
What new knowledge and skills did you develop in this internship?
I expanded my knowledge and skills in reporting, data visualization, and in using new systems, such as Tableau and Lynx. I have also learned how to run meetings in a coordinator manner, where everyone is heard, and no minute is wasted by making sure the meeting stays on track and productive.