Exploring Internships

Committing to an internship can give you an edge over other graduate applicants as it offers valuable experience and opportunities for you to develop the skills and qualities employers look out for.

1Boost your employability A n internship exposes you to the working world and gives you a chance to see how things work in a corporate setting. With an internship under your belt, you can also demonstrate the relevant skills and knowledge you acquired beyond the classroom to prospective employers. Moreover, in the present economic climate, employers are on the lookout for candidates who stand out and can contribute to the company. Internships can set you apart from other applicants who do not have one under their belts.

2Understand yourself better Internships are the perfect avenue for you to experience the industry of your interest and find out if you can see yourself in that line of work upon graduation. Internships not onlyhelps you to gauge your abilities and working style but also show you what aspects you need to improve on. With your previewofthe industry, you can also bettermanage your expectations when you transition into the working world.

3Connect to your chosen career

Employers often use internships and work placements to attract talents forfull-time graduate hires. So, during an internship, try your best to shine! An internship in your chosen industry will not only help you grow your network of professional contacts, which can come in handy in the future, but may also give you an insider’s perspective into the industry.

Ong Xin Shun BSc in Accounting & Finance, SIM-UOL Intern, Financial Services Assurance PwC Singapore “PwC Outstanding Award for Whole Leadership” Award Winner

1. My Role As an intern in Financial Services Assurance, specialising in the Banking and Capital Markets sector, I assisted with the audit of a foreign bank through the performance of audit fieldwork in the form ofControls and Substantive Testing forseveral financial statement line items. This entails the execution ofvarious testing methods, such as Reasonableness Tests to Test of Details, to achieve particular audit objectives. I was also involved in the statutorycompliance reviewand the inspection ofcredit reports.

2. My Takeaway I was fortunate to be part of a team that has given me the liberty to perform the work required on a fair allocation of the audit engagement. As such, I managed to experience a huge part of the auditing process, from the planning stage until the finalisation of the audited financial statement. This enables me to get a clearer picture of the external audit landscape and prepare me for what is to come in this field. I also learned that strategic thinking, being able to ask the right questions and communication skills are all key to being an auditor.

3. My Advice Always keep an open mind and be receptive to constructive feedback. Remember the purpose of going for an internship in the first place, which is to learn! Be proactive and take on any opportunities available as this is a good time to not only experience the technical aspect of the job but also to establish your network in this field. Furthermore, this is a good chance for you to discover your strengths and weaknesses, and work on them before entering the workforce in the near future.

Ramzi Abdul Razak BSc in Business & Management, SIM-UOL Intern, U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) US Embassy

1. My Role USCS promotes US exports and supports their business interests in Singapore and the ASEAN region as well as encouraging investments back into the US. My tasks mainly include shadowing a Senior Commercial Specialist for high-level industry engagements and business meetings with US companies that are seeking opportunities to expand into Singapore and the region. I also carried out market research on the ICT sector, specifically on Smart Cities and Cybersecurity, and submitted a research report on Smart Cities. Besides these, I also participated in major trade shows, such as ConnecTechAsia and RSA Conference APJ, providing support to the US Pavilion and USCS.

2. My Takeaway This internship provided me with the opportunity to interact with people from different academic and industry backgrounds, such as companyexecutives, directors and even government officials. Specifically, the most rewarding aspect ofthis internship is learning from professionals, bouncing offtheir opinions and ideas from years ofexperience. It was beneficial for me as I gained insightful knowledge and valuable advice from these high-level professionals in their respective fields.

3. My Advice There are so many paths in life that you can take and you may be apprehensive of the paths that lie in front of you. But do not be afraid to take the first step because, ultimately, these paths in life are all interconnected. Relish the opportunities you take and learn as much as you can from each ofthem as the lessons you take away will only make you a stronger and better person!

Khairul Amirin bin Ab Rahman BSc in Economics and Management, SIM-UOL Trainee –Public Affairs Grabtaxi Pte. Ltd.

1. My Role Being an intern with the Government Affairs team at Grab has exposed me to the inner workings ofhow a rising tech decacorn executes its Public Affairs stratagem. With Grab offering a slew ofservices beyond ride-hailing via one single mobile application, my internship tenure has been enriched with opportunities working with multiple business verticals within the organisation, serving an advisory role for government and regulatory affairs in supporting Grab’s operations in Singapore. This includes managingGrab's relationships and partnerships with keygovernmentand communitystakeholders as well as leadingan impactful engagement platform.

2. My Takeaway Account management is the bread and butter for any Public Affairs department. Given my past internship with a government body, the Public Affairs department then is mainly positioned towards building a receptive standing. Interestingly, within the private sector, organisational sustainability (profitability) remains a key priority. Interning in Grab has introduced me to the concept of the double-bottom line approach where an organisation’s fiscal performance includes a social dimension where social impact is measured and pitted together with profit and loss. Beyond capitalising on profits, Grab takes into consideration the impact it has made in matters such as digital inclusion. E-hailing and mobile payments have boosted digital literacy in Southeast Asia.

3. My Advice Repeating the same old adage of approaching every internship with an open mind. Be a dry sponge willing to absorb every ounce ofexperience even though you may have a certain level offluency in it. Learning and re-learning practices and concepts through different organisational lenses will sharpen your toolkit in the corporate world.

Pat Kah Suen, Jerryl BSc in Business Management with Communications and Year in Industry, SIM - UOB Business Analyst Intern Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte Ltd

1. My Role I was a Business Analyst Intern fora Travel and Expense Transformation Project to drive cost savings, productivityand corporate governance for Razer. This project consisted of two phases. Phase One includes revamping the current Travel and Expense Policy into a single Global Travel Policy for all Razer entities worldwide. Meanwhile, in Phase Two, I was tasked to source for a reliable Travel and Expense Management Platform that will help to streamline the travel booking, claiming and reimbursement process for employee business travel.

2. My Takeaway Through this internship, I was able to develop my analytical and problem-solving skills. This includes gathering, documenting and analysing data to create technical solutions. Byworking with stakeholders from different departments, I was able to be part ofa cross-functional project team. This form ofcollaboration allowed me to gain new insights in ensuring that all requirements are well understood and considered in a global context. Being in such a dynamic team also allowed me to have a well-rounded perspective on the project’s relative importance to the different departments.

3. My Advice Approach your internship with an open mind! Take the initiative and do not be afraid to push yourself to take on some responsibilities that go beyond your job description. Cheers!

Gerald Wong Yip Shang BSc in Business and Management, SIM-UOL Intern –HR Marketing & Sales Daimler South East Asia Pte Ltd

1. My Role Mainly, I manage the recruitment for the Daimler South East Asia entity, which includes the initial screening of applicants’ résumés and communicating with the hiring managers. Following that, I also did the onboarding and, subsequently, offboarding of local and foreign interns. I provided administrative support to not just the interns, but the entire local workforce of around 600 employees. I was also part of the planning team for the New Hires Induction Programme, which was an orientation programme for full-timers.

2. My Takeaway My internship experience was eye-opening. It made me aware of the various operations that an HR department is responsible for. At any moment, we always have over 40 interns and having to support the entire interns force was definitely challenging. I remember, on a single day, I had to onboard eight interns. Despite it being stressful, I enjoyed the interaction I had with people. Being the first point of contact for new interns, especially foreigners, was definitely fulfilling.

3. My Advice Have a positive attitude and be respectful to everyone you meet. Even when your tasks as an intern may seem mundane, remember that you are contributing to the operations of the company. There is something to be learnt with any task given. You are no less important than anyone else.

Wilson Cai Chuanbang (2nd row, 1st from left) Bachelor of Business (Marketing), SIM - RMIT Account Management Intern Dentsu Aegis Network Singapore

1. My Role I worked closely with a few clients, such as M1, Shiseido, LTA and Channel News Asia, to turn their business challenges into solutions. Myresponsibilities involve managing clients’ expectations as well as ourinternal parties’ expectations to prevent any unforeseen unhappiness that might happen along the way. This involves managing the day-to-day execution of clients’ briefs as well as the disking out process of the whole advertisement for the clients while coordinating with the relevant teams for a smooth transaction from start to finish. In this 6-month internship, I was empowered by my supervisors to run projects on my own and assist them with bigger projects.

2. My Takeaway The reason why I took up this internship is to see if I am a good fit for what I have been studying without the worry of making mistakes since, as an intern, we can make mistakes and learn from them. I was challenged to stay sane and cool while juggling multiple projects and also dealing with clients at the same time. I was expected to complete the projects through any means necessary, which meant that I needed to have good time management.

3. My Advice I strongly encourage my peers to challenge yourselfbecause ifyou can overcome difficult challenges, you will be able to handle any tasks. The secret is in the mind and staying positive. Also, you wouldn’t know if you are suitable for something until you try it out and the best time to do it is through an internship even though the duration may be short. I took a gap semester for this 6-month internship and never regretted my decision. It was a fantastic experience that made me realise what I want after I graduate.

Seah Si Jia BSc in Computing and Information Systems, SIM-UOL Intern, Regional Project Management Ninja Van

1. My Role I was tasked to manage everyday order procurement processes from China and coordinate the processes. The processes include procuring, shipping and invoicing many teams, like the China warehouse partner, Ninja Van Malaysia team and Ninja Van Indonesia team, in which the orders procured will be shipped to resellers from various Southeast Asian countries. At the same time, I conducted data analyses to track the performance of sales from all the orders data obtained.

2. My Takeaway My biggest takeaway from this internship is that I have a deeper understanding in regards to how operations work in a logistic company like Ninja Van — from order creation to customer delivery. Also, the importance to coordinate with different people to make the whole process turn out smoothly. Without the help ofthe people from different country teams, it is impossible to complete all these processes on a daily basis.

3. My Advice Keep a positive and open mind throughout your time as an intern. There may be hardships and challenges at any point in time but don't be afraid of them and just ask for help from your colleagues. Learn from them and you will gain more experience by learning something new through the internship. This way, you can make your internship journey more fruitful and meaningful.

Izni Hazwani BSc in Business and Management, SIM-UOL Events and Experience Intern CNBC Catalyst

1. My Role Being part of the Events and Experience team in CNBC Catalyst, I am given the opportunity to curate guest lists, liaise with vendors and delegates, help with event concepts and even help with the events on the ground! We are currently working on CNBC’s flagship event, East Tech West 2019, and it has been a rewarding journey so far. My supervisor has given us a lot of autonomy and freedom, and this allows me to learn and develop numerous skills during my internship journey.

2. My Takeaway My biggest takeaway from this experience is the ability to manage stakeholders. Planning large scale events requires handling multiple stakeholders at the same time, which can be a daunting task. However, this also helps me to hone my skills such as time management, business communication and crisis management. I feel that developing expertise in these areas is critical to thriving in the current job landscape as numerous roles these days require the tactful management of clients.

3. My Advice Take ownership over your internship journey. After all, attitude makes the difference between an ordeal and an adventure.

Ashley Ong Sishi BSc in Business Administration, SIM-UB Project Manager Intern IBM

1. My Role As a Project ManagerIntern, I encountered countless challenges and difficulties, such as tight deadlines and meeting schedules clashing. I also had to create an event from scratch with a budget of over S$100,000. Besides that, as part of the summer internship programme, I had to give presentations to all the leaders and organise round table sessions. I managed to overcome obstacles and successfully invited Abraham Thomas, Managing Director of IBM Singapore, to share with the interns about his 33 years of experience in IBM.

2. My Takeaway IBM has really widened my perspective regarding the technology industry on how open and receptive you have to be towards change. Despite being in the Human Resource department, I have learnt so much about technology as a whole: the upcoming cognitive era and how such a big company functions worldwide. I am also extremely thankful to my three bosses for giving me the chance to be exposed to different functions. I was initially hesitant in taking up this internship as it would mean missing one semester but I definitely have no regrets with all the opportunities I had in connecting with the leaders at IBM.

3. My Advice Always be hungry for success and do your best in every task that you are given, no matter how small it is. It really speaks volumes and people do see the effort you put in. Managing your time is also important. Always be hungry for new knowledge. Also, never be afraid of what is coming ahead for you! If you did not manage to secure an internship, there will be other opportunities that await you. Most importantly, tell yourself that you can do it and that nothing can stop you. Nobody should tell you what to do.

Tan Zhi Rong BSc in Accounting and Finance, SIM-UOL Intern, Group Operations (Wealth Management) UBS

1. My Role I had the opportunity to work on many interesting projects targeted at optimising processes and increasing overall efficiency, which mainlyinvolve roboticprocess automation and optical characterrecognition. I also collaborated with differentstakeholders that led to great learning experiences. Besides that, I attended sessions conducted by senior management from different departments, which increased my exposure to the bank.

2. My Takeaway The biggest takeaways will definitely be the amazing people that I met and the exposure to different functions. The open and collaborative culture in UBS provided me with manyopportunities to learn and grow. Moreover, there is a huge emphasis placed on challenging the norm, achieving the best results and performing effective collaborations. The trust that UBS placed in me empowered me to take ownership of my projects and make an impact on the organisation.

3. My Advice To achieve a holistic and fulfilling internship, it is very important to be inquisitive and proactive in the workplace. Do not be afraid of asking questions and getting to know the people around you such as finding out more about their experiences or the projects they are working on. The connections you make will last a lifetime. Seize the opportunities when they come by and make the most out of them to maximise your experience. Most importantly, always have an open mind and be willing to learn.

Dominic Seah Yong Ming BSc in Accounting and Finance, SIM-UOL Intern, Global Investment Banking (Corporate Finance) OCBC Bank

1. My Role I assisted the team in the structuring and execution of live mergers and acquisitions as well as equity capital markets deal transactions. My responsibilities included conducting due diligence, managing investors’ database, carrying out company and industry research as well as preparing marketing materials and financial models.

2. My Takeaway The biggest takeaway is learning to be independent and resourceful. Even as an intern, I was required to take up ownership of my own work and take a huge responsibility for it. Since the senior bankers are usually busy and have lesser time to guide us, I had to pick up things quickly on my own and ensure that the work produced is of high quality. Handling multiple tasks simultaneously while being in a fast-paced environment has also taught me to manage my time more efficiently.

3. My Advice Adopt the mindset of a strong willingness to learn. It is normal to make mistakes but remember to learn from them at the same time. Be proactive in your learning journey and always be ready to do more than what is required!

Poh Wei Wen BSc in Accounting and Finance, SIM-UOL Audit Intern BDO LLP

1. My Role I was assigned to several engagements and had the opportunity to perform actual audit procedures for the clients coming from different industries. My job scope included compiling and analysing financial transactions to ensure that the transactions matched the provided detailed records and supporting documents. Occasionally, I was tasked to check the additions of books accounts and financial statements, and provide assistance preparing draft financial papers and working papers.

2. My Takeaway The biggest takeaway from this internship would be the friendships I forged with my colleagues and interns. In addition, this internship has broadened my horizon on the audit industry and the importance of audit procedures in an organisation. It was challenging to work in the Audit Division as auditing is a complex process that covers all business aspects extensively. At the same time, auditing provides great insight into how a business works. To perform auditing procedures forvarious engagements, I was required to have advanced skill sets and professional knowledge, which were not taught in the general school curriculum. However, the seniors were amiable and patient in providing their guidance and advice to help me overcome these challenges.

3. My Advice Always take the initiative and do not wait for work to be assigned to you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you are in doubt during the internship as it is the best time to learn. Try to mingle around by talking to people you have not met before, be it seniors, managers or fellow interns, to learn new knowledge and skills.

Chancellor Leow Jun Leong BSc in Business and Management, SIM-UOL Intern, Client Management Services United Overseas Bank (UOB)

1. My Role As part of the Client Management Services department, I assisted the Relationship Officers and the Client Service Leads by carrying out clients’ transactions and ensuring their accounts and transactions are in accordance with current laws. In addition, I carried out quarterly Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act and Common Reporting Standards exercises as well as compliance audit reviews.

2. My Takeaway One of my key takeaways is that employers value drive and motivation. If you have the correct attitude and are constantly on the search to improve your skill set, it makes you even more valuable to the employer. Being independent is an important trait that you must develop as there will always be moments when you can only rely on yourself to get the job done.

3. My Advice Always be proactive when it comes to making yourself more employable. It would be a good investment to pick up skills such as advanced Microsoft Excel functions and VLOOKUP, which are common tools used in the office. Do not be afraid to clarify doubts. Employers value commitment as well as the initiatives that you’ve taken!

Lee Jia Ying (Right) BSc in Business and Management, SIM-UOL Revenue Intern, Revenue Management The Westin Singapore

1. My Role My role as a Revenue intern was to assist the Revenue Team in managing inventory to maximise room revenue, correcting system errors to enable room revenue growth and preparing documents for the weekly Sales and Strategy meeting. In addition to that, I also conducted weekly market research of our competitors’ pricing and data extraction to track the pick-up pace for special events as well as compiling group pace and daily pick up reports.

2. My Takeaway My biggest takeaway would be the new long-term relationships and connections forged with my colleagues. I am very grateful to be a part of the Revenue Team and also, for my colleagues who have shown great kindness and patience when it comes to imparting their knowledge on revenue management and hotel works! These four months are more than just an enriching experience! I was able to discover my interest in Revenue Management, so I can now focus and do things related to Revenue Management to amplify my opportunities when I graduate.

3. My Advice Never be afraid to try out new things! Taking a step into the hotel industry and becoming a Revenue intern have truly opened my eyes to the endless opportunities that await all of us. If you have a path in mind, seek an internship for it and discover if it is what you would like to do in the future. After all, this is where you will discover what is for you!

Tung Mei Yuan BSc in Business and Management, SIM-UOL Accounts (Marketing) Intern Gushcloud

1. My Role I liaised with clients to curate a deck of influencer profiles for marketing campaigns, executed campaigns by managing and coordinating with influencers, and prepared reports to measure the success of the campaigns. I also brainstormed creative marketing strategies for clients. In addition, I was given various opportunities, such as shadowing my supervisor to external meetings and attending various media events as well as workshops, to gain a deeper insight into influencer marketing.

2. My Takeaway I have learned the importance of being time-sensitive as the timing for engaging influencers is extremely crucial. The nature of this fast-paced environment has propelled me to take ownership and make sound decisions. I was also able to sharpen my management and communication skills as I had to be competent with every campaign that I was working on concurrently, to prevent any hiccups and miscommunications among the stakeholders, especially with clients. I stayed up-to-date with the influencer marketing scene in order to successfully generate buzz for brands.

3. My Advice It is important to know how to be indispensable to a company by learning skills that add value and will land you a full-time gig upon graduation. Stay curious, take ownership and be responsible for your tasks. Always exchange feedbacks with your supervisor to improve yourself and take advantage of all the opportunities! Have confidence, be independent in a fast-paced environment and don’t be afraid to ask questions because this is the chance for you to grow.

Lee Mei Ying Roxanne (right) BSc in Business and Management, SIM-UOL Intern, EY People Advisory Department Ernst & Young

1. My Role I was assigned to an HR Transformation project where a client wanted to redesign its HR Operating model to improve its HR process efficiency. In this project, I was involved in developing the deliverables for the client, such as graphic scenario walkthrough slides for each HR functions to allow the client to better visualise the changes in their employees’ role functions.

2. My Takeaway This internship provided me with invaluable insight into the consulting industry as I was fortunate to have experienced an end-to-end cycle ofa project phase. The learning curve was steep but my seniors were really patient in guiding me throughout my internship. I think my biggest takeaway is seeing how professional my seniors were towards their colleagues and clients despite their heavy workload.

3. My Advice Be open-minded and proactive, and do not be afraid to ask questions! Also, if opportunity allows, try to seek advice from your colleagues or superiors and ask them for their feedback on your performance.

Lim Pei Ting Sharon BSc in Banking and Finance, SIM-UOL Corporate Secretarial Intern TMF Singapore H Pte Ltd

1. My Role I was assigned to three teams to handle legal documents for various companies. I was exposed to legal documents such as Directors’ Resolutions, Annual Returns and Annual General Meetings, and I got to prepare for the incorporations of a few companies. Besides that, I also assisted in research and administrative work from time to time.

2. My Takeaway I learnt how to be more meticulous in handling the work given to me — to double-check every work and meet deadlines at the same time. As I handled urgent documents of high importance, there was little room for errors. I also learnt from my mistakes quickly and adapted to handling work in stressful situations. Overall, I feel that my verbal and written communications have improved significantly.

3. My Advice Have an open mindset to new tasks. It is good to have a notebook to take down notes of important learning points and as a record ofyourcurrent workload so that time can be managed better. I believe that, to get the most out ofan internship, students can be more proactive and offer to help others more.

Ngooi Zhuang Jie Nelson BSc in Economics and Finance, SIM-UOL Intern, Human Resource Field Solution Johnson Controls (S) Pte Ltd

1. My Role My role as an HRFS employee was similar, in most parts, to being a Human Resource Business Partner. I gathered information from employees to ensure that their personal files are always updated. I also learnt how to use the SAP software and tried out the Workday programme, which is an on demand (cloud-based) financial management and human capital management software vendor. I coordinated workshops for employees as well.

2. My Takeaway My main takeaway from this internship is how to be independent in the workplace. It is true that, as an intern, we expect to have a mentor in the workplace who will be beside us all the time, guiding and answering all our doubts and questions. But I learnt that, most times, I had to find out the answers myself. Being willing to go around different departments to ask and find relevant information helped. Doing so allowed me to make connections with others that are not within the HR department, too.

3. My Advice I feel that, as an intern or even a new hire entering a new company, it is crucial to have a learning mindset, to not be afraid to take in constructive criticism, and to always strive to be better than what you were yesterday. Mistakes are bound to happen when you are new to a procedure in the company but I learnt not to be too hard on myself when it happens and to take ownership in ensuring it doesn’t happen again instead.

Lin Jia Fa BSc in Economics and Finance, SIM-UOL Estate Analyst Intern Bequest Pte Ltd

1. My Role As an Estate Analyst, I engaged with mass market affluent and high-net-worth individuals on matters relating to management or distribution oftheir assets in end-life scenarios. At the same time, I performed financial analyses and identified key pressure points and catastrophic failure events. I proposed cutting-edge and sophisticated solutions, melding finance and law to create value propositions that optimise the management and distribution of assets in an end-life scenario.

2. My Takeaway I feel that working life is a lot tougher and more tiring compared to school, which is why it is important to find something that we are interested in doing every day. I have also learnt how to not be too affected by setbacks as they are just part and parcel of the learning phase. What is most important is that you must learn how to recover and keep moving forward. For example, I conducted a publicsurveyformygroup projectduringthe internship. I was rejected manytimes initiallyand feltverydemoralised but, after a while, I got used to it and carried on approaching more strangers.

3. My Advice Myadvice is to always be prepared to learn and be exposed to new stuff. Keep an open mind and take everything in as a learning experience. At the same time, do not give up so easily because the more setbacks you have, the easier the same tasks will be in the future because you have learnt.

Loh Jia Min (Front row, 3rd from Left) Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, SIM-UB Intern Next Age Institute

1. My Role The main project that I am working on is the Singapore Curriculum on Financial Capability and Asset Building (SG FCAB), which equips social workers with the knowledge and skills in assisting low-income families. I am responsible fordata entry, the drafting of Focus Group Discussion (FGD) questions and the downloadable resources that will be placed on an online website.

2. My Takeaway This internship has exposed me to social work, social research areas and the efforts of many in improving lives, uplifting the low-income with regards to financial capability and asset building.

3. My Advice Be brave. Be kind. Be you.

Aaron Lee Bing Qian BSc in Business Management with Industrial Placement, SIM-UOB Otis Elevator Company (S) Pte Ltd Previous role: Human Resources Intern Current role: Human Resources Officer

My Role I have been assigned a wide range of tasks, covering several areas of Human Resources. This mainly includes leadership succession planning, managing and conducting interviews for new hires as well as selecting the best candidates for the company’s Graduate Engineer Programme, and HR data analytics. As some of the main projects had been completed during my internship, I am currently more focused on arranging interviews and merging the company’s e-leave database. However, I constantly look out for opportunities to assume new responsibilities.

How has your internship experience helped you in the transition of your current role? My internship experience was very helpful in the transition to my current role. I picked up a variety of HR-related skills during my internship with constant support from my supervisors who always provided me with many opportunities to learn new things. This was essential in my transition as it allowed me to be more familiar with the day-to-day HR activities and avoid the “culture shock” of entering the workforce as well as being comfortable working with my colleagues. This also helped me improve my communication skills, which I have learnt to be very important in the workplace.

How did you manage to secure this conversion? I believe that the key lies in your willingness to learn and a level of diligence. As an intern, you should expect to receive a wide range of tasks. However, you should not be discouraged by this and consider each task as an experience instead. At the same time, I feel that these tasks provide interns with various opportunities to learn as long as hard work is put into the personal development of skills.

My Advice Always enter the role with an open mind, stay hardworking and be open to learning, even if the tasks may not be specifically listed as part of the job requirements. This allows interns to learn more and make full use of the limited time available due to the typical short internship durations. This is especiallyimportant as the average intern typicallybegin to familiarise themselves with the job around three months into the internship. This leaves interns with less time to go more in-depth and to furtherdevelop skills unless theytake the extra measures to learn more.

Shepherdson Cassandra Mae Bachelor of Business (Marketing), SIM-RMIT The Nielsen Company Previous role: Intern, Analytic Consulting –Consumer Insights (Quantitative) Current role: Executive, Analytic Consulting –Consumer Insights (Quantitative)

My Role During my internship, my task was to assist the team in ensuring that we deliver customised solutionswith concise and actionable findingsto addressthe clients’ needs. I had the opportunity to work on projects from different industries, such as FMCG and technology, and was given the chance to communicate with internal stakeholders and be present at client meetings. My current role is similar but with greater depth in responsibilities as I am entrusted with more projects. Instead of merely assisting in project execution, I can manage my own projects and connect with the clients directly.

How has your internship experience helped you in the transition of your current role? Throughout my internship with the Consumer Insights (Quantitative) department, I was extremely fortunate to be in a team that allowed me autonomy, even though I was just an intern. Initially, I was hesitant to consider an industry that is not quite relevant to my major as I was afraid that I would not be able to perform as well as my peers or apply what I have learnt in school to the programme. Thankfully, my mentors at work guided me patiently through the different processes of a project.

How did you manage to secure this conversion? At the start of my internship at Nielsen, I indicated my interest in a full-time role at the company should the opportunity arise. As such, I was considered for the position when there was an opening midway during my internship. My eagerness to learn and being proactive at my work are likely some ofthe traits that put me in a favourable position. I consistently reached out to my team for more work and assisted whenever and however I could. Having a good mentor at work provided a good foundation for my learning, which helps to strengthen my understanding and boost my confidence.

My Advice I believe that we should create ourown opportunities and not wait forthem. Being proactive in yourown learning and exposure is fundamental in both personal and career growth. It is important to keep a positive mindset, be curious and ask questions. Reach out to your peers and supervisors for feedback in order to develop yourself. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and not view them as roadblocks in your path. Most importantly, learn how to handle setbacks and progress from there.