Internships Provide Valuable Experience for Poole IT Undergrads
Alex Martin, senior, business administration
Alex Martin is an IT Analyst intern for the Global Government Solutions Group (GGSG) at Cisco in Morrisville, N.C.
Martin is working on several projects, one of which took him to Nueva Palestina, Honduras, as the student leader for the Shelton Leadership Center. While there, he brought a satellite receiver and refurbished equipment from Cisco to test the feasibility of installing an internet connection in the local high school.
Martin said he learned of the internship through Poole College’s IT Club, and completed an application at the Cisco table during the college’s fall 2010 career fair. “They offered me an interview and hired me back in October,” he said. “I’m gaining more gaining more technical knowledge that will supplement the classes I’ve had in Info. Systems (my BUS concentration). Everyone at Cisco encourages me to find out more about the people I work with and the projects they do. Of course, I have a lot of opportunities to build up my network.
ADVICE FOR OTHER STUDENTS: “Apply early! A lot of the RTP companies select their interns in the fall semester. Follow all of the steps on the career center website about how to be successful at the career fair (e.g., research the companies before you go and make personalized resumes for each one that you’re interested in).”
Alex Allen, senior, business administration, finance and IT concentrations
Alex Allen is a supply chain IT analyst intern at GlaxoSmithKline, in Research Triangle Park, N.C.
“As a member of the supply chain IT team, I’ve been able to both experience and apply several key business aspects that are crucial for one’s professional development, such as project management, data analysis, and team building. Currently, I am co-project managing a major IT project with my manager. It’s been great to see my class work come together with the real life examples and techniques used by my manager and other team members.”
Allen cites networking as one of the benefits of the experience and has enjoyed “lots of odd/interesting jobs, like putting together an IT newsletter for widespread distributions, or “revamping” my division’s presence through the creation of a SharePoint site. However, I think the most fun I’ve been able to have has been the experiences I get to enjoy with my team members, both on and off the GSK campus.
ADVICE FOR OTHER STUDENTS: “The biggest piece of advice would be to ‘get out there.’ Go to the Poole College of Management’s Career Fairs, develop professional relationships with your professors, and diligently apply yourself in all of your classes – you never know when a professor can help you get your foot in the door for a great job opportunity.”
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Alex Martin
