Describe the steps you took to obtain your internship/research opportunity/fellowship.

I located the listing on Handshake. I wrote a cover letter and uploaded it along with resume through Handshake. 

How far in advance did you prepare and begin applying for your experiential learning opportunity?

My internship began in the fall, so I started looking in the summer. The semester before an internship begins is usually an ideal time to search because that is when companies start posting opportunities.

If you used any Career Center services, resources, or events to obtain your job offer, what were they? How did they support your application process?

The Career Center helped me edit my resume.

Describe some of your responsibilities or duties during your experiential learning opportunity.

I wrote a Standard Operating Procedure, creating a community research sheet and completed FEMA trainings.

What was a typical day like "on the job?"

A typical day "on the job" meant asking my supervisor what she would like me to work on for the day. On Wednesdays we had weekly calls, which were informational and interesting. I would find articles to send out in the daily News Sweep and then work on assisting my supervisor with our daily objectives. These responsibilities varied depending on which project I was working on.

What are some major takeaways from your experience? How will these help prepare you for the next step after graduation?

I especially enjoyed the work-life balance at IEM. It was a healthy work environment with strong leaders who were constantly challenging one another and building each other up. I hope to find this is my next work environment.

Did this experience help clarify your career path? If yes, how so?

Yes, my supervisor introduced me to many people in relevant fields who gave me helpful insight. I had informational interviews which allowed me to narrow my focus for my career path.