We really appreciate that so many Employ.ed on Campus interns have taken the time to share their experience through an Inform.ed blog post; it’s always exciting to read how their internships have evolved. In today’s blog, the sixth in our series, we welcome Regan Donovan, a fourth year English Literature student, who shares her experience of interning over the summer with the Careers Service.
Hi Regan, what prompted you to apply for an Employ.ed on Campus internship?
This past summer, I spent 10 weeks interning with the Careers Service as a Visual Design and Communications intern. I am a fourth year English Literature student; however, I spent the first two years of my degree studying Painting at Edinburgh College of Art. As third year came to a close, I really started to consider how I wanted to apply my learning to a career. I began looking for communications, design, and marketing internships so I could combine aspects from the two courses I had studied. My main goal through obtaining an internship and gaining work experience was to learn about myself and what I enjoyed doing in a work environment.
I found out about the Employ.ed on Campus programme through my searches in MyCareerHub and emails. I used MyCareerHub to find my term-time job and I knew that it promoted many interesting and valuable opportunities for students. When I read the description of the Employ.ed Visual Design and Communications internship with the Careers Service, it sounded like the perfect role for me. The role would allow me to explore my interests in graphic design and illustration while simultaneously using the written communication skills I had gained through studying English Literature.
What did your internship role involve?
Throughout my internship, I worked on a Careers Service project called Life Design. Life Design is a personal and professional development course that was developed at Stanford University. The main aim of Life Design is to equip students, and non-students, with valuable design-thinking skills to navigate through university, life, and career problems. My main duties on this project were to develop a brand identity for Life Design at Edinburgh, create graphics and illustrations for use on the course, and provide marketing and promotion materials. I worked with a Careers Consultant, the lovely Rebecca Clacy-Jones, and collaborated with a Design Board (a group of decision makers from across the Careers Service) to get feedback on my work. I worked mostly in the Main Library at the Careers Service, however, I occasionally worked from the Nucleus Building at King’s Buildings or remotely.
What have you learned from this internship and how you are going to apply that learning in the future?
My experience as an Employ.ed intern was incredibly valuable. My internship provided so many learning opportunities. For example, I learned new software, such as RoughAnimator and Adobe AfterEffects, and I improved upon my illustration and animation techniques. Also, I took part in the Edinburgh Award, where I focused on improving three valuable skills: using initiative, decision making, and oral communication. By having to reflect on my progress for the Edinburgh Award, I learned how to talk about these transferable skills which will be beneficial for future job applications and interviews. Additionally, I attended online workshops provided by Employ.ed. The accessibility workshop made me aware of important accessibility and inclusivity practices that I took forward with me throughout my project.
Moreover, my internship taught me about the benefits of workplace collaboration and fostering good relationships with peers and colleagues. Talking through decisions with colleagues and receiving feedback from my supervisor and from key contacts in different teams across the Careers Service improved the outcome of my project. This was my first experience working in an office environment, and I learned about how much I enjoy bouncing ideas off others in person.
Overall, my internship was a very positive experience and I hope that my contributions to the Life Design project make a positive impact on students and facilitators. This experience demonstrated how artistic and design skills can be applied to projects outside of traditional creative jobs and sectors. Looking ahead, I will take this knowledge forward when applying for jobs after graduation. In the future, I would like to combine my love of literature and design into a career, and I feel as though this Employ.ed internship provided me with the skills to do that.
Regan, have you any advice for students interested in applying for an Employ.ed on Campus internship?
All students should be aware of the Employ.ed on Campus programme because it has a wide range of great work experience opportunities. It is a good introduction to a working environment within an atmosphere that students are already comfortable in: the University. Students have a lot of support from the Employ.ed team, and they learn to improve valuable transferable skills and foster lasting professional relationships. My top tips for applying are to take advantage of Careers Service resources and be confident!
Many thanks Regan.
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