Name:Tanner Yatsko

Internship, Co-op or Research Site:CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in Baltimore, MD

Position Title: Technical Operations and Support Services Intern          

Major(s)/Minor(s): Information Systems

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

I work as a Technical Operations and Support Services Intern in the Healthcare Analytics and Informatics department of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. I handle the manipulation of SQL programs to pull pieces of data relating to healthcare information that are then formatted into reports that are used by representatives of the different departments of the company.

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

I acquired the position by having the desire to gain experience in the field I was studying. In today's world, it is known that higher education is a great way to obtain the bigger positions, but it is also key to have the right experience. Using this as inspiration to obtain that experience, I just took the time to visit the Career Center where I had my résumé critiqued multiple times, which I then took to a Career Fair that was hosted on UMBC's campus and handed that résumé out to potential employers. It was a fairly simple process. It just took knowing that there would be some work involved.

Which resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, Career Fairs, UMBCworks

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

I love my internship because it has allowed me to not only put prior knowledge to use, but it has also allowed me to learn a lot more than I would ever learn in a classroom. To see how skills and education are applied in the working world has been an eye opening experience and has certainly helped me prepare for my career after I graduate.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

The experience has made me feel more confident in the fact that my college education is going towards something that will only improve my life moving forward. When it comes to my coworkers, I feel that I have helped take work off of their shoulders. It has been wonderful to see myself as a part of a team that truly appreciates what you do for them. It certainly takes time to get the hang of things, but in time you see the progress you are making, and it only makes you a larger asset to those you work with.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

My best piece of advice for students seeking an internship would be to just go for it. A student needs to be willing to put in the work, use the resources that are available to them, and then put those to use when looking for an internship that is right for them. There is nothing more satisfying than being offered an opportunity after a student has done the work to obtain it. It is also good to keep in mind that there are employers that want and need interns that are educated and have the desire to put that education to use.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position.

An internship is the bridge between college experiences and real-world experiences. They help you get to where you want to go.

Like the Career Center on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

#UMBCintern

Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!