Name: Vanessa Foster

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: U.S. Department of State

Position Title: Human Resources Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Psychology Major, Media Communication Minor

Work Term: Spring 2019 

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

During the course of my internship, I did everything possible to help assist the hard-working people within my department. My day-to-day activities included everything from office organization and updating important files to answering phones. I also created my first social media campaign that brought attention to a special program related to the U.S. Department of State. I was honored to get a firsthand look at how an office environment functions.  

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

With the help of the Career Center, I received help reconstructing my resume. The Career Center taught me the proper way to create a resume that most employers look for. With a new resume in hand, I started to look for internships that best related to my major on the internet. My go-to job site is Indeed.com. I also recommend using careers.state.gov. 

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

The thing I enjoyed most about my organization was the people. As someone new to the office environment, I had many questions. However, almost every day my supervisors and coworkers took time out of their schedules to answer all of my questions. These actions were extremely beneficial to me because I was able to do my work more efficiently as I learned more about the office. 

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

I truly believe that I made an impact through my work. I was able to give a little extra support to an office that had a large workload. For example, I helped to create and send personalized certificates to children of federal employees. These certificates were used as a way to thank children of federal employees for their service while being separated from their parents.

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

Ask questions. If you’re passionate about your internship, ask as many questions as you can. Your goal is to learn as much as possible. Also, try to talk to people outside of your department and learn about their positions. The more you learn, the more you get out of your experience. Communication is key!

Connect with Vanessa on Instagram: @nessanessa1994

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