Jennifer Clarke (BCmpH鈥09, Software Development) had always wanted to be a software developer. But after a 16-month QUIP internship with IBM, she realized she missed dealing with people.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 consider how much I would miss [working with customers] when I was doing development,鈥 Jennifer said.
At the internship, Jennifer ran installation tests on IBM鈥檚 software products. Upon realizing that she wanted a more client-oriented position, she sought out positions that combined her computing skills with customer service. She found an internship at CH2M Hill the following summer that filled those requirements: she would be automating a water plant while working with clients. She worked as a flex employee with part-time hours for CH2M Hill for the next two years until she found a full-time position at the company after her graduation in 2009.
"You鈥檙e doing the work of a real employee. It鈥檚 a really good time to check out what you鈥檒l be doing,鈥 she said.
She now works as a Design Consultant at C2HM鈥檚 SCADA Water Systems. In her current position, Jennifer deals with customers on a regular basis, including the water plant operations staff and the client region. She said the testing experience she gained at IBM proved valuable at CH2M Hill was instrumental not only for gaining new skills but also for meeting people working in the field.
Since QUIP internships are full-time positions, this allows students to 鈥渢est drive鈥 their career, as Jennifer puts it, and figure out what types of work they are best suited for. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e doing the work of a real employee. It鈥檚 a really good time to check out what you鈥檒l be doing,鈥 she said. Jennifer entered the internship expecting to gain new experience, but left with something even better: a new understanding of herself. Upon experiencing daily life in software development, she identified what she wanted in a career, and changed course to satisfy those needs. Above all, Jennifer said, students should view an internship as a learning experience. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to use the time wisely and learn what you can out of it,鈥 she said, 鈥渨hether it鈥檚 the working aspect or making the best of meeting all these people you could potentially get a job through when it鈥檚 done.鈥
Originally published in What鈥檚 Next? magazine 2014-15 (a Career Services publication) under the title "Success Story: Experiential Learning"