Anna Galloways

Internship Diary
Anna Galloway
Week One
Before I started my internship I was nervous about what my department and manager
would be like. I was also very excited about finding out what my project would be. The
night before I had met my other house mates who were also starting the following day,
we spent hours discussing what to wear the next day.
The first two days was spent with human resourses (HR) going through standard
company policies, codes of conduct and tours of the site. The first time I went round
the site I couldnt stop thinking how big it was and how I would ever find my way
around.
After the first two days of orientation my manager came to meet me. We went for a
coffee then had a chat about his background in the company and my previous
experience. He then introduced me to the people I would be working with. I spent
the rest of the day learning about my department and arranging IT access. The rest
of the week was spent getting to know the team.
Week Two
On the Monday my manger and I sat down to discuss my project and the key
deliverables from it. After this I arranged meetings with key people to discuss how
my project fitted in with existing systems. Without getting to technical my project
was to devise a systematic approach to ensure the update and tracking of the
whole sites technical process drawings.
Later in the week after establishing where my project fitted into the overall scheme,
I brainstormed the task ahead. From this I created a critical path schedule (CPS)
for the following ten weeks, to ensure I utilise my time in the most effective manner.
Week Three
Using my newly formed CPS I discussed my ideas and time frame with my weekly
manager. We discussed details and time scales which gave rise to firm targets
surrounding the deliverables. The rest of the week consisted of collating all the data
surrounding the technical drawings and discussing my ideas for the best course of
action.
Week Six
During these two weeks I processed the masses of data to form registers, schedules,
physical and electronic folders. I began to tackle the neglected electronic folders and
carefully arranged files into department, subunits within department and archived
superseded drawings.
Week Eight
Over the course of these two weeks I created physical master folders for each
department. This was a very time consuming task owing to the fact over 350 A2
drawings required printing.
Whilst waiting for the drawings to print I worked closely with department members to
create an access database to store all the information I had amassed in one user
friendly format. The database had many advantages to excel spreadsheets including
automatic search, scheduling and tracking functions.
I then began to prepare a training package for me to deliver to the departments. The
training package detailed the business need surrounding the new system,
expectations and performance measures.
Once the training package had been created I set about preparing a presentation
which I would give to the plants leadership team. This presentation was to align them
to the new system and explain the business need surrounding it.
Week Nine
Having prepare the folders, database, training material and presentation I sat down
with my manager. Using the feedback from the meeting I adapted the presentation
and arranged training sessions.
On the Wednesday I had to present to the leadership team and plant manager, I had
practiced it over and over the night before. As I waited for my slot in the meeting I
became very nervous. After nearly an hours wait my slot was cancelled; I was furious
because I had put so much preparation in to it. I decided not to become emotional
instead I composed my self and rescheduled for the following week.
Week Ten
After returning from the bank holiday I was ready to present again, however the date
had been cancelled. By this point I really needed to align the leadership with the new
system which was being rolled out. I immediately set about negotiating a slot in the
next available leadership meeting.
I had not taken kindly to unprofessional manner in which the two presentation slots
had been cancelled. I took the matter up with both my manager and head of HR. From
these meetings I was assured I would speak in the following session and received
apologies.
For the remainder of the week I trained the departments and followed up with
qualifications, to check understanding.
Week Eleven
My project was nearing an end and with two weeks to go I thought it a good idea to
ask for some more work. My manager found me a small project which required the
reapplication of the skills Id acquired from the main project. This smaller project
required the adaptation of existing systems to the current site standards. I worked on
this project in a similar way to that of the main project, however this time it was much
faster to apply site standards because of the background knowledge I had acquired.
Wednesday, I prepared and practiced the presentation all morning. I was nervous
waiting once again, hoping it would go ahead and the leadership team would
understand my points. Eventually my slot came around, I stood up and looked around
everyone was smiling (including my house mates) my fears calmed and I realised they
were there to learn not to judge. The presentation went well and many of the
managers congratulated me on how calm I seemed.
For the rest of the week I continued with my mini reapplication project and began to
prepare a formal report and hand over folder for the project.
Week Twelve
I continued with the work I had been doing in the latter part of the week. I also helped
my housemates (other interns) with their final presentations. My manager decided
there was no need for me to give a final presentation because I had already presented
my work the previous week so I finished my physical hand over folder ready for an
end of internship 1:1.
Overview
Overall I would really recommend taking a summer internship; this is for 3 main reasons: Firstly the
opportunity to work in the real world and apply the theoretical skills from university is invaluable.
Secondly the skills you take away are so useful, not only a glowing CV but technical and people
skills will set you apart from the rest when looking for a job. And finally even though I didnt
particularly enjoy the internship I learnt so many things about the company but more importantly
myself. I discovered that systems work isnt for me, Im hands on. Presentations arent so bad after
all and the friends I made will last a life time!!