Featured Intern: Jacqueline Oliva
Susquehanna
Community Health and Dental Clinic
Where did you
intern?
I interned at Susquehanna Community Health and
Dental Clinic in Williamsport.
How did you land
the internship?
I
worked with Anne Landon to find this opportunity. I explained what I was
looking for and she searched for a company that would meet my interests. She
set up an interview for me at the clinic and found out within a few days that I
was accepted to intern.
Most valuable
experience?
The
most valuable experience I received from this internship was the opportunity to
become a full-time employee of SCH&DC. Being able to start as an intern and
learn about the company before I was hired was a great experience. I felt
comfortable about the position because I knew so much about the clinic already
from interning.
Toughest
challenge?
The
toughest challenge right now is trying to balance the work-life and
student-life. By having to work and still take classes, it is a very big work
load. I am still learning how to manage time for each effectively.
Favorite part of
the internship class? I know you haven’t
had many classes yet to answer this but maybe you can say something about the
professional development seminars that we are going to have (interviewing,
resume writing, dining etiquette, etc.)
My
favorite part of the internship class is being able to hear and see from
experienced employees what we should do to land a job. It is a great
opportunity to get a step ahead of other graduates.
How did the
internship help you for the future?
By
interning, I landed a full-time position at SCH&DC. If I would not have
interned, I may still be on the search for a job.
Advice for other
students
If
you have the opportunity to intern, take it! Not everyone is going to be offered
a full-time position, but the experience you gain from interning is amazing.
You feel so much more confident about the workforce.
Are
there any things that you learned that you didn't expect to learn?
I
learned a lot of things I was not expecting. For example, my first few weeks
interning, I was given an email and access to the computer system. I was in
charge of a lot of completing a lot of important tasks that didn't just help
one person; they helped the organization as a whole. I learned the basics of
grant writing, business relations, and how the clinic works as a whole.
What did you do to make your internship a success
I
worked as hard as I could as soon as I started. If I was asked to complete a
task within a week, I would complete it within a day. I was also very
personable. I would greet everyone I came in contact with.
What did you do on your internship?
I
did everything from answering phones, scheduling meetings, ordering lunch,
working on the computer system, to actually running meetings.
What is the most important thing you learned?
You
have to be flexible. People you work with are going to rely on you to help
them. You need to be sure you do what you can to help. Always be nice to
everyone because you never know when you are going to need them to help you.
What was the biggest challenge you faced? How did you overcome it?
The
biggest challenge I faced at first was not being confident with my work. I was
always worried what I was doing wasn't enough. By being reassured from my boss,
it helped me overcome this. People would compliment my work. I started to
become more confident.
How did the internship connect with your classes?
As
a Healthcare Administration major, my daily work day connects a lot to my
classes. I deal with different forms of health care. I also talk with doctors
and dentists daily. It is nice to be able to know what to say when you are in
conversation.
What
advice do you have for students considering an internship?
Be sure to take an
opportunity if you have one. You never know what could happen!
What
are you proudest of?
I
am proudest of landing a full-time position. When I first started interning, my
boss told me because of my hard work ethic and ability to stay focused in a
fast-paced environment, she would help me as much as she could with my job
search. Surprisingly, a position opened up in her office and she contacted me
right away and asked me if I would be interested. She has been very helpful and
works with me by helping me balance my different workloads.