http://www.americares.org

Americares

IT Intern

June - August 2021 • Stamford, CT

What I liked

Americares is filled to the brim with amazing people. It was a pleasure to meet and work with everyone from various departments, countries, and levels. At Americares, it felt like I was helping support those who aid others across the globe.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been able to visit the Americares HQ in Stamford and meet everyone in person. However, due to COVID-19, that was not a possibility.

Advice

Working for a non-profit can be very fulfilling as you feel that you are contributing to the whole of society rather than making a profit. Depending on your career, you can still have a fulfilling role, but for me, working at Americares felt truly special. The biggest piece of advice I got working with Americares was shared by many, and that is: "You know what you know, you know what you don't know, and you don't know what you don't know". Using that saying, you can understand your strengths, weaknesses, and realize potential areas of improvement within yourself, your skills, and your life.
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Monitoring and Evaluations Intern

June - August 2018 • Stamford, CT

What I liked

I liked having a formal internship program because it was my first internship where I was applying skills from the classroom into real-life work. Having a program of multiple other interns around my age group was also very helpful because I was able to meet new people and network throughout my own age group, while also meeting people older than me throughout the organization.

What I wish was different

I would have liked to maybe work on more projects across departments, however we did have one big project among the interns that was inter-department which I enjoyed. But I really enjoy getting the opportunity to work with people who have different areas of expertise than me because I feel it helps round me out intellectually and I can help to do the same for my peers.

Advice

Come in with an open mind and be ready to meet new people. If you put in the effort you will get a lot out of internships, but also remember you can get very valuable experience simply by spending time with coworkers and having casual conversations. Doing your work is definitely important, but I think it is equally important to get to know the people surrounding you because chances are they will have at least a few things to teach you and vice versa.
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HR Intern

June - August 2018 • Stamford, CT

What I liked

I liked feeling apart of the community and the level of professionalism. The bar was set really high and I was challenged daily, whether that meant working on projects, giving talks on professional development, or coordinating between teams. I watched myself grow as a leader and become move versed in the public health NGO sphere.

What I wish was different

The commute was the only aspect of the internship that I would have liked to change. It was about 45 minutes both ways in rush hour traffic. It was manageable, but stressful.

Advice

I felt valued and competent. I was supported the whole time by my manager and teams. I was pushed to work hard and communicate more effectively. I'd say be prepared to step outside of your comfort zone for the better. You'll be amazed at the great things you will accomplish.
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