Joining my third year, I was looking for more tailored research experience to enhance my CV in a competitive job market. When I came across this role, I knew it was the perfect fit as it aligned with my motivations for research and further skills I wanted to develop.
My experience as an intern for Research and Innovation has been a very formative experience. I conducted research through a survey and online focus groups to provide a review of Pure, the University’s research management system and provide recommendations for improvement. During this internship I have gained an extensive amount of experience with skills that employers value. For example, I gained project management skills through conducting this project solely with a supervisor, developed communication and presentation skills through communicating with colleagues and presenting research findings and recommendations in a simple way. Furthermore, I completed a CMS training course and created content for editing webpages and a promotional video to increase the software’s user engagement. Importantly, I made a strong working relationship with my supervisor, demonstrating an important skill of building a rapport. Taking part in this InternPlus project has also given me further insight into academic research, a field I’m interested in and has prepped me to enter the job market with confidence.
I was worried about managing the project alongside my coursework, however I planned and adapted to ensure my coursework would not be affected. Due to the independent nature of this project, I thought that it would be difficult to ask for support. However, all staff, especially my supervisor were there to guide me and help with any problems I had. The work setting was very collaborative.
In summary, every aspect of this experience has been enjoyable, and this is an opportunity I will always be grateful for. This opportunity gave me the chance to conduct research independently and make a difference. The recommendations I proposed will be used to improve the use of and the training support for Pure for both academics and administrators.
Taking part in an InternPlus project will help you gain an adaptive skillset that is useful for any role. You will also gain confidence to stand out in a competitive job market. Anyone interested should apply as the experience and support you will gain from the project is invaluable.
