In December, I was given the opportunity to participate in a micro-internship through Universitas 21 (U21) and Common Purpose. As a member of the sustainable micro-internship, specializing in Decent Work and Economic Growth, I was put into a small group and asked to tackle a topic that is especially relevant to me: access to entry-level employment. The two-week program allowed me to collaborate with students all over the world and present a solution to a real issue in front of professionals who are able to make the solution become a reality. I learned and have gained a lot through my experience, and I will definitely cherish and use it in my future career endeavors!
What did I do in the Micro-internship?
The challenge at hand was to address the global job market and how the development of Artificial Intelligence has impacted the accessibility of work, especially for those of lower economic and social class. Our task was to support Generation, a non-profit organization that works to improve entry level job accessibility globally, by answering the question, “What policies, partnerships or hiring innovations would ensure that new entrants, especially underserved learners, are not left behind?” Our group came up with the solution of launching an apprenticeship bootcamp program that would be accessible, transferable, and easy to implement in daily life. Applicants would sign up for a week of hybrid (online/in-person) industry-specific apprenticeships (technology, skilled trades, healthcare, customer service and sales, and green jobs). This bootcamp aims to introduce candidates to the specifics of each industry to ensure that they are certain about the area they want to delve into, increasing employee retention rates further down the line. After developing a written deliverable, an illustrated poster, and a presentation, we displayed and explained our work to directors at Generation.
What did i enjoy and accomplish?
I found my experience with U21 to be extremely beneficial towards my future career goals. I enjoyed learning more about AI development in the workforce, as it’s a very relevant topic to my current situation as an undergraduate student seeking a summer internship role. It also gave me a sense of hope to find a solution to said problem and see how finding experience is feasible. It was an incredible experience to collaborate with students from different countries and cultures. Even beyond the small groups from the task itself, U21 ensured we were able to learn from different regions and cultures through icebreaker activities where we discussed other relevant topics, such as social media, healthcare, and more. It was intriguing to see how different cultures breed different ways of thinking and approaching a task. Being able to incorporate different living environments into a common goal for the betterment of our world was a truly rewarding and unique experience.
My biggest accomplishment during this program was presenting to the internship cohort and representatives from Generation. I find myself to be a good public speaker, so I took on the role of presenting our findings alongside two team members. It was rewarding to address this prevalent issue and answer questions about our idea to people who may be able to implement it for real-life global impact. I had the chance to further develop my communication skills and adaptability as I needed to think quickly on my feet to address any concerns the professionals or administrators may have had. It was rewarding to effectively perform this task.
What were some challenges?
The two largest challenges I faced were differences in time zones and the timing of the program. Firstly, my small group, which consisted of about 10-15 students, stretched across three time zones, let alone the entire program of about 150 students. The issue came less into effect for the two main programs as the times were set by the administrators, but creating times within my small group was difficult. What was a 2:00 p.m. call for one member was a 9:00 a.m. call for me, and a 6:00 p.m. call for someone else. This was a barrier of organization, especially within a 10-day time frame, but we overcame the challenge through being able to complete tasks individually, coming together solely when necessary.
The second issue was the timing of my desired program. There were three offered types of internships: Climate Action, Quality Education, and Decent Work and Economic Growth, which is the one I was a part of. While I was overjoyed to be given the platform to work on economic development and growth through the internship, the available program dates were set right in the middle of my finals season, meaning I couldn’t give as much attention to it as I had hoped. Even with this roadblock, I feel as though I was able to manage my time well and help to create an efficient solution and present it to a professional audience.
What did i gain from it and how it can be used in the future?
I believe this experience has allowed me to develop and improve many skills including communication, time management, critical thinking, and teamwork. Communication became the most relevant skill by crossing over barriers such as time zones, cultural norms, busy schedules, and potentially conflicting ideas. This also factored into teamwork because each member had to work together seamlessly in a short time period and move past any barriers to doing so. As mentioned, time management proved to be crucial for completing the task. I had to maneuver around finals season as other American students also did, but there were conflicts all over that needed to be addressed. One student from Amsterdam fought sickness to create an effective presentation and written deliverable, and another from Australia presented to the professionals from Generation at a wedding. We all wanted to work towards the common goal at hand and made it happen. Finally, we thought critically to attempt a unique idea to fix a large-scale problem.
The skills I learned and improved from this experience will absolutely translate into my future career moves because it is unlike other experiential learning I have completed. I created a base of my professionalism and teamwork through case competitions, experiential learning opportunities, and being a member of executive boards such as the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) on campus, but working with international team members has changed my view on approaching work tasks. I was passionate about what we were solving, and it made me realize that I should work towards a career that will leave me fulfilled. My interest in economic growth and equality led me to passionately approach this topic and further encourage my career plans in law and compliance.
Overall, I would absolutely encourage any student to partake in this program. It provided me with valuable insight into the global job market and how it impacts daily lives. It also helped me develop critical skills that I can use in future employment and daily life. As long as you’re a student at a U21 member university (like UConn), you’re eligible to apply and take advantage of this great resource. It’s an incredible opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and grow as an individual!