What company were you an intern at and how did you find out about it?
I was an intern at Cogapp, which I found out about through the University of Sussex’s careers database CDEC.
What were the reasons you went for an internship?
Getting your foot on the ladder in terms of starting a career can be quite a challenge for new graduates. With such high levels of university graduates the competition can be tough and companies can afford to separate potential candidates on the basis of experience. I found myself in this position not long after leaving university and was looking for a way of bettering my own experience. The challenge is where to begin with so few opportunities for individuals yet to gain experience. This is where an internship can be an excellent start not only for your C.V but also for assessing for yourself whether it’s the right line of work to be in and what the job involves.
What were your duties and what experience did you taken away with you?
The aim of my particular internship was to undertake a research paper into ‘the user experience of technology in public spaces’. Alongside the help of the team I was given the freedom to lead much of the project from original idea conception and formulation of the methodology, to carrying out the practical field work, analysing the findings and shaping the final report. I was heavily involved in all aspects of the project although I was supervised and supported every step of the way and learnt a great deal from the highly experienced team I was working with.
I have benefited greatly from my time at Cogapp. Learning how to write a paper of a commercial nature was a difficult but invaluable lesson to learn and the importance of working concisely and to the deadlines that are ever present in any working environment. I have taken away a greater insight into the digital media industry as a whole and in particular the user experience of technology encountered in public spaces. I have learnt the importance of assuming nothing of an individual’s interaction with the environment and the value of simple observation. In terms of creating a worthwhile and interesting research paper I have learnt the importance of working alongside others in brainstorming and creating new ideas. Working directly in this environment has given me the opportunity to understand what is expected of you, which in turn has given me a greater focus and left me better equipped to promote myself to potential future employers.
What were your duties and what experience did you take away with you?
On completion of the internship I was invited back to be a part of the Brighton based User Experience Society Use8’s presentation ‘Beyond the Screen’ at the Brighton Digital Festival 2007, exploring how people experience interactive outdoor technologies. This was a great chance to meet people in the industry and an honour to be able to contribute the findings of the research to the discussion.
I currently work as on Operations Manager for an independent social and market research Company based in London and my internship at Cogapp played a significant role in my application for this position.
I hope one day to return to Brighton and am assured that the contacts I have made through my internship both through Cogapp and Wired Sussex will be an excellent reference point for the future.
What did the internship lead on to afterwards?
I would absolutely recommend an internship to others, not only for the work experience gained but for the people you meet. It allows you to meet skilled and interesting people in the company you're working for. For the experience gained and connections made internships are an excellent way to make the first steps into your career of choice and therefore I could not recommend it highly enough.
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