Ashley Klein
Our FBI for today is with Ashley Klein. She is a Senior majoring in Genetics. She had a summer internship in Quality with Abbott Laboratories.
Tell us about yourself: I am a senior majoring in genetics and am pursuing a career in genetic counseling. During my undergraduate years, I have been very active on campus through participation in CALS organizations like CALS Student Council, the Undergraduate Genetics Association and Sigma Alpha professional agricultural sorority, and through involvement with genetics research on campus and CALS Career Services. Off campus I volunteer with Hospice Care and Easter Seals of Wisconsin.
Q: What things did you do to prepare for getting an internship?
A: There were a few key things that I did to prepare for obtaining an internship for the summer. First, I updated my resume often (at least once a semester) and had it reviewed by CALS Career Services. I then placed my resume on BuckyNet so that it was available to companies looking for interns and so that I could access it from any computer with internet. Second, I practiced interview questions, especially behavioral-based questions. (CALS Career Services also has a list of these available for students.) Third, I went to every Career Fair and built relationships with recruiters from some of my top companies. Lastly, I researched Abbott on-line before my interview so that I was able to ask questions about internships and companies as a whole during the interview.
Q: What did the process of finding an internship teach you about getting an actual job?
A: My interview occurred with very short notice. I had about 15 minutes to prepare and gather information about the company. I learned that my preparation, like having my resume on BuckyNet, practicing interview questions ahead of time etc., allowed me to spend all 15 minutes researching the company, which resulted in a successful interview and an internship with the company.
Q: What level of student organizations and/or volunteering did you pursue to enhance your resume and help improve your experience?
A: I took advantage of many student organizations, volunteering, and research opportunities to enhance my resume. Within my student organizations, I held many leadership opportunities which improved my communication, leadership, and time management skills. During my research experience, I developed my critical thinking and problem-solving skills as well as basic lab techniques. Volunteering instilled in me the importance of giving back to the community in whatever way you can, whether through time, information, etc. All these activities gave me many examples to choose from during those behavioral interview questions too.
Q: How did these opportunities help you in achieving your career goals?
A: I gained more understanding of genetic disorders and their effects on families through my volunteering and research experiences as well.
Q: What did you do at your internship?
A: I was given a variety of projects at Abbott Labs. I was involved in creating reports to analyze the effectiveness of a training system, streamlining the distribution of these training materials, and analyzing the clarity effectiveness of a department’s website and newsletter.
I also learned what the corporate side of scientific industry involves and what a career in this field might look like for me.
Q: In what way was your internship valuable to your professional development?
A: Throughout the internship I was being stretched to grow professionally and take initiative. I participated in a poster presentation for the Quality division and gave a couple smaller slide-show presentations to my managers. I further developed my communication, time-management, and critical thinking skills during this internship.
Q: What was the most important thing you learned at your internship?
A: I learned that every professional experience is valuable and is an opportunity to expand your horizons and grow. For example, I had every intension of becoming a genetic counselor and did not want to look for internship experiences outside of that field. However, this internship provided me with skills and opportunities that were missing in my volunteering activities. The internship also helped me to decide what career path was best for me.
Q: Who do you feel was the person that helped you the most in your professional development and why?
A: CALS Career Services was a HUGE help in preparing me for my internship experience and overall professional development. The resources and workshops that they provide were an essential part of my interning with a renowned company like Abbott Laboratories.
