Intern—a mystery-cloaked word we hear constantly throughout college, and in popular culture through hit movies like The Internship and The Intern. While a job requiring getting coffee for everyone in the office and getting paid next to nothing (or, quite literally, nothing), comes to mind, we wanted to explore what it really means to be an intern. We already take you into the morning and nightly routines of successful women, and into the day-to-day jobs of employees across the country. Now, say hello to Intern Diaries. Below, a twenty-one-year-old working in the pharmaceuticals industry tells us about her experience.
Age: 21
City your internship took place: New York, NY
Industry: Pharmaceuticals
Internship Title: Pharmaceutical Financial Intern
Salary: $900/week
Duration: 10 weeks
What does your internship title mean?
I was placed on a finance team within the company, and worked with team members on various projects over the duration of my internship. A lot of my work and time was spent in Excel and PowerPoint, creating data dashboards and presentation decks for my manager and higher-ups to use. The projects ranged from forecasting future production output of certain medicines to reviewing and analyzing past budgets.
Were you close with any of your team members?
My team was spread out over multiple offices (and countries), but I developed a close relationship with my manager over the course of the summer. He was very honest with his opinions and gave me a lot of insight into the company that I could not have figured out myself.
What were your favorite parts of the role and why? 
I really enjoyed my intern class; we had events over the summer like lunches with execs and group outings that allowed us to socialize in a work setting and get close, both in the office and out.
What was your morning routine? 
I lived in the NYU dorms for the summer, and my commute was a quick subway ride away, so I could wake up around 7am. I had time to shower and get ready and was able to leave around 8am to get into the office at 8:30am. Most mornings I would have coffee and Greek yogurt with granola for breakfast, but sometimes if I was running late or had an earlier meeting I would grab food on my way out.
What was the most shocking thing that happened during your internship? 
Honestly- nothing shocking happened! We had some pretty personal sit down meetings with C-level executives, which was surprising and exciting, but all in good ways!
What did your evening look like after work? 
I would normally leave at around 5pm or 5:30pm, occasionally staying later to work on projects. Typically, one or two nights during the work week my intern group and I would go to happy hour together somewhere near the office, or I would meet up with friends and grab drinks. Other nights I would try to work out at the gym across from my dorm or catch up on errands I would have to do.
What were the coolest perks of this internship? 
I loved being in New York and seeing the many various aspects of a Fortune 500 company. As an intern, I was given more access to high-level executives than I expected.
What is the most important thing that you learned in this position? 
I learned that writing everything down, and asking questions when you’re confused is key. Everyone knows you’re brand new at this company and expects questions. The sooner you catch up to speed, the sooner you can start making an impact.
Would you work for this company if they offered you a position? 
Yes, if offered a full-time position, I would accept. I really meshed well with the company culture and feel that there is ample opportunity to grow there.