This National Intern Day, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated summer 2024 interns! Many of them are joining Canfield Scientific for the first time, while some are returning for their second summer here. Despite their diverse backgrounds and varied talents, they all share the same passion, proactivity, and courage to embrace new challenges and possibilities while driving innovation at Canfield. Now halfway through their internships, they have incredible experiences to share:

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Which part of your internship do you find most exciting or challenging?

Michael: I find that being introduced to so many different fields is extremely motivating, as it opens up new topics and problem-solving techniques that I would never think of otherwise. Embracing these experiences not only broadens my horizons but also enhances my adaptability/problem-solving skills, making me more effective in my work and more resilient in the face of new challenges.

Ryan: I find trying to implement and code the security examples to be the most exciting and the most challenging. Within the code, many problems arise, and I find I enjoy developing solutions to these problems as they pop up.

Philip: The most exciting part of my job so far has been working on a wide range of projects that I have not ever done before. This is my first experience designing in a professional context. The flip side of it is that the work becomes challenging when it has real-world stakes, compared to projects I've done at school or by myself.

Lyla: The most exciting and challenging part of my job is coming up with an idea and seeing it through from start to finish. I love the process of idea generation, and I’m grateful that our team is open to letting me bring my ideas to life.

Jiatai: Seeing my code work on the screen and sharing a demonstration with the entire team! This is both the most exciting and the most challenging part. I didn’t do anything special for this challenge, just tried to keep up with my timeline on when to finish what feature. In the end, the demonstration went pretty smoothly!

Kaitlyn: I like working with the graphic and front-end side of things, solving visual issues within my projects and apps. I also enjoy researching and brainstorming ways that would benefit Canfield, yet I also find it the most challenging aspect of my tasks here. 

Alex: The part of my job that I find most exciting and which I find most challenging are one and the same: the step-by-step problem-solving process that makes up the software development cycle. I find it very fun and also a great way to learn about why the code is set up the way it is. 

What professional skills and experiences have you gained during the internship?

Michael: I definitely grew in terms of technical skills. A large part of this internship involves creating, building, or testing various components and systems - all of which are based on 50% technical and 50% problem-solving and innovation.

Ryan: From a technical stance, I became a lot more knowledgeable about mobile/iOS security, as now I know the steps needed to secure an iOS app. Otherwise, I have learned to be more concise with my explanations, only describing what needs to be done to best help others understand what I am saying.

Lyla: I've gained valuable hands-on experience in creating content that aligns with a consistent brand identity. I have also improved my ability to plan and explain things logically and in a simple way, ensuring that my team members can understand my ideas. In this sense, I've learned how to be more collaborative and efficient.

Philip: When I'm working on design projects on my own, I tend to not set any real limits for myself as far as how long I will spend on a particular detail - I will keep working until every aspect is to my liking. That has had to change working in a more fast-paced environment at Canfield, and I really appreciate it. I've heard statements before about how speed is important in design, but never really took it to heart, because I never had to until now.

Jiatai: I gained lots of hands-on experience in software development. Since I was in charge of an entire project, I had the chance to complete the entire work process, from system design to implementation, from refining code to fixing problems found by the testing team.

Alex: I have learned to strike a balance between having the confidence to ask for help when needed and having the independence to solve as much of each problem as I can before doing so. I decided to return to Canfield because I felt there was still so much to learn-- and after having such a productive and engaging time last year, I could have a head start into deeper waters.

Kaitlyn: I’ve definitely had a better sense of time management and self-responsibility ever since I started my internship here at Canfield. Of course, I’ve also grown in my ability to piece code together and creatively find ways to tackle issues that I run into.

Three words to describe Canfield’s work culture?

Philip: Driven, Motivating, and Collaborative. 

Ryan: Focused, Collaborative, and Creative.

Alex: Casual, Collaborative, and Committed.

Jiatai: Collaborative, Creative, and Practical.

Kaitlyn: Collaborative, Friendly, and Focused.

Michael: Thoughtful, Meticulous, and Supportive.

Lyla: Committed, Creative, and Collaborative.

What message or advice would you like to share with aspiring new interns?

Michael: The number one thing you should absolutely do in an internship is to ASK QUESTIONS. You are here for two reasons: To learn, and to be exposed to the professional working field. One of those two reasons is passively completed, the other, needs action. Who’s, What’s, Where’s, Why’s and How’s are your friends. Take advantage of the opportunity!

Ryan: Some advice I would share is to use the resources you have. Almost every question you may have can be answered, either by somebody within the company or through looking it up.  Knowing the resources you have and being able to utilize them will make working a lot easier.

Philip: I would tell aspiring new interns that this is most certainly an internship to aim for if you want to be given real tasks and real freedom as an intern. This is not an internship where you grab coffee or organize files - you will be working on real design problems, right from the start. It's incredibly exciting.

Lyla: Be proactive! Don’t be afraid to ask questions and present your ideas. I would also encourage aspiring interns to talk to people not just from your team but from other departments - sometimes you can learn a lot from what others are doing.

Jiatai: Don’t be nervous! People here are really nice, so don’t hesitate to reach out and ask any questions.

Kaitlyn: Be prepared to direct your full effort into your projects.

Alex: To new interns, I can't recommend Canfield enough -- just make sure you keep a good balance between being confident enough to ask when you need help and independent enough that you can solve as much of the problem as you can beforehand.

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Canfield Scientific’s internship program provides a hands-on experience in a collaborative work environment that delivers newfound insights about the intern’s interested field of study. Our expert team of managers leading the interns, many of whom have been with Canfield for over 10 years, provide mentoring, guidance, and expertise to each of the interns for them to gain a newfound understanding of their potential career choices.

Interested in joining our Canfield Scientific team?

Click here to learn more about our open opportunities!