Sara Cleever-Thorpe
A NCL internship working as a graphic design intern for a start-up company helped Sara develop graduate-level specialist skills. The internship also helped to grow connections, expand her knowledge and develop her confidence.
Why were you interested in doing an internship?
I was interested in doing an internship as I wanted to gain experience in the creative sector of graphic design, an area which I am interested in potentially progressing into after I have finished my studies.
I was aware of the variety of different internships available through the university and I thought it would be invaluable first-hand experience, helping to enhance my skills and prepare me for the future.
The way that the working hours of the internship were flexible appealed to me, as it allowed me to balance my other working commitments alongside it. I chose this specific intern role as I was very passionate about the company's ethos and aims and I got excited about the prospect of using my artistic skills to contribute to the designs.
The challenge of learning more about new areas, such as animation, interested me as I knew I would gain lots of transferable new skills which would benefit me in the future.
What support did you receive from the Careers Service?
I found out about my internship on the MyCareers website. I found the application process very straight-forward and was shortly after contacted directly from the company regarding an interview.
I had two interviews and sent across my portfolio showing some of my graphic design work. The Careers Service was great at giving me support during this process. I had an appointment with a CV adviser to help hone my CV and covering letter, and I also talked to an Information adviser which helped with my interview preparation.
This support really helped me to feel more confident when it came to applying for different opportunities, enabling me to overcome the inevitable interview nerves.
What skills have you learned or developed?
I have learned lots of new skills during my internship, such as using specialised animation software, storyboarding techniques, time-management in order to meet deadlines, as well as enhancing my communication and teamwork skills, allowing me to be more confident at sharing my ideas and collaborating effectively with others to create the best possible outcome.