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Follow us on TwitterM+NLB through the Eyes of an Intern
Posted by Clare Zimmerman on August 09, 2010 at 12:38pm
Being labeled as an intern can connote certain stereotypes, such as Starbucks runs to fetch coffee, making endless amounts of copies, and just generally doing the grunt work no one else has any desire to do. And as college students, most of us have come to accept this role, because we know that everyone has to start somewhere, right? At M+NLB, while I have done the occasional tedious task, I have also had the opportunity to contribute my input and generally feel like I’m a critical member of the team.
As the intern for the Marketing Department, I have worked on, and learned about, a wide range of different aspects of the company. One of my first projects was to alphabetize the project lists, and while the thought sounds tedious, I was able to benefit from the task in three different ways. First, I was introduced to Adobe InDesign, a design program I had always wanted to learn how to use. Second I was able to see the type of work M+NLB did and begin learning the vocabulary of the consulting and healthcare industries. And finally, I was able to hone my skill in singing the alphabet song (I’m sure a benefit of this skill will present itself soon).
In addition to project lists, I have been editing employee resumes, writing blog posts, attending meetings, and helping out when someone gets too busy. With each project, I have learned skills such as how to move text around on InDesign, how to navigate Deltek, and how to write emails that people will read and respond to. However, through my work I have also discovered some aspects of M+NLB that make the firm different from other consulting firms I am familiar with.
One of the first things that struck me about M+NLB is the firm’s “connectedness,” for lack of a better term. Within the first week, I was told about the numerous blogs, both on the intranet site and on the main site, the Facebook page, as well as a Twitter feed. Although all of these forms of internet communication are fairly commonplace for my generation, to see a company using not only one of these avenues of communication, but all three, was incredibly cool. And after my first day of work, I went home and “Became a Fan” of M+NLB on Facebook.
However, the thing that I have noticed the most about M+NLB is the firm’s sincere desire to promote improvement and sustainability in the healthcare industry. I knew little about healthcare before I started working here, and consequently knew even less about how healthcare is approaching “going green.” I am still very far from becoming an expert, but from sitting in meetings and reading emails, I have learned a lot about how M+NLB is working to improve hospital’s energy consumption and waste management. In addition to the firm’s own projects, both M+NLB’s assistance in Haiti and recent work to help improve and maintain Energy Star in Healthcare step outside the typical work I thought consulting firms did. And as I continue working here in Marketing, I hope to learn more about and help contribute to M+NLB’s work to improve the healthcare industry.
As I have learned, each internship brings new skills and new insights, so what have you discovered during your internships?
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