Student Stories from Abroad - Maheen A.

Join McGill Abroad as we take a tour around McGill's global learning opportunities. Arts student Maheen completed an internship with the Synergos, and shares her highlights, insights and tips with McGill Abroad.

One of the most valuable skills I learned during my human resources internship was flexibility and adaptability. 

I worked on a different project or task nearly every day. I remember creating an organizational chart with Microsoft Visio on the first day of my internship and learning the program on the job within the first three days.  It was a completely new experience, and got me started by jumping in on two feet! Over the course of three months, my work at Synergos included data management, website development with Sharepoint, budgeting and HR compliance among many others.

I had to be adaptable not only with the tasks that I did, but also the people that I worked with. I had the opportunity to work with the Finance department of Synergos on an audit, helping the team scan and upload documents to send to the Ethiopia office. I loved the feeling of being productive and always learning with every new project. I anticipate using these transferable skills often in future internships and jobs. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the exciting field of human resources!

I appreciate that my internship allowed me to work hard in gaining practical experience in non-profit operations while also giving me plenty of time have fun to exploring a new city.

In my opinion, enjoying leisure time is crucial to getting the full experience of studying or interning abroad. If you ever take a trip abroad with McGill, remember to take some time for yourself to explore! One of my favourite attractions in New York City was the renowned MoMA, or the Museum of Modern Art! I found the works to all be unique and inspiring in their own ways. One of the most exciting parts of the museum was seeing Vincent Van Gogh's original "Starry Night" in person!

I'll never forget the feeling of roaming around midtown Manhattan.

Whether it was navigating huge skyscrapers or encountering an iconic building almost every ten steps, my internship helped me realize how much I love the atmosphere of big cities and solidified my interest in living and working in NYC one day!

 

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