Being a third-year student at Richmond pursuing a BSc Data and Business Analysis, I recently had the chance to do a virtual internship as a Data Analyst Intern with BK Education Consultancy over the summer. This was an incredible experience that has greatly influenced my academic and professional development. Here are some highlights from completing an internship entirely virtually!
Highlights
“Would you like to work on quantitative data or qualitative data?” was a question my supervisor asked me on my first day that totally caught me off guard. It was then that I froze. Yes, I had learned these things in school, but what did they look like in the field? I had no idea. I opted to say, “Both,” rather than choose one and potentially miss out. I spent the following weeks working on two entirely different but equally compelling worlds. It was the best choice I could have made.
With quantitative data, I rolled up my sleeves and worked on numerical datasets – cleaning them, organizing them, and uncovering measurable patterns and trends that could shape business strategies. With qualitative data, I engrossed myself in reviewing customer feedback, analysing responses from webinars, and even working with interview transcripts to identify recurring themes and trends. This combination allowed me to see not only what was happening through the numbers but also why it was happening through the experiences of customers. By the end of the internship, I wasn’t just better at data analysis, I had clarity. I understood the practical difference between numbers that measure and words that explain, and more importantly, I discovered where my own interests truly lie.
Spreadsheets were only one part of what I did for the internship. My technical and organizational skills enhanced as I assisted in implementing the backend of webinars and meetings and collaborated with the firm’s CRM system to learn how customer data feeds business relationships. I also created client presentations that took complicated information and reorganized it into formats that made sense, were aesthetic, and then updated and maintained the Wix website, enhancing its usability and appearance.
Building basic AI assistants for tasks like scheduling and answering client inquiries was most interesting in the process of learning about business process automation. This made me interested in AI, and I learned how automation makes simple activities a breeze. Apart from soft abilities such as problem-solving, flexibility, and good communication, I had acquired actual technical knowledge by the end, including automation and data scrubbing. Building basic AI assistants for tasks like scheduling and answering client inquiries was most interesting in the process of learning about business process automation. This made me interested in AI, and I learned how automation makes simple activities a breeze.
Takeaways
Apart from soft abilities such as problem-solving, flexibility, and good communication, I had acquired actual technical knowledge by the end, including automation and data scrubbing. Above all, I discovered that growth is most fulfilling when I push myself beyond my comfort zone.
Being able to connect with and collaborate with senior researchers from different disciplines was another enriching aspect of my internship experience. I was lucky enough to expand my knowledge in terms of interpreting and applying data within diverse environments by working with them, exposing me to generous amounts of research techniques and analytical methods.
Through brainstorming, conversations, and group assignments, I was able to learn beneficial things about industry practices and the value of teamwork in delivering comprehensive, impressive results.
This internship was a journey of discovery and growth, not merely a learning opportunity. It opened my eyes to the extent to which work in data analysis can be diverse and dynamic, and how one should be open to facing new challenges.
My dedication to leveraging innovation and data-driven knowledge to create positive change has only been strengthened by this experience. Aside from new skills, I’m also bringing a fresh attitude of confidence and enthusiasm for the work ahead as I further my education and professional growth.
