Here at Indium Corporation I have been exposed to all types of new things. As a mechanical engineering major, my schooling has included things from calculus to physics to thermodynamics, but none of that has been involved in what I have done here. This summer I’ve been working on analyzing sales data and helping advising Indium Corporation on whether or not they should begin producing a new product. This is all very interesting and exciting. However, the most valuable aspect of this internship, in my opinion, is my improved ability to communicate.
Communication is something that is, unfortunately, overlooked in engineering school but is absolutely the most important part of almost everything. It applies to your personal branding when creating your resume because you need to understand what is really important about you when you are trying to leave a great impression in a short amount of time. It is important when working with a team because, although each individual may have innovative ideas and input, without discussing with co-workers, some of those may never come to the surface. It is also vital for effective presentations because an audience is easily bored, so convincing them of a motive, goal, and procedure needs to be done efficiently.
It is easy to forget about communication skills in college, where most of your time is spend studying, doing homework, and taking tests. However, in the business world, it is used from the moment you walk in the door. I am grateful that Indium Corporation has placed so much emphasis on these skills, requiring that we write blogs and present information to supervisors. I am now excited, rather than intimidated, by communicating my ideas to others and am interested in learning new and better ways to do so.