Abbott

Operations Intern

May - August 2018 • Lake Forest, IL

What I liked

I enjoyed being able to fully experience the work place in a real life setting. I lived 8 hours away from home, had to cook for myself, find my own transportation, and work 40 hours a week. While most of the learning I did was during the work hours, I also learned a lot about balancing life with work as well.

What I wish was different

I wish that I could have had more analytical experience where I got to work hands on with data. My main project for the summer dealt mainly with documentation, so it did not fit my particular interests for studies.

Advice

Everyone there is so excited to have you as a part of the work environment. Take advantage of that. Meet new people and dive into the company culture to really experience the company for all that it has to offer. I know for myself, I would go with the interns every week to the office breakfast, which was a great way for me to catch up with my friends while also networking with others as well.

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Systems Engineering Intern

May - August 2018 • Pleasanton, CA

What I liked

I love medical technology in general but I got to experience different types of jobs in my internship. Most importantly I was able to apply my skills in data collection and analysis for projects at the company.

What I wish was different

I would not have changed a thing. If I had to say something it would be I wish I could have stayed longer but due to school I had to cut my experience to 3 months instead.

Advice

I got this job with no prior experience. I went in hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. My advice is be confident in your knowledge. Show that you know what you are talking about and take it upon yourself to ask for opportunities. If I had just sat in my cubical waiting for someone to hand me a project, I probably would have not done a single thing in my time at Abbott. It is up to you and you only what you make of your opportunities. Always ask for work/opportunities even if it is menial work. Don't complain about monotonous work either. Take it on with a smile because the more you show how committed you are and how hard working you are the more respect and trust you will gain from your employees and the more you will get interesting projects/opportunities in the future.

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PROCESS DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER

January - August 2018 • Sylmar, CA

What I liked

Fast paced, designing manufacturing equipment, turning ideas into reality, all while improving the lives of others.

What I wish was different

N/A

Advice

I learned so many real-word skills which are not possible inside of a classroom environment. I would definitely recommend applying for an internship or co-op experience! It will be worth it!

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Manufacturing Engineering Intern

May - August 2018 • Scarborough, ME

What I liked

The environment at Abbott Rapid Diagnostics is really collaborative and engaging. People are really excited to talk about their work and help you learn about what they do. I learned a lot from this experience and it made me feel prepared to enter the 'real' world after graduation.

What I wish was different

I was the only intern in the engineering department, and it would have been fun to have another person there. However, there were other interns in different departments who I was able to talk with, and I really got to know the other engineers. They were super nice and always included me.

Advice

I got this opportunity because I job shadowed there the summer before. Because I had made the effort to do this, I was the first person they interviewed. They liked me and hired me on the spot without interviewing anyone else. I'm sure that there were a lot of really qualified candidates, but showing that initiative and making connections early gave me a huge advantage. My advice- reach out to companies first without asking for an interview or job. Get to know them first.

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Intern

June - August 2018 • Lake Bluff, IL

What I liked

The team was very supportive and collaborative. Each intern had a mentor to guide them through their summer project and help them with progress. Most of the work was fairly independent, making me feel more apart of the team and holding myself accountable for my work responsibilities.

What I wish was different

Advice

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R&D Engineering Intern

June - August 2019 • Menlo Park, CA

What I liked

It was good experience learning how engineering projects work in the real world. I got good hands-on experience using different machines, as well as good CAD experience. I also got the opportunity to lead my own project which was very valuable.

What I wish was different

For a mechanical engineer or anyone interested in product development or R&D, this internship was perfect and I wouldn't want anything to be different. However, I am not necessarily interested in this career path so while the experience was valuable, it wasn't something I would want to do with my career.

Advice

Be sure to network with as many people as possible and to ask for help when you need it!

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Manufacturing Engineering Intern

May - August 2018 • Plymouth, MN

What I liked

Great group I worked, lots of knowledgeable people with lots of help to offer and experience to impart to me.

What I wish was different

Less measurements.

Advice

It's best to know if you want to pursue manufacturing engineering or not.

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Purchasing Intern

May - August 2019 • Temecula, CA

What I liked

Everyone was more than willing to lend a hand and answer questions. Employees were very welcoming to interns and included us in events regularly.

What I wish was different

I wish the culture had been less formal, whole company felt slightly old and hierarchical

Advice

Meet your steakholders early on while onboarding! They are going to be your key to success.

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Shipping Intern

May - August 2019 • North Chicago, IL

What I liked

I like the consistent hours, getting out earlier on Fridays, learning lots of new skills and jobs within the warehouse, and expanding my knowledge.

What I wish was different

I wish that I could have done more difficult jobs that required more problem solving and more communication.

Advice

Treat everyone with the same amount of respect and professionalism.

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Advanced Process Development Engineer

June 2017 • Dallas, TX

What I liked

I was presented with very challenging and rewarding experiences. It definitely showed me how to transition my classroom skills to industry.

What I wish was different

N/a - I've really enjoyed my experience

Advice

Apply early and often. Try to experience multiple companies.

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Finance Intern

June - August 2015 • Milpitas, CA

What I liked

I loved the structure and opportunities of the program.

What I wish was different

Updated computers (I.e. using latest version of excel) and less of a "bottom-line" culture.

Advice

I highly recommend this internship to those who I offered the opportunity. The opportunity of the rotational program upon graduation is worth it in of itself. Global Company that provides with global opportunities.

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Automated Test Engineering, Co-op

July - December 2016 • Plano, TX

What I liked

Lots of responsibility, amazing facility, talented colleagues

What I wish was different

More design work, less documentation

Advice

Be as well-rounded as possible and prove that you're passionate about something.

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Automated Test Engineering Co-Op

January - June 2017 • Sylmar, CA

What I liked

This was a fantastic opportunity to gain real, valuable, hands-on experience. You are there for 6 months, which is a long time to really get involved in projects and see your work get done and make a difference in the company. At Abbott, they have the interns doing work that matters, which was awesome.

What I wish was different

I wish that I would have taken more advantage of the resources/opportunities that a large company like Abbott has to offer. I only really started using some of their tools/instruments (such as 3-D printers) the last couple of weeks that I was there, and they had so many more opportunities that I could have learned from that I just didn't get the chance to utilize (such as attending an open-heart surgery).

Advice

Don't be afraid to ask questions! I know that this has been said a million times before, but I never realized how true it is until I started working. I was intimidated by everyone and thought that all of my co-workers had superior knowledge and would be bothered by my seemingly-trivial questions, but I learned to just ask them anyways, since most people are happy to help no matter how silly your question may seem. I wouldn't have learned half as much as I did if I did not ask questions.

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Process Engineer Coop

July - December 2017 • Plano, TX

What I liked

I had the opportunity to work hands on with neuromodulation products and gain valuable industry experience. A lot of the employees there are extremely friendly and open to the coops. When working with a medical device company, there is a lot of time allocated towards documenting in a cubicle. However, you are given the opportunity to execute those protocols and write meaningful reports that have a positive impact on the company. It truly believed I was making a difference at this company and felt useful to them. I enjoyed working there for 6 months; at the 3 month mark, where everyone who does an internship returns to school, I felt like I was just getting into the flow of things at Abbott: I was familiar with acronyms, my project was in full swing mode, and I felt like I had become a part of the community at Abbott. The experience I have gained here has been beneficial to my career.

What I wish was different

Starting the coop was pretty slow; it is hard to adjust to a new working environment. Abbott provides a 1 day course on the basic knowledge of the products they create at the Plano location. I took this course 3 months into my coop and I wish I had taken it earlier.

Advice

Don't be afraid to say "I don't know". There are a lot of times acronyms or terms are said that can be confusing. When you are lost in a conversation, feel free to interject to ask questions. It is better to do so then sit quietly at a 30 minute meeting not knowing what is going on.

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