The atmosphere of the workplace was very familial and I didn't know that was possible! Working in an environment where everyone is so kind to each other makes going to work way more enjoyable. Also, I liked that the work their was in a sense "closed-loop". Whichever project the engineers were working on was seen from start to finish since most of the stakeholders were there for the meetings in person and the sites of the project were just a simple drive on the runway.
What I wish was different
I wish I had started the internship earlier but there were HR issues.Nevertheless, I will always be grateful for the time I was there since I learned a lot from working alongside real engineers to sharpening my AutoCAD skills.
Advice
Never be afraid to aim high! This internship changed my outlook in what kind of working environment I want to be in. There will always be a working place where it feels right for everyone.
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Administrative Assistant Intern
August 2018 - June 2019 • South San Francisco, CA
What I liked
I really like the mentors because they were very supportive and the fast-paced environment.
What I wish was different
I wish that they can allow students to do another internship where you can explore a different department from the previous one.
Advice
One piece of advice I would like to share is always reached out to mentors or other connections because they can offer support and advice that can be impactful.
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Sustainability and Environmental Policy Intern
June - August 2019 • San Francisco, CA
What I liked
I liked that this internship paired you with a mentor in your department of interest. I was able to speak with my mentor about what I was interested and curious about and then was able to mold my work plan based on that. I contributed to many different projects and was able to collaborate with other interns in some cases. This internship also had a professional development component in which interns had the opportunity to participate in resume workshops, LinkedIn workshops, mock interviews, etc.
What I wish was different
This was a 10 week summer internship program and I wish it would have been longer!
Advice
This internship at the San Francisco International Airport offers a range of positions, from Marketing and Accounting to Museum Studies, so I highly recommend researching whether they have a position in your field of interest.
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Collections Assistant Intern
June - August 2019 • San Francisco, CA
What I liked
The people I worked with were absolutely amazing. They were not only kind and supportive but wonderfull to talk too. The work itself was also very interesting and engaging. I got to work with so many different historical objects in the collection, and I also learned about many other interesting positions in the museum.
What I wish was different
I really wish I could have stayed longer. The internship itself was ten weeks.
Advice
I would definitely recommend applying for internships in the Museum and other departments in SFO. The only thing I would warn about is that some days the work in the collections space was very repetitive. I personally liked this aspect of the work, but I do know that for some it can be difficult.
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Environmental Operations Intern
June - August 2019 • South San Francisco, CA
What I liked
working in a diverse environment of an airport where you did something different everyday
What I wish was different
i wish i worked outside more as the internship included mostly office work
Advice
make the most of your internship by attending classes or airport tours
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Design Trainee
June - September 2019 • San Francisco, CA
What I liked
Working at the airport is the best experience I have ever had. I went to a lot of airfield inspections, worked on projects around the planes. Very nice people and they were very helpful to teach me a lot.
What I wish was different
Closer to home. I was commuting 2 hrs one way.
Advice
It’s an amazing experience. Apply online on the city and county of SF and you could be selected as an intern for the city.
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Security Guard
July 2018 • South San Francisco, CA
What I liked
Communication within the security division is excellent. Work environment changes daily throughout week. Equipment is functional and supplemental to daily reporting.
What I wish was different
More collaboration among various departments.
Advice
Maintaining and utilizing a chain of command is essential to any workplace operation.
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Design Trainee
May - August 2018 • San Francisco, CA
What I liked
Gaining experience relevant to my field in a location where I got to also immerse myself in a lot of other different learning experiences as well as the openness of SFO and its employees and their well established intern program.
What I wish was different
I can honestly say there is nothing I would change, I had a blast learning at work each and every day as well as learning more about SF.
Advice
Do not be afraid of taking an opportunity that seems scary or even challenging, sometimes that's what one needs in order to truly learn: by getting out of your comfort zone.
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Human Resources Intern
June - August 2018 • San Francisco, CA
What I liked
The internship paid well, the staff brought me on and treated me like a member of the team from day 1. There were plenty of chances to interact with other interns and Airport commission staff and they allowed me freedom to take on special projects and additional tasks.
What I wish was different
The objective of the internship because a little confusing at times and sometimes I did not know who to report to for what. Public service trends to be very bureaucratic.
Advice
If you are interested in public service, aviation, or any of the various things they do at an airport, SFO is a great place to go. They truly care about their interns and they have had the program for a very long time. I know that they love to hire their interns afterwards as well and city jobs come with great benefits.
