Hometown: Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
Major and class standing: Experience Architecture major, Computer Science minor, Senior
LinkedIn: Walker (Owen) Widdis
Where you interned: Michigan State University College of Arts and Letters Content Studio
What was your internship title and role/responsibilities?
My Internship title is UX Designer and Researcher. Within the MSU Content Studio, I play a variety of different roles, such as website management, recording site analytics, content and accessibility auditing, quality assurance checks, and much more. My time at the Content Studio has exposed me to incredible people, environments, and learning experiences.
How did you obtain your internship? What resources did you utilize to secure your internship?
Last spring, I took the course, AL 250, which taught me all about career strategies. Toward the end of this class, I decided to reach out to my professor, Maggie Harris, who helped me network and apply for this position!
What did your daily routine include?
During the summer, I worked 4-hour shifts 5 days a week, and during the school year, my schedule is built around my classes. One thing I love about this internship is that I am always working on something new each day and I am constantly learning new things! I usually spend my time working on large projects alongside the lead website manager, Ben Tobey. We focus on many different projects at once and it is very cool to see all the different moving parts come together.
Your favorite experience from the internship?
I really love seeing UI and UX principles in action! It is so cool to see what I am learning in my classes being applied to the work that I am doing. Seeing all the different aspects of the XA major reflect themselves in my job is very exciting.
What was your least favorite part of the internship?
It is definitely being remote for the majority of the internship. As someone who has worked at jobs in environments around people all the time, this was definitely a big change of pace for me. Although the internship is mainly remote, I am able to go into the Content Studio and work with the team from time to time, which is always a refreshing experience.
What skills did you learn and/or build upon during your internship?
I think the main thing that I have learned is how to work effectively in a team and project management. Our team is constantly juggling multiple projects at once, but we always find a way to stay on top of it all despite the overwhelming workload at times. Alongside these skills, I have learned many valuable UI and UX skills that I will be able to carry throughout my professional career.
What did you learn about the industry or your career path as a result of the internship? What are your future plans?
As for my future plans, I am still unsure of the exact position I may want to fill, but this internship has taught me that I am in the right field of work. I learned that I really enjoy studying and doing UI and UX work and I am eager to see what the future holds for me!
What advice do you have for other students seeking out internship opportunities?
Networking is so so important!! It may seem daunting at first, but chatting with your professors and other classmates is so key! You will learn so much from them and they are always willing to help you!
