IT internship programs: A great experience for managers and participants alike

Yale offers various paid internship opportunities designed to help students interested in exploring careers in information technology (IT).

The key to a successful program is ensuring a valuable experience for both the participant and the department’s staff and managers. Recently, two IT supervisors and IT internship participants shared their experiences and advice. 

Taber Lightfoot, Associate Director, User Experience 
Taber Lightfoot leads a team of user experience (UX) professionals who provide expertise in UX strategy, user research, and usability best practices for the Yale community. Using her professional and managerial experience, Taber was one of the managers Annabelle Halliday, a Brian J. Wolson Rotational Career Development Program (ECDP) intern, worked with during her first 4-month rotation in IT. 
Annabelle worked closely with UX designers on the team and gained direct experience while learning what it means to be a UX designer in higher education. The UX team was so impressed with Annabelle that they encouraged her to apply for a permanent position in the department when a business analyst position became available.

 “The ECDP is a great opportunity for participants to get exposure to different aspects of an IT organization. It’s also a great mentoring opportunity for the people training and interacting with the participant,” says Taber.

Annabelle Halliday, Business Analyst, User Experience

Annabelle Halliday learned about the ECDP while she was working with the Student Technology Collaborative and attending college. 

Everything about her experience was new, the departments, the people, and the responsibilities. “Before starting this rotation, I couldn’t tell you a single thing about UX design. I had to learn new skills, terms, and workflows, but I’m lucky to be on a team that encourages my curiosity and challenges my critical thinking skills. Becoming an ECDP participant allowed me to have a mentor that led me through projects with confidence. The program supports the transition from college to the real world effectively while still giving individuals the opportunity to grow within a team,” says Annabelle.

Annabelle was hired into a permanent position on the UX team in January 2021. Interestingly, this all happened remotely due to the pandemic—the ECDP rotation and her new job.

In May, Annabelle graduated from Western Governor’s University with a bachelor’s degree in IT management. She is a strong proponent of the ECDP program and offers some sage advice to recent college graduates. “Have a proactive approach to your work; if you have an idea, suggest it, and if you see where improvements can be made, don’t be scared to discuss it. Yale is a place that appreciates creative, agile minds. Participating in the ECDP has been an advantageous jumpstart to my career that I’d never give back,” says Annabelle.

Vijayshree Erodula, Associate Director, Student and Academic Support Systems

Vijayshree Erodula manages the team responsible for building, integrating, and supporting many of Yale’s student administrative and academic systems used by students, administrators, and faculty. Hiring Rayleen Paret, an applicant from the Yale ITS Summer College Internship Program pool, was an easy decision for Vijayshree. 

“The internship and ECDP are great initiatives to build and nurture a student with little to no experience who is curious to learn and build their career path. The internship program builds an intentional partnership between the supervisor, team, and new hire. Everyone works collaboratively for the success of each other incorporating constant learning, building trust, timely constructive feedback, brainstorming ideas, delivering results, learning from mistakes, and being part of next generation of effective leaders,” says Vijayshree. 

 “It has been a great experience being Rayleen’s supervisor guiding her professional career in our group and at Yale. Our team is so proud to see Rayleen’s progress in taking any task and quickly understanding the needs, seeking guidance where appropriate, learning the process or technology, and delivering results. She has evolved in a short period beyond my expectations,” says Vijayshree.

Rayleen was hired permanently as a junior application developer reporting to Vijayshree upon completion of her internship.

Rayleen Paret, Jr. Application Developer, Student and Academic Support Systems

Rayleen was a junior at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) studying computer science when she decided to apply for the ITS Summer College Internship Program. 

During her internship, Rayleen was immersed in working for the first time on databases, packages, and various programming languages within different student applications. “At the time, I was a college junior and worried I didn’t have enough programming knowledge to qualify for the internship. I received great support and coaching from my manager Vijayshree Erodula and teammates. My fears quickly calmed as I learned what it truly means to be a developer,” says Rayleen.

 “In the past year, I’ve created applications from scratch and implemented urgent fixes. I also mentored summer and ECDP interns, interviewed additional early career candidates, onboarded new employees, and more. I’m ecstatic to say that I have truly learned so much in a short time. I’m looking forward to continuing my growth and skills not only as a developer but also as a Yale employee,” says Rayleen.

Last May, Rayleen graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.