Internship Spotlight: Alexandra Arbulu, Baptist Health South Florida

Alexandra Arbulu BSBA ‘23 (Management Information Systems) was an Undergraduate Data Integration Intern (Remote) at Baptist Health South Florida in Miami, Florida.

What was the process for getting this internship, job, or summer experience?

I heard from a friend about the company and while searching on LinkedIn for opportunities, Baptist Health came up with a position in the Technology and Digital department and applied for it.

What was a typical day like?

I would first log in and have brief meetings with my onboarding partner regarding how the internship was going and what I would do throughout the day. Had tasks assigned to me and completed them for the day or during the week depending on the length and difficulty. These tasks would involve the use of different platforms such as Jira, Snowflake, Informatica, and Tableau. I then had a break to eat lunch and clock out at 4:00 pm.

What was your favorite part of the experience?

I liked having the experience of working fully remotely and understanding what the process for completing tasks was like and also learning how the team communicated daily. It was a great experience overall.

If you worked on a big project, please describe it below:

The project the company was working on at the moment was migrating all of their data sources from HIVE to a cloud platform. I was involved in managing different sprints and also participated in meetings where the planning of the week's tasks where discussed.

What did you find most challenging?

I found it most challenging getting used to the system and also discovering how communications were done since the whole department was remote. It was interesting to see how the team worked together in order to complete goals while being remote.

What did you learn?

I learned about how it is complicated to manage different teams during a project in the real world and also how to use different platforms.

What advice do you have for other students looking for a similar experience, or advice for future students to be successful?

Apply to every single job you find interesting. Sometimes you will reach a point where you think you won't get any opportunities. However, with persistence, you will get there. It is not a race and your time will come when it is necessary. Never give up.

How did Eller prepare you for this experience?

Eller prepared me in first place for the interviews and application process. Also, as an MIS major, all of the programs I have used during classes have helped me to excel at the position I am at.

Did you feel supported by the company or organization you worked with?

Yes, as an intern, it can be very intimidating at first since you are new. My onboarding - partner, direct boss, and the team were very helpful and always made me feel part of the team and made sure I was included. They were also always preoccupied that I was gaining valuable knowledge from the internship and made sure to explain why everything they did was going to be useful and help the progress of the project. 

Anything else you would like to share about your summer experience?

It was a great experience having a remote opportunity. I enjoyed learning from the company as well as being back home with my family and friends. Being far from home is definitely a challenge and the fact that I could have this internship and also be home was amazing.