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Alumni Share Advice With DC Student Interns

DC workshop

Fifty-five Duke students currently completing internships in Washington, D.C., gathered at the Duke in DC offices Monday night for a panel discussion on how to make the most of their summer experiences.

The panelists, four Duke alumni, shared tips from their personal and professional experiences on how to become a dependable source of good work; how to be proactive in finding projects to streamline office efficiency; and how to take advantage of living in the nation’s capitol.

“I came tonight because I wanted to find out information on how to be a better intern,” Kwabena Andoh-Baidoo (T ’17), “And not only did I hear concrete example about how to ask for deadlines, when to ask clarifying questions of my supervisor; but I also gained more information about the vast network of Duke alumni that Duke students have access to here in D.C.”

The panel included Michael Calvo (T ’02), deputy chief of staff to Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA); Vikram Srinivasan (T ’10), a consultant at The Advisory Board Company; Donald Wine (T ’04), an independent attorney; and Melissa Yeo (T ’13), program manager at BlueText.

When asked what made an intern stand out to employers, Srinivasan said it boiled down to interns doing two things: pay attention and build relationships. Yao agreed, but added that it’s important to remember to review work, reduce simple errors, and remember the internship is a learning experience – in other words, “check the attitude.”

Below: Bradley Baird (right), T ’14, chats with a Duke student following the panel discussion.

Duke in DC