Student Perspectives: Tech in Public Service
Mariana Futoro de Lima (MS Business Analytics, Data Analytics)
I am currently an intern at the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) in the Information Technology Unit. Some of my duties included data analysis and assist in Artificial Intelligent Audits. Although I learned many important skills in the internship, the one I appreciated the most was data analytics and how I was able to apply them to real-world operations. From the beginning, my team took the time to understand my goals as a Business Analytics student and supported my learning.
I shared my interest in gaining hands-on experience on it in a real office environment, and they provided me with training in tools such as SQL and Alteryx. This helped me build skills that I can carry into future roles and confidently speak about in interviews, and I am very grateful for this experience After this experience, I’m interested in continuing to grow in the areas of Data Science and Data Engineering. These fields align closely with my academic interests and the projects I’ve enjoyed the most.
One of my biggest contributions in the Office was testing new artificial intelligence tools the Unit was considering for employee use. One example was “Stanford Storm,” a tool designed to explore topics through a discussion format. After testing it and doing additional research, I shared feedback on its limitations, mostly around bias and the reliability. I also provided insights on alternative AI tools, which helped inform decisions about whether these tools should be implemented more broadly with other employees.
With the State Government Accountability Department and Information Technology Unit, I could network by building strong relationships with my team, especially through weekly checkins with my supervisor and bis team. I showed enthusiasm for my work as an intern and their projects, which helped demonstrate my interest in OSC and made a positive impression that could lead to future opportunities.
For students having a hard time finding an internship, my advice would be to fully use the resources available to you. GCMC was extremely helpful for resume review, crafting cover letters, and preparing for interviews. I also regularly applied to positions through Handshake and attended networking events. Hearing from successful alumni was motivating and encouraged me to keep pushing forward.
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