Humanities Internship Spotlight
Yeondoo Lim | Casey Congdon | Drew Gordillo
Humanities students gain valuable, career-ready skills through their coursework and co-curricular programs. Internships offer an essential opportunity to apply these skills in real-world settings, explore potential career paths, and gain professional experience. For many students, completing an internship is a key step in successfully transitioning from college to the workplace.
I am majoring in communication at the University of Utah Asia Campus and am interested in content production and digital copyright protection. I applied for the OCR text and research analysis position because I want to work in the digital media field. One of the main reasons is that our society cannot live without digital media. That is why I want to know how it relates to our lives and how to protect and support it. The internship at MarqVision Korea focused on protecting intellectual property rights in global marketplaces, providing a valuable opportunity to apply my academic knowledge and interests in a practical setting.
During the internship, I was responsible for analyzing information using optical character recognition (OCR) data and investigating whether counterfeit products were being distributed in the global marketplace. In particular, collecting international identification information, such as VAT numbers and GTIN/UPCs, required accuracy and strong research skills. The work was more structured than I had expected. Through this process, I was able to develop practical skills like data research and information verification.
Some may think that this type of work is not related to the communication major because it appears more suited to information systems or business. This may be because communication students often do not have basic knowledge of this field. However, if you understand these digital systems and structures, you can see that it is also connected to communication, especially through research skills and presenting findings in team scrum sessions. The communication skills I’ve learned in school, such as clear writing and professional organization, were also useful. If I have a chance to take a similar position again, I would gladly do so. This experience helped me realize that even as a communication student, I can pursue opportunities in the digital media industry. I want to tell other communication students: “Do not be afraid to apply, even if the job seems unfamiliar at first.” As the media industry continues to evolve toward data-based planning and strategy, this internship has provided a strong foundation for my future career.
During my time at Tonopalo Private Residence Club in Lake Tahoe, California, I’ve been lucky to experience and perform skill-enriching work that I will carry with me throughout my professional career. My role primarily involved assisting the general manager and board members with a range of tasks, including meeting write-ups, critical thinking and decision-making, social media production, and—most importantly—learning how to thrive in a team-driven work environment.
Coming into this internship, I had no prior experience with professional office or desk work and felt nervous entering my senior year of college without it—especially knowing that, in just a year, I hope to land a professional job. But this internship has given me the confidence I need to step into the professional world when the time comes. I couldn’t be more grateful to have had this opportunity.
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at Beagle, which is on pace to become the fastest-growing startup to come out of Y Combinator. What drew me to this internship was winning a cold-calling competition hosted by the University of Utah and sponsored by Beagle. That competition not only tested my sales skills under pressure but also connected me directly with the Beagle team.
I began my internship as a business development representative (BDR), where I quickly learned the art of persuading potential clients through outbound calls. The role pushed me to develop communication, objection-handling, and time management skills in a fast-paced, real-world sales environment.
What made this internship especially rewarding was how quickly I was able to grow within the company. In just six weeks, I was promoted to account executive, gaining more responsibility and the opportunity to manage client relationships and ultimately close deals. In addition, Beagle has entrusted me with a new challenge for the upcoming fall semester: launching a micro office on campus. My role will be to recruit, train, and manage a team of University of Utah seniors, preparing them to step into full-time, salaried roles with Beagle upon graduation. This responsibility has expanded my leadership skills and deepened my understanding of talent development—experience that complements my major perfectly.
This internship has been invaluable in bridging the gap between academics and real-world experience. While my classes provided a solid foundation, the hands-on learning at Beagle has accelerated my career readiness, especially in sales and team management. I encourage other students to pursue opportunities like this—especially ones that challenge them to grow beyond their initial roles. Balancing an internship, school, and personal life can be tough, but staying organized and maintaining clear priorities made it manageable. This experience has not only prepared me for a career but also inspired me to help others succeed through the micro-office initiative.
