Internship Alumni Quotes

Spring 2007

'Over the course of the last four months, I have been working two full time days a week at a non-profit organization which helps foster relationships between businesses and schools in the City. Under the secondary schemes branch, I headed several important events and was shocked at how much responsibility and trust they had in me. The main projects I organized were the Take Our Students to Work Days, the Lloyd’s Public Speaking Competition, and the CISCO Poster Competition. Each event required a lot of planning and liaising between schools, businesses, and volunteers. While I gained professionalism and sharpened my work related skills, I was also able to genuinely see and experience the British culture through my co-workers and project communications. Also, my work placement was incredibly flexible and allowed me to move my hours so as to enjoy the full two week spring break. I would highly recommend the Work in London program to anyone looking to become immersed in London culture, gain professional skills, and network at an international level.'

- Lisa Keem, University of Maryland

'While studying abroad in London I had the privilege of interning in a Member of Parliament's constituency office. I worked mostly on constituent casework and campaign work, but I also had the opportunity to go to Parliament and to local events with the MP. I had enough independence to do work on my own, but there were also people willing to help close by. It was beneficial to me as a professional as it vastly improved and taught me many skills necessary in the working world. It was an incredible experience overall, I was given a chance to get to know Londoners, work with them and learn more about British politics first hand than I ever could have in a classroom.'

- Rebecca Morse, University of Maryland

'My placement, at a small publishing company specializing in limited-edition, large-scale books, was not only a valuable learning experience but also a great way to meet Brits and enrich my understanding of British culture. I learned what I liked and disliked about the publishing industry, giving myself a better idea of whether it is in fact the career I want to pursue. I also interacted with real Londoners on a regular basis in a way that I think went beyond the experience of most other study abroad participants.

Perhaps most importantly, at least for a second-semester junior looking to the future, my placement certainly bolstered my career prospects. It isn’t just a line on my resume, but an experience I can talk about at length in phone interviews with companies back in the States. The organization that eventually offered me a position this summer asked me about a project I had recently seen to completion, and I was able to discuss the section of a book whose revision I spearheaded. I was able to tell them that my section had just been sent off to the publishers in China, and that my efforts will be rewarded with an editorial credit that will appear in the book.'

- Sam McGlone, University of Maryland

'The Maryland-In-London Work Placement Program provided me with an experience I would not otherwise have had. During my semester in London, I interned at a solicitors office. My worked involved conducting legal research, learning about the British legal system, and visiting the courts. My internship gave me the chance to experience the British legal system first hand. As an intern, I was able to see different and exciting parts of London. Participating in the Work Placement Program gave me the opportunity to increase my communication and research skills, and develop other useful skills that I can apply to my field of study. As a result of what I’ve learned, I am able to apply these new skills to future internships or jobs. The part I enjoyed most about my internship was meeting new British friends and networking. I can honestly say that I walked away from this experience with life long British friends and possible future employment opportunities. I highly recommend that all students participating in the Maryland-In-London program take advantage of this rare and highly rewarding experience.'

- Justin Holden, University of Maryland

'While studying in London I participated in the internship program. It was an incredible experience that I would recommend to anyone going abroad. I worked at Quintessentially Estates, a property search agent set up by sister company Quintessentially. Quintessentially is a private members club serving as a global concierge service. Its members include high status and high net worth individuals. I learned a lot through my internship about startup companies as well as gained a lot of experience in sales and marketing. Most of all though, I was given the opportunity to interact with locals, and I will leave London with friends that I would never have made had I not taken a placement. It is definitely an incredible way to enhance a semester abroad.'

- Scott Kahan, University of Maryland

'The internship I had in London was with a Member of Parliament in her constituency office. My responsibilities included working on her campaign and casework. This mainly consisted of responding to clients, collecting data, and distributing campaign flyers. I am very happy that I chose the internship option because it gave me the rare chance to immerse myself in the British working environment. I not only gained a good office experience, but also able to see what the working world and world of politics is like in a different country. I now have a much better understanding of the British political system and the responsibilities of a Member of Parliament. I would highly recommend the internship option to other students. It allowed me to truly appreciate and enjoy the study abroad experience much more than I would have if I had not chosen to participate in it.'

- Jack Korba, University of Maryland

'During my semester in London, I interned at Brentford Football Club Community Sports Trust, which is a non-profit division of the football club (soccer team) that reaches out to children in West London (where Brentford is located). I worked in the communications and marketing side of the Sports Trust and it was an absolutely awesome experience. My supervisor had complete trust in my abilities and gave me work to do that was actually meaningful to me, not just busy work. Choosing the work placement option is one of the few ways you will actually have the opportunity to meet, work and become friends with British people during your time in London. I have met some really great people while working at Brentford FC who have not only become friends, but professional contacts as well. I would definitely recommend choosing the internship option while in London. Even though your schedule will be slightly more packed than the rest of your friends, it is an amazing opportunity that you should definitely take advantage of.'

- Mariel Brady, University of Maryland