Intern portrait-July 2010
July, 2010
Name: Jocelyn Cao
Hometown: Arcadia, California
Length of stay: 1 month
Company: Cynosure (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
Interviewer: Michelle Kirina Chan
Why did you decide to do an internship in Shanghai?
I decided to look for an internship in Shanghai mainly so I would have the chance to visit the 2010 World Expo held here this year, but little did I know that I would enjoy other aspects of the metropolitan city as well. I chose to intern in Shanghai because I knew it would be a much different experience than working in the U.S. I was pleased that Next Step Connections was able to search amongst the vast majority of companies located here and place me in a company that suited my particular interests.
So far, how is living in Shanghai?
Living in Shanghai is quite different than what I am used to. The city is bustling with crowds of people everywhere and street vendors and shopkeepers seem to take aggressive marketing to a whole new level. However, food has never tasted so good and sometimes the stalls set up in alleyways sell the best snack foods ever. Pudding milk tea for 6RMB makes it all worth living here in the city.
What do you do at your internship? What types of tasks do you have?
At my internship, I assist the company’s clients with managing their financial assets. I make sense of the numbers on various Excel spreadsheets and look over the clients’ SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). I also help translate emails for the company members who do not speak fluent English. During my downtime, I learn a little about accounting and how the company establishes its particular business models.
How do you like your internship?
I enjoy the fact that I am learning about accounting and finance. Aside from the technical tasks I have to do, this internship is also teaching me how to work and present myself at such a professional workplace. I am glad that the other interns have taken me in and under their mentorship, I am slowly starting to discover my ideal career path.
How will this internship benefit you in the future? What are your plans after this internship in Shanghai?
After this internship, I plan to take what I have learned and apply them to my studies at school. Although what I have learned is different than what I focus on for my major back at my university, I can utilize the work experience to better myself for future professions in such work environments.
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