This publish was authored by Richie Basile, a communications specialist intern on the Public Affairs Crew.
Having no earlier expertise with tech firms, I actually had no concept what an internship could be like at Cisco. I had executed my due diligence and browse up on the corporate tradition, some key metrics for progress and all the opposite primary firm data I may get my fingers on main as much as my June begin date. And whereas I did have expectations and a few objectives to succeed in through the summer time, I didn’t know what to anticipate, particularly as a low-income faculty pupil with a multicultural background — my mother is from Colombia, my dad from Italy — and having lived in Colombia beforehand. I used to be a bit fearful about becoming in. It seems, nothing may put together me for the fast-paced, eight-week expertise right here.
From day one, Cisco felt like someplace I may actually unfold my wings. I’ve been engaged on the Public Affairs Crew, and my incredible supervisor and my extremely supportive mentor have made this expertise really distinctive. They’ve been my guides, serving to me navigate Cisco with all its thrilling potentialities. One minute I’m collaborating on a venture inside our workforce, the subsequent I’m partnering and having talks with people from utterly completely different departments. It’s like being on a tech-savvy model of “The Amazing Race.” What’s actually struck me is how genuinely supportive everyone seems to be, from my quick workforce to colleagues throughout the corporate. They by no means hesitate to present you their time, irrespective of how busy their schedule, or lend an ear if you want it. It’s like having a complete firm stuffed with mentors with invaluable steering.
Being a mile away from the RTP workplace has been a game-changer, too. Inside the first few weeks of my begin date, I discovered myself at a Durham Bulls baseball recreation with 45 different interns. We had superior terrace seats, scrumptious meals, free drinks, and the prospect to talk with one another, discovering we have been all sharing a mixture of pleasure about our new roles and a contact of nerves about becoming into Cisco’s tradition. Because the summer time has gone on, I’ve met so many individuals that I in any other case wouldn’t have encountered simply by being current and interacting within the workplace and having lunch on the cafe. There may be at all times one thing taking place on the primary ground of Constructing 7 in RTP, the place the interns are, so touching base with different sectors of Cisco there was extremely useful for me in understanding the enterprise and its features much more.
I’ve additionally had the chance to hitch a few of Cisco’s Inclusive Communities, which I extremely suggest to anybody, particularly these simply beginning out at Cisco or early in profession. The Filipino Skilled Community, Linked Black Professionals (CBP), and Conexión LatinX Community are the teams that I frolicked with throughout this summer time. I attended Cisco Radiate, a convention for Black professionals hosted by CBP, on the RTP campus and Juneteenth occasions — each have been superior! — and have plans to proceed volunteering with different teams, too. These communities have been like discovering little households inside the bigger firm the place I related with others who share comparable backgrounds and experiences as me and found a way of belonging and reassurance.
As I prepare for my final semester of college, wrapping up my diploma at North Carolina State College (Go Pack!) this December, majoring in Public Relations, I can’t assist however really feel a mixture of feelings. On one hand, I’m unhappy that my internship is coming to an finish. On the opposite, I’m extremely enthusiastic about what the longer term holds, armed with all I’ve realized and skilled right here at Cisco.
For anybody on the market contemplating making use of for an internship at Cisco, all I can say is do it. It’s been difficult, certain, however in all the perfect methods. I’ve grown extra in these eight weeks than I may have imagined, each professionally and personally. The talents I’ve gained and the connections I’ve made shall be invaluable as I navigate the subsequent steps in my profession.
So right here’s to Cisco — for the alternatives, the laughs, the challenges, and for displaying me what it actually means to be a part of a workforce. It’s been an excellent experience, and I wouldn’t change a factor!
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