Ali Bradley is one of several talented students featured in a series of E-Net profiles on the recent experiences of students and alumni who work alongside professionals in the Student Professional Development Center.
Beyond spending time working with career advisors in Elon鈥檚 Student Professional Development Center, Ali Bradley, a strategic communication major from Acton, Massachusetts, prepared for her interview with Raytheon, a global aerospace and defense company,听using听resources offered on the SPDC website.听鈥
Bradley is one of several talented students featured in a series of E-net profiles on the recent experiences of students and alumni who work alongside professionals in the听听to explore career interests, find job and internship opportunities, prepare for interviews, develop graduate school application materials, and more.
Bradley recently answered questions from the SPDC about her experience.
Who did you work with and what help did you receive from the Student Professional Development Center?
I worked with Amber听Moser, assistant director of career services in the School of Communications,听and Rachael Rysz, assistant director of career services for Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences,听during the process of applying and interviewing for internships, and with the guidance of Kim听Giles, SPDC communications manager.听I worked on my resume, etiquette, and interviewing skills, and went into each interview with confidence.听I also听prepared for my interview using听, one of the online resources offered on the SPDC website,听and it was a HUGE help. I听learned听about various industries, different types of interview questions,听and how听to听set myself听apart in an interview.听听
How and when did your interest in the organization听develop?
I听learned about Raytheon听from my sister’s best friend’s mother, who听worked at the organization and said it was one of her favorite places to work. She suggested I look for听internships there.
Through research, I discovered Raytheon, a global company, is a听powerful, diverse, and innovative organization, and the opportunity听would further my education and my passions.
Please tell me about the company and your role as an intern.
Raytheon is a global aerospace and defense company with six separate businesses. I served as a corporate affairs and communications summer Intern at its global headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts.听For a company with thousands of employees, I was honored to be granted so many听opportunities as an听intern. I assisted on various research projects, sat in on interviews, meetings and phone calls, and gained听hands-on experience. I was immersed in the company culture and learned听about functions outside of my own. I traveled to two business headquarters, the PR agency, and an office in Washington, D.C. I met with the听Vice President of Communications听Pam Wickham听and CEO Tom Kennedy. I was encouraged听to give back to the community, as is an expectation and ritual of all employees. Raytheon truly exemplifies leading by example, and I am so grateful for my time there.
What have you learned from the experience?
I听learned about its听companies and how corporate overseers function. I know听what a global presence really means, and how in-house communications vary from agency to agency. I worked in corporate communications functions such as听public relations,听executive communications, public affairs, business development, digital and social media, employee engagement, corporate social responsibility, attended meetings, events, and trade shows.听
My internship there was an eye-opening experience.听My two biggest takeaways include听corporate etiquette and how communications function听in-house.听There are roadblocks that come with an听internal setting. With听a global organization and government agency, there are more steps,听larger teams,听more rules, regulations,听and policies to learn,听and larger campaigns.
What recommendations would you like to share with other students about the Student Professional Development Center?
My number one recommendation is to take the time to go through the SPDC website. There are a plethora of online resources and听services available to Elon students. Use them!