Mae Wang is studying BSc Management with International Business (Year in Business) at Royal Holloway and is currently doing at 12 month placement as a Project Manager at NetApp. In this guest blog Mae talks about the Project Management role and her tips for YIB students.
Project Management Internship at NetApp, Inc.
Just coming into my third month at NetApp as a Project
Manager Intern, first, let me say that it is not what I had initially thought
of. – In a good way.
Manager Intern, first, let me say that it is not what I had initially thought
of. – In a good way.
When I first started looking for placements, like many
others, I was looking for HR/Marketing positions. When this role was advertised
by NetApp, only 30 applicants applied. Compared to the 200+ applications for
their Marketing roles. I debated whether to apply for this role as the title
‘Associate Project Manager’ sounded like a big responsibility and I also didn’t
know that much about project management itself. However, after the various
interviews, it was clear that the hiring managers were more interested in my
transferable skills and willingness to learn new things than ‘what I knew about
project management’ (although it would help, massively).
others, I was looking for HR/Marketing positions. When this role was advertised
by NetApp, only 30 applicants applied. Compared to the 200+ applications for
their Marketing roles. I debated whether to apply for this role as the title
‘Associate Project Manager’ sounded like a big responsibility and I also didn’t
know that much about project management itself. However, after the various
interviews, it was clear that the hiring managers were more interested in my
transferable skills and willingness to learn new things than ‘what I knew about
project management’ (although it would help, massively).
For those who have not heard of NetApp before, NetApp is an
American multinational storage and data management company. It has ranked in
the Fortune 500 since 2012 and is listed on NASDAQ with a revenue of $5.54
billion (2016). I am based in the Uxbridge office and the atmosphere is quite
relaxed, everyone is very friendly – you could literally walk up to anyone and
start a conversation.
American multinational storage and data management company. It has ranked in
the Fortune 500 since 2012 and is listed on NASDAQ with a revenue of $5.54
billion (2016). I am based in the Uxbridge office and the atmosphere is quite
relaxed, everyone is very friendly – you could literally walk up to anyone and
start a conversation.
I am the only intern in the Professional Services department
and my team consists of 10 very experienced Project Managers. Due to my
predecessor working remotely, my handover period was relatively short and the
first few weeks felt like I was thrown into the deep end. But it helped me to
learn at a quick pace, to be pro-active and I felt empowered to discover
processes through trial and error. It also allowed me to build a network with
different people in the office. (I also bugged other PMs 24/7, following them
around and asking a thousand questions.)
My line manager is extremely supportive and encouraging.
Instead of making me do coffee rounds he has put me on multimillion-dollar
projects. The main project I’m working on is for a High Street Bank, assisting the Global
Programme Manager with the delivery the project in four countries (US, Mexico,
UK and Hong Kong). I am responsible for managing and tracking project
milestones, monitoring actual expenditure against budgeted, completing project
key performance indicators (RADIO Log) to list a few. Did I mention I use Excel daily? – not
something I anticipated but I have grown to appreciate their beauty!
Instead of making me do coffee rounds he has put me on multimillion-dollar
projects. The main project I’m working on is for a High Street Bank, assisting the Global
Programme Manager with the delivery the project in four countries (US, Mexico,
UK and Hong Kong). I am responsible for managing and tracking project
milestones, monitoring actual expenditure against budgeted, completing project
key performance indicators (RADIO Log) to list a few. Did I mention I use Excel daily? – not
something I anticipated but I have grown to appreciate their beauty!
Overall, the role of a Project Manager is intense and
requires a high level of time management and organisational skills but at the
same time, you will also learn very quickly and gain a lot of key transferable
skills with the opportunity to build a long list of credible contacts both
internally and externally. NetApp has been fantastic in terms of developing
their interns, they are currently funding my Prince2 qualification for
professional Project Managers.
requires a high level of time management and organisational skills but at the
same time, you will also learn very quickly and gain a lot of key transferable
skills with the opportunity to build a long list of credible contacts both
internally and externally. NetApp has been fantastic in terms of developing
their interns, they are currently funding my Prince2 qualification for
professional Project Managers.
My tips for the
current YIB students who are looking for placements are to be bold in your
choices, apply for roles that are not heard of, even if you don’t have the
knowledge or experience it could open new doors to you.
current YIB students who are looking for placements are to be bold in your
choices, apply for roles that are not heard of, even if you don’t have the
knowledge or experience it could open new doors to you.
P.S. Take additional training in Excel!!!!
You will thank me later!
You will thank me later!
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