Brooke Hance

Major: Apparel, Merchandising, and Design (Fashion)
Minor/option/emphasis: Select a minor
Company/Organization: DATS Lab
Destination: Ames, Iowa
Timeframe: Spring 2024
Advisor/Coordinator Email: jgagnon@iastate.edu

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of my internship include inventory management, customer service, continuous communication with students, faculty and staff, completing jobs in a timely manner. Completing jobs in a timely and efficient manner is very important in my internship. There is a larger emphasis on continuous communication with those we are completing jobs for, to ensure the best quality product for our customers.

Accomplishments

In my internship my greatest accomplishment was quick problem solving. When we get a job our first priority is to ensure it was submitted correctly and there are no questions regarding what we are supposed to do. If there are issues in this first step we must think quickly if this is a problem that we can solve or if communication to the customer is needed. There are also technological problems that arise with software and machines. Having to make a quick decision to stop printing and find out who to communicate with to fix this issue as fast as possible. I have grown in my quick learning and decision making skills because of this internship.

Learning experience

The greatest lesson i have learned is patience. In our lab we have to wait on people and other companies to do anything in the lab. Getting supplies, machine maintenance, and jobs are all relying on other people. There is no set number or set schedule as every day is new. Having to be patient for others in order to complete my job can be hard but necessary.

What advice would you give?

Ask all of your questions and get to know your professors. Through getting to know your professors you will build professional relationships that you wont get anywhere else. They will be able to help you not just while in their class but throughout your years at school and beyond. They provide a different perspective than others in your life and are always willing to help when you are willing to reach out and ask questions. By having a good relationship with your professors you will feel more comfortable asking questions. As well as your professors will be able to better explain an answer because they know you and your learning style better.

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