Internships are a great way for students to develop skills and gain real industry experience.

We caught up with our customer success intern Séimidh to find out a bit about him and what he hopes to achieve during his time at EssentialSkillz.

My name is Séimidh O’Baoighill and I am from County Sligo. I am studying Business Information Systems in NUIG and am currently on placement at EssentialSkillz. 

Why EssentialSkillz?

When choosing a company for my internship, it was important for me to select an organisation where I could continue to develop my knowledge that I have gained through my studies at university, as well as learn new skills to better prepare me for working life in the future. I felt that the Customer Success Specialist internship at EssentialSkillz was the ideal placement for me. As a Customer Success Specialist, I would be managing data, testing software and troubleshooting technical issues, which are all tasks heavily related to my course. Furthermore, a large part of my job would be engaging with clients, which compliments my personality as I enjoy working alongside people to get the most out of each situation. 

My typical day at EssentialSkillz

My typical day at EssentialSkillz starts at 08:00. Each morning, I check my emails as it is my responsibility to deal with the SFTP and bounceback emails. These emails are to be tagged, archived and documented in a spreadsheet so that they can be referred to at later stages, if necessary. Throughout the day, customers regularly contact our office via email or phone with queries. As a Customer Success Specialist, it is my duty to respond to queries in a quick and efficient manner, resulting in a satisfied customer. 

Key takeaways of my internship

After two months of working in the company, I have learned a substantial amount. Firstly, I have experienced and understand what it is like to be immersed in an office environment, which is something I would not have come across in my daily life as a college student. This is important and beneficial for me to gain this experience within an office environment in order for me to prepare for life after college. Furthermore, I have learned to communicate more effectively and efficiently with my team, other departments and clients. This will be extremely helpful for my degree as I will now be able to communicate more efficiently to my fellow classmates and lecturers.

In the coming months, I hope to further develop my knowledge on data management and establish a better understanding of virtual teams, as many of the projects that take place in EssentialSkillz are managed by people working from multiple locations.

What do I like most about EssentialSkillz?

I found that it was very easy to settle into working life at EssentialSkillz. The people around me really welcomed me into the office and I have already made a lot of friends and professional connections. The company hosts many sports and social nights and I am looking forward to getting involved in them. Furthermore, the management staff are really understanding and helpful which gives me great confidence in the company and myself. 

Where do I see myself in the future?

In the future, I hope to have made enough of an impact in EssentialSkillz so that I will be offered a job after I graduate. I would like to work my way up to manage projects and eventually look to obtain a managerial role.