Hailey Manuel

Major: Film and Video Production

Human Systems Integration Intern at Reliable Robotics Corporation

How did you learn about this internship opportunity?

I learned about this internship opportunity while presenting human factors research at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society's conference in Chicago.

What is a piece of advice you would give someone in your major looking for an internship?

Cast a wider net in your job search! I've found that recruiters love dynamic candidates who bring both technical and creative skills to the table. If you want to make movies or video content, look for brands that have a message but lack the medium. My internship taught me a valuable lesson: you don't need a massive production studio to do meaningful video work. Almost every company out there has a story to tell, and many are actively searching for the right person to tell it.

What key responsibilities or projects have you taken on during your internship?

My long-term internship project consisted of designing and conducting a cognitive psychology experiment, then analyzing and reporting the data. Outside of this project, I have assisted my team with photography, screenwriting, and filming b-roll for internal marketing videos. I also would spend time in the field to assist the flight test team as they operated the Reliable Robotics aircraft and contributed to other ongoing human factors research.

How has your internship helped build your skills and clarify your career goals? How did being a Liberal Arts student at Purdue apply to your internship?

This internship has helped me to learn the importance of the people that surround you at work. At Reliable Robotics, the support from my team was a vital aspect of my success in this internship. This experience has taught me to look closely at how professional relationships portray themselves in the workplace, and use that to identify how well I fit into the environment. Reliable Robotics has helped make it clear to me the kind of company culture I want to work in. My internship this summer has also reduced my fear of jumping into problems that I am not familiar with, and learning along the way as I work to solve it. Asking questions is the best thing you can do as an intern, and it is important to find a company that will support your learning.

In what ways has the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University supported your internship journey? How has your participation in our Job-Ready program specifically aided your professional development?

More than anything, this internship taught me the value of the people you work with. The support from my team at Reliable Robotics was vital to my success. I learned to pay close attention to workplace relationships and use that to gauge if a company is the right fit for me. Now, I have a much clearer picture of the kind of culture I want in my future career. This summer also helped me let go of my fear of jumping into unfamiliar problems and figuring things out as I go. I realized that asking questions is the best thing you can do as an intern, and finding a company that actually supports your learning makes all the difference.

Could you highlight a standout aspect of your experience in the Job-Ready program that you find particularly noteworthy?

My favorite part of the Job-Ready program was the Instagram takeover. I had a great time sharing a "day in the life" of an intern at Reliable Robotics and responding to questions from viewers. Everyone at the company was so excited to follow the stories that day and proud of the audience I was able to reach. Most of all, though, I hope I inspired other students to think creatively and consider the versatile benefits of a Liberal Arts degree.