Liza Cooper
Majors: Communication & Political Science
Minor: English Literature
Communications Intern at Hussmann Corporation
How did you learn about this internship opportunity?
What is a piece of advice you would give someone in your major looking for an internship?
Don’t be afraid to apply for anything and everything. It is a myth that liberal arts majors are less marketable. People are always looking for individuals who know how to communicate clearly, interact with others and think critically.
What key responsibilities or projects have you taken on during your internship?
During my internship, I took ownership of a variety of projects that supported internal communications. This includes creating and editing newsletter content, designing presentations and graphics, tracking engagement metrics and collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop safety resources.
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?
Through multiple projects, I strengthened my written and verbal communication skills, learned how to manage different tasks simultaneously and gained experience collaborating with professionals across different departments. I also became more confident in presenting and using new technologies. One of the biggest ways this internship helped clarify my career goals was by showing me how much I enjoy work that involves communication, critical thinking, problem-solving and understanding different perspectives. As someone planning to attend law school, this internship confirmed my love of solving complex problems and working at the intersection of analytics and communication, interests which are crucial to any successful lawyer. Being a Liberal Arts student at Purdue translated directly into my internship experience. My coursework taught me how to write effectively, conduct research and understanding different perspectives diverse perspectives. These skills proved valuable when developing projects that’s required both creativity and strategic thinking. This internship also showed me how the foundation of any business is effective communication, which made me feel like my field of study is valuable.
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?
The College of Liberal Arts supported my internship experience by helping me develop the communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that I used daily at Hussmann. Since Purdue is a heavily STEM-focused university, I have had the opportunity to combine what the Liberal Arts College has taught me with exposure to technology. This has proved to serve me well throughout my internship experience, especially since Hussmann is in a more technical field. Through the College of Liberal Arts, I have heavily benefitted from an education that has taught me skills employers value, no matter the industry. The Job-Ready program further enhanced my internship by helping me offset commuting expenses, allowing me to fully focus on gaining valuable professional experience. More importantly, the program demonstrated Purdue’s commitment to helping Liberal Arts students access meaningful career opportunities.
Could you highlight a standout aspect of your experience in the Job-Ready program that you find particularly noteworthy?
What really stood out to me about the Job-Ready program was how much the College of Liberal Arts cared about me as an individual and my career. Whether it be through a LinkedIn post recognizing winners or virtual meetings, I always felt like the College of Liberal Arts supported me and was proud of my achievements.