Camilla Balfour

 

MA Psychology

University of Edinburgh

Liberty Mutual, Boston

 

I had never heard of the Saltire Foundation until I received an email from my university careers service one afternoon and went along to the information session to see whether this opportunity was too good to be true. However, there was no catch as the Saltire Foundation undergraduate internship programme did encompass everything it had promised. It provided not only the invaluable work experience from a high-profile international organisation but also the opportunity to travel, be more independent and the chance to immerse yourself in a different culture.

I had the privilege of spending 8 weeks in Boston, America working for a multinational company called Liberty Mutual within their Commercial Markets marketing department. I had no previous experience working within a commercial business, let alone the insurance industry, but the support i received from everyone I met ensured I felt welcome and at ease with asking any questions, so I learnt extremely fast. I had the role of doing competitor analysis whereby I helped my manager develop reports on Liberty Mutual’s top 10 brokers and competitors. I was thrown in at the deep end, given responsibility like any other employee on a project which formed an integral part of the overall strategic analysis being undertaken in the department. Even though I was a ‘wee’ intern my opinion was respected by my manager which allowed me to flourish as an individual, grow in confidence and take the initiative.

Incidentally on my arrival Commercial Markets were undertaking a massive internal re-structuring and over the summer I was lucky enough to witness the strategic process that took place and began to push the organisation forward in alignment throughout my time there. The whole experience has definitely opened my eyes as to how a successful business at the highest level operates on a day to day basis. It highlighted the importance of open honest communication between employees to facilitate knowledge and obtain the competitive edge in the market. This I felt was mirrored in the Saltire Foundation’s ethos, a network of individuals who are all pooling their business knowledge together to take Scotland forward.

Professional experience cross-culture is invaluable in the current climate. In such a competitive job market, it can often be hard to stand out above the crowd. The Saltire undergraduate internship has given me the edge, giving me more than just an enhanced CV. It also allowed me to be part of a network of talented young individuals with the passion to succeed. The experience has broadened my horizons and the lessons learnt from those 8 weeks have given me vital skills applicable to many career sectors. I can’t recommend this experience enough; it really has changed my outlook on life and provided me with a platform to achieve more and take advantage of new and challenging opportunities. Don’t miss out on such a great experience and apply!