Placement Reflections - The Experience of our Interns

Our Interns Chiara and Hyeran with Digital Strategy officer at Women in Tech 2024!

We can’t do digital alone.

Manchester’s Digital Strategy priorities the incredible communities that make up our city, and we’re committed to ensuring that residents have the skills, knowledge and aspiration to fully connect with our digital future.

Manchester Digital Strategy Team partnered with the University of Manchester to welcome two interns to our team last January. Over six weeks, they undertook large-scale projects with meaningful, real-world outcomes. Along the way, they gained valuable insights into Manchester’s thriving digital ecosystem, developed research and project management skills, and applied learning from their degree studies to a genuine working environment.

On Instagram, Chiara has researched Manchester’s digital ecosystem to enable us to showcase the people and places within the tech sector, making a positive difference in the lives of everyone in our city. Chiara has written thousands of words & spent hours of quality time with Canva to create engaging content that provides reflections on industry events, explains challenging tech concepts in a people-friendly way; & highlights the work of our wonderful Digital Inclusion team.

Chiara has gone above and beyond in everything she’s done for us, & has brought so much enthusiasm, positivity, and passion to the team. We’re so pleased she is staying on to support us in a volunteering capacity.

Hyeran took on a hugely ambitious piece of work to measure Manchester’s progress as a smart city against other prominent UK, European, and international smart cities. Hyeran conducted hours of independent research to gain a comprehensive understanding of Manchester’s position within the smart city landscape, creating research surveys for both Korean and English audiences; developing actionable recommendations for improving Manchester’s smart city strategy; & crafting engaging visual ways to present her findings.

Hyeran has shown huge perseverance in building a rich understanding of digital cities both regionally and internationally. She has shaped the smart city project with her own perspective, interests, & passions, & is an absolutely lovely human being to boot!

In this two-part series, we have interviewed our interns before and after their project placement to discuss their experience, feedback and insights.

Hyeran shares her thoughts on her placement!

Chiara shares her thoughts on her placement!

You’re both currently studying Masters degrees at the University of Manchester. Could you share some insights on your academic journey so far and why this course appealed to you?

H: I double majored in film and business as an undergraduate in college. For my master's degree, I wanted to choose a course that would allow me to use both courses, and I decided on Creative and Cultural Industries because I thought it was the best choice for this. Usually, when we think of the creative industry, we think of the media. In this course, it was interesting to learn about different fields such as fashion and music as well as more conventional forms of media. In particular, we were able to learn about how the industry itself fundamentally operates, by learning not only about the business models of companies that are currently in question but also about cultural policies.

C: The reason why I joined the course springs from a personal interest in social media and how it is shaping and changing the world of the creative and cultural industries. Coming from a more ‘literary’ background, I wanted to move to a degree dealing with topics that are rooted in the real world, and the course I study provides a good grasp of the socioeconomic and political framework of the UK. Manchester itself also played an important role - I wanted to move out of York, having lived there for three years, but didn’t want to succumb to London!

Studying this course has been wonderful as I feel like I’m learning something new every day! The placement opportunity offered by the University also drew me to this degree and made me pick this university over others. I was, and I am, excited to be part of the change.

How did you hear about our internship opportunity? What made you want to apply?

H: At the beginning of the first semester, I was told I could choose a work placement in the induction course. One of the most anticipated things in my master's program was the opportunity to have a student internship during the semester, so I knew I had to do it if I had the chance. I thought stability was guaranteed because it was an internship conducted by the school. This would mean I’d be able to get accurate information about the company and ask for help if there was a problem. As an international student, it is not easy to experience an internship, so I could applied  without hesitation as soon as I knew about it.

C: A big part of the course is the chance to do a placement during your studies, which is what drew me to the course initially. I heard about this internship opportunity at the beginning of October, when we had our first lecture about placement opportunities. When the applications opened, I decided to apply for this position as not only did it align with my interests, but it’s a line of work I can see myself working in after my graduation.

What was the application process like? Is there any advice you’d pass on to future candidates?

H: The application process was surprisingly straightforward. After receiving the email about the workplace, you should carefully check the registered company and the job details. Afterwards, you can select up to five jobs and companies you are interested in and submit them to the school. You can rank your choices, but your first choice is not guaranteed. You will be randomly assigned a company and job from one of the five companies you choose.

I advise prospective candidates to carefully check the information the school provides about the company and the job. You can then find out additional information from the company's website or sites such as LinkedIn to get an accurate idea of what the company does and what you can expect.  Secondly, if you are an international student like me, you should take advantage of the opportunity for an internship. Applying for an internship does not mean that all students who apply will be assigned a job with a company. Some students failed in the first round but can try again in the second selection. It is difficult for international students to get internship opportunities, especially outside of the school year. I hope that you will not miss this opportunity provided by the school, and even if you are eliminated in the first round, you need to continue to create your opportunities by trying again for the second selection.

C: The application process was pretty straightforward, and the uni designed it to be as democratic as possible. The student has to pick 5 places they’d like to work with – in order of preference – and then they will be randomly assigned to one of these five, regardless of previous experience. I was very lucky because I got my first choice, but some people might get their last pick and not be happy with it. My advice would be to go in with an open mind. Even if you get your last pick, it means that there is something in that industry that appeals to you and that you can learn from. Wherever you end up doing your placement it’s going to provide you with interchangeable skills that will be useful forever!

Over the next six weeks, you’ll both take on an extended piece of work supporting Manchester Digital Strategy’s renewed focus on storytelling. What can you tell us about the projects you’ll be handling?

H: I will be in charge of researching and evaluating Manchester’s Smart City branding and marketing strategies.

This project will analyse the success factors for our Smart City branding, identifying, assessing, and developing key trends and best practices. Research will be conducted through a review of existing case studies and industry reports, comparative analysis, and expert interviews. Over the next six weeks, it is expected that by understanding the flow of a project in a national institution, I will better understand how cultural industry projects are adopted, how stakeholders are kept informed, and the different processes behind a project.

C: I will be in charge of researching the different demographics in Greater Manchester and creating content that appeals to a variety of audiences - from businesses to students to normal people living in the city. The aim is to show Manchester’s shift towards digital technologies, and how that can benefit different people. We want Manchester to be as inclusive as possible, and for everyone to be able to take advantage of the opportunities the digital world can bring!

Which aspects of the internship excite you the most? Is there anything you’re feeling apprehensive about?

H: The best thing about the internship is that the project itself is exciting. The concept of an intelligent city is very new to me, so I look forward to providing a new perspective. One of my worries is communication. Since English is not my first language, there are bound to be some shortcomings in communication, and I am most worried that others will feel uncomfortable because of my shortcomings. Being confident in myself is the first and most important thing, but even after six months in Manchester, gaining confidence in the language is hard. However, I will be more proactive in this area to make up for it!

C: As someone who lives in Manchester, I am excited to know more about the city and the people living in it, as well as create content for the team! I think that being a student in the city and a student representative for my course gives me a privileged perspective since I feel like I have a good grasp of students' needs and representation, and what they’d like to see more of. I am very excited about this opportunity but also quite nervous, as I have never done content creation on such a broad scale. I hope I manage to deliver everything on time and create powerful content!

Congratulations on completing your internship! In our first interview, you told us a little bit about the projects you’d be undertaking with the Digital Strategy team. Now that you’ve come to the end of your time with us, can you tell us anything about the outcome of your projects? Is there anything you’re particularly proud of achieving?

H: During my participation in the smart city project, I took the initiative to lead research and surveys. I investigated various smart cities, such as those in South Korea, Barcelona, and Singapore. Based on this research, I selected items to benchmark for Manchester. I conducted surveys in both Korean and English to deeply understand the residents' perspectives.

I am extremely proud to have taken the lead in the project. Initially, I had difficulty understanding the concept of smart cities in places with different cultures and languages. However, with my team members' heartfelt feedback and support, I could confidently propose and lead the project. This experience provided me with an opportunity for personal growth.

C: At the beginning of my placement I thought I would only be collaborating on the team’s Instagram, but as the weeks progressed I had the chance to go out and explore some of the communities that the Digital Strategy team and the Digital Inclusion team have been helping. I wrote posts for LinkedIn, participated in conferences, and overall had a lovely time with the team. I’m very proud of all the things I posted and I’m looking forward to conducting my research project on behaviours around generative AI tools. My time during the placement helped me to narrow down my interests in how the AI landscape is quickly changing, and how I want to be part of this change.

Undertaking work in a new sector can be exciting, but also overwhelming. Did you encounter any challenges while working on your project? How did you overcome them?

H: The concept of a smart city was initially unfamiliar, presenting the biggest challenge. As I had no direct experience, I took time to fully understand it. However, my project manager, Megan Lawless, shared relevant materials on smart cities, which helped me grasp the concept. To deepen my understanding, I created maps for different cities. This allowed me to easily comprehend the characteristics and technological practices of cities implementing smart city initiatives. Based on this, I proposed ideas for how Manchester could implement similar strategies. Initially, I found it difficult to understand the concepts just by reading, but creating visual representations through maps made it much easier for me to comprehend.

C: I think the biggest challenge I encountered when I started working with the team was to feel like I belonged there and that my work and my input were being valued. In the beginning, I would always use ‘them’ when referring to something that the team had achieved but with time - and with the help of my colleagues - I started to refer to ‘us’ and ‘we’. Rebecca McMillan (Digital Strategy Officer) and Megan Lawless (Senior Digital Strategy Officer) helped to make me feel like I belonged in the team and that everything I produced and wrote was received with constructive feedback.

On the practical side of things, I initially struggled to understand what kind of language to adopt when approaching stakeholders on social media, as well as understanding how to use Canva for the creation of Instagram posts. Again, Becky and Megan’s help was invaluable.

Did you feel that the experience helped you to develop any skills or areas of expertise? Was anything you’d learned during your time with us particularly useful to apply to your studies and the completion of your MA?

H: This experience has been incredibly valuable to me. Finding solutions in my own way, researching complex concepts according to my own methods, organising the results, sharing them with others, and receiving feedback were instrumental in my growth within the smart city project and applicable beyond it. Similarly, I frequently encounter unfamiliar or challenging concepts that require research in my academic pursuits. In such situations, I draw upon my previous experiences to find methods that work for me, produce results, and continue to do so in my current master's program.

C: I feel more confident now creating content for social media, and knowing how to approach stakeholders in a way that is both gripping and informative.

Overall, I think that the experience with the Digital Strategy team made me aware of the varied realities that exist around Manchester. Having only moved to Manchester at the end of September, my experience with the team enhanced my awareness of different realities around the city.

Regarding things I learnt that will be useful for my MA are time management, a wider knowledge of Canva, and a new-found confidence in the things I create and write.

Overall, did the internship meet your expectations? Would you recommend the experience to others?

H: The internship experience was a significant opportunity for growth, both as a student and as an individual. Beyond the knowledge gained from conducting research and surveys for the project, the digital strategy team provided me with various opportunities. Participating in events like the Women in Tech Festival and visiting Barnabus helped me develop professionally and allowed me to experience inclusivity and diversity directly. Engaging in effective communication with team members and participating in diverse conferences was more than just completing assigned tasks; it laid a crucial foundation for me. I consider it a valuable asset for my future. If anyone hesitates due to language or cultural differences concerns, I believe that meeting supportive teammates who encourage and support each other is a great strength. Therefore, I highly recommend applying for this internship.

C: The internship exceeded my expectations! I was expecting to only work on Instagram at the beginning of my placement. Instead, I managed to contribute to the team’s LinkedIn, participate in conferences and see the change that the team is making unfold before my eyes. I learnt so much and I’m happy I’ll still be with the team for a while as a volunteer. I would recommend the placement to others; the team is lovely, diverse, and inclusive, and they offer a great job and life experience.

What’s next for you? What are your plans for after graduation?

H: As I am still in the midst of my master's program, my primary goal is to complete my studies successfully. I hope that my thesis will be completed successfully. After graduation, I aspire to work in the arts sector, utilising my major. I have always wanted to work in the music industry or art galleries, so if possible, I would like to work in marketing in these fields. I am still uncertain about what I can do, and the future feels uncertain, but I am anticipating my next chapter in the UK.

C: I have decided to keep volunteering with the Digital Strategy team for the time being, on a research project that is dear to me. I’ll be analysing and studying the behaviour of people when using generative AI tools to detect whether there is much difference between the way different genders use these tools.

As for my plans after graduation, I don’t know what I’ll be doing - but I know that I’d like to keep working in the digital realm! This placement was crucial to shaping my career path and what I’d like to do in the future, and I’m extremely grateful to have had this experience!