This week at work, I worked on a new page of a website for the company that I intern for. I collaborated with another intern who is studying graphic design. I planned the information that should be presented on the website while she designed the format in which it was presented. This task was very enjoyable for me as I was given more responsibility and more room to use my own ideas compared to following instructions exactly as my supervisor tells me.
As for the transferable or “soft” skills I am developing most throughout my time in Ireland, I would say that my communication and teamwork skills have grown the most. At work, I answer phone calls from customers. There can be a slight language barrier sometimes as customers’ accents can be slightly difficult for me to understand on the first try. I have found that when I ask customers to repeat what they said more than once or twice, they become agitated. This was difficult for me at first. However, I have found that repeating what they said in my own words helps to ensure that we are on the same page. Additionally, if we are not on the same page, this provides an easy way for them to clarify without having to ask them to repeat themselves. I believe this task of answering phones has helped me build on my communication skills even when there is a slight cultural difference.
Working in Ireland has also helped me develop my teamwork skills as I have been working with a few other interns to complete different tasks. Specifically, I am working with another intern who is also studying finance, just like I am. Most of the tasks that I am given are shared with her. We have become friends and have become very efficient in our work together. We are both open to constructive criticism and do not get offended. For this reason, I enjoy working with her.
As for the “hard” skills I have gained at my internship, I would say that I have gained legal knowledge and real estate software proficiency. Real estate transactions involve complex legal processes. Before this internship, I was not knowledgeable on this topic. However, listening in on my supervisor’s meetings, as well as helping with certain tasks, has helped me learn more about the legal processes involved in real estate. The laws in Ireland compared to the US differ on a few points. I believe that knowledge of the Irish real estate laws is still beneficial to me since laws change often. Having a baseline of knowledge on real estate laws allows me to build a solid foundation for understanding real estate transactions in various jurisdictions.
Working at a real estate company has allowed me to gain knowledge of real estate software. Specifically, the company I am interning for owns a few different real estate software platforms. One software is called iPPi. This software utilizes AI to create valuations for real estate agents in minutes. Being able to use this software has taught me a lot. In particular, I am extremely familiar with the format of valuations, and I am aware of how to create them by hand and via iPPi.
Some of the global competencies that I have that I believe have helped me navigate cross-cultural situations are open-mindedness and empathy. However, I believe that open-mindedness is the most important. Without being open-minded, I would not be able to adapt to new environments. Being open-minded has allowed me to learn from my colleagues and also to understand clients’ needs from different cultural backgrounds. While answering the phones for my company, I have to be open-minded, which fosters effective communication.
Overall, my internship has been a transformative experience so far. I have developed new hard skills and grown my soft skills. I believe that this internship has helped me build on the soft skills that my other work experiences and school experience have taught me. I am excited to bring these skills back to Pitt and to my future career. I also believe that this internship has and will continue to equip me with the necessary tools to be successful in the real estate industry. For example, this internship has equipped me with legal, software, and market knowledge. Additionally, this internship has shown me tactics on how to be an efficient salesperson. I believe that I will continue to grow these hard and soft skills throughout the remainder of my time here in Ireland.