Shayla Gale, a second-year MISM student, never thought she would find a career path that suited her passion for computers so perfectly until she found Information Systems. Interning with 3M Health Information Systems for the past two summers continued to feed and direct that passion.
“Information systems was a natural fit for me,” she said when asked why she chose to study IS. “I love everything computers – building, programming, tinkering. And I love that you can take opportunities early in your career and be recognized and appreciated for your contribution.”
3M Health IS offered that kind of appreciation for and meaning in Shayla’s work. She worked on the internal business intelligence team, building processes to document and record patient’s medical information for health insurances. Her data engineering and software evaluation work provided many opportunities to problem-solve and test things out.
From her first day on the job two years ago, Shayla always felt prepared for and capable of contributing to the team. “The IS core gave me a confidence boost from the beginning. All the skills from classes become applicable and you feel successful,” she says. “You walk in and realize, ‘This is exactly what I’ve been trained to do.’”
Shayla loves problem-solving, and, luckily for her, there were plenty of opportunities for it at 3M. She always felt confident that she’d find solutions through her data engineering and software evaluations because she was prepared for it.
Shayla heard about the 3M internship opening two years ago from a friend of hers working on the company’s strategy team. She advises current core students to be open with their families and friends about the things they’re learning and the kind of work they want to do. “Don’t underestimate the network you already have.”
The IS core prepares students with the resources they need to succeed. With this preparation, students are often more capable than they think. Whether they go to work for an established company like 3M or a millennial start-up, students can leave feeling prepared and confident for their future.