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A Day in the Life as a GEC Intern

Hello! My name is Cynthia. I am a student in ITEC Boisfleury Philippine Duchesne in France, and I am interning for the Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC) for 2 months. The GEC is an incubation hub for startups, scale-ups and entrepreneurs, located in Dublin, Ireland. If you are considering joining the GEC community as an intern or full-time, I am going to give you some insight into my experience as an intern in the Guinness Enterprise Centre.

GEC Team Members pictured (from left to right): Maura Jones, Cynthia Ho, Mary Higgins and Ray Chen

What I learned from being an intern at the GEC (the essentials):

The people here are great and very considerate.
There are tons of events that you have the opportunity to participate in.
The companies in the GEC are very interesting.
You will never get bored here because there are always interesting things to do and lots to learn.
Your skills outside of academic abilities are highly valued. I do photography as a hobby, so taking photos for events became a part of my role.
I have done several internships in France, but this internship in Ireland was my favourite experience!

I have met some wonderful people here. Sometimes I cringe at how nice they are. 🤣 They make me feel comfortable and a part of the community. This includes showing me around the local community, like their favourite pub, Dudley’s.

The companies are so interesting and very diverse. You can find a wide range of industries here, including health companies, gaming, tech-related, and more. I had the opportunity to speak with employees from these companies, and it was incredibly fascinating to learn about their work. Engaging with a diverse range of people can be very beneficial for enhancing your communication skills.

Pictured: Cynthia at the Clothes Swap event

I recently organized and executed my first event with the GEC. It was a Charity Clothes Swap in partnership with the Dublin Simon Community, where the purpose of the event was to promote sustainability and reduce clothing waste. Any clothes that were not exchanged were donated to Dublin Simon Community for homeless people. It was a great success and people from the GEC community donated so many clothes! Everyone was so happy to be able to swap their old clothing for new clothing items.

Not everything can be perfect. There are some bad things that will happen while working here 🙁:

You must love Taylor Swift to get along with the GEC team.
You will be bullied depending on who your favourite singer is (especially if it’s not Taylor Swift).
They will drain your energy every day (in a fun way).
You will do push-ups for their entertainment.
Your sense of humour will deteriorate from spending time with them.

Let’s look on the bright side. There are many great things that happen while working here 😊:

Get ready to meet a diverse and wonderful group of people here. You’ll have the opportunity to connect and interact with individuals from various backgrounds, making your experience even more enriching and enjoyable.
You will be embraced for who you are, and there will be no judgment whatsoever. They foster an inclusive and accepting environment where everyone is respected and valued for their individuality.
They will always be there to support you with your work and consistently seek your opinion on the tasks they assign you. Your input and ideas will be valued. They are also always willing to help you when you are struggling with something at work or out of work.
Being a part of this team will greatly contribute to the improvement of your skills. You’ll have the chance to grow and develop in various areas as you work on different projects and collaborate with the team.
You will have a lot of flexibility in your role, and it won’t be limited to sitting at a desk all the time. You’ll have the opportunity to engage in various activities and tasks.
You will never eat alone; they want you to feel a part of the GEC community even if it’s for a short time.
If you are interning in the summer, you are welcome to join in on the GEC summer barbecue celebrations.
I can assure you that you will make amazing memories within the GEC. It will be a fun and memorable experience that you won’t forget.

A team that cares about your personal life outside of work:

I had a tough time finding a new place to live, but they really came through to help me seek accommodation. They were super helpful and supportive throughout the whole process.
My sister visited me for a weekend and I was supposed to pick her up at the airport on a Friday at 5 p.m. They let me leave at 3 p.m.
I had to move out of my old accommodation, so they let me have a day off to move.

My favourite projects I have worked on in the GEC:

For my exam in school, I had to create an event from scratch. My idea was to organise the charity clothes swap to promote clothing sustainability. Even though the GEC team is usually busy, they are always willing to make time to assist you with any aspect of your project. I had the chance to collaborate with almost everyone on the team. The GEC has numerous partnerships, so if you require any kind of collaboration, they will assist you in finding the perfect fit for your project. They are extremely helpful and supportive.
I also contributed to the on-going projects within the GEC by assisting with tasks such as drafting emails and making door-to-door announcements in the GEC (this was a great way to meet everyone in the building)!
I helped photograph events.
I helped at the front desk reception.
I had to make my team laugh (it was the biggest task during my internship).
I created a guide for Dublin 8, which they often reference.

My tips as an intern at the GEC:

Don’t worry about any initial concerns you may have. Remember, it’s perfectly normal to face challenges, and it’s essential to ask for help when needed. The GEC is known for being supportive and readily available to assist you. Focus on doing your best, and they will be there to lend a helping hand whenever you require it. Enjoy your internship experience in Dublin!

Pictured: Cynthia Ho, Niamh Talbot and Madison Roche

I don’t have photos with everybody. Sorry! 🤣

To learn more about opportunities in the Guinness Enterprise Centre, check out all of the job opportunities in the community.

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A Day in the Life as a GEC Intern

What I learned from being an intern at the GEC (the essentials):

Not everything can be perfect. There are some bad things that will happen while working here 🙁:

Let’s look on the bright side. There are many great things that happen while working here 😊:

A team that cares about your personal life outside of work:

My favourite projects I have worked on in the GEC:

My tips as an intern at the GEC:

Start your story at the GEC

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