Name: Brian Hannah

Year: Sophomore

Majors: Political Science, International Studies

Minor: IMC Certificate

CFS Program: Field Studies in Civic Engagement

Employer:  Nielsen

This spring I have had the opportunity to intern at Nielsen in their retail analytics division. I received a crash course in the CPG industry, and currently contribute to pricing and assortment projects with some of Nielsen’s largest retail clients. It has been great to gain professional experience and knowledge/skills at Nielsen this spring.

My work has been very interesting, but, I wanted to emphasize the importance of coworkers and the effect they can have on an internship. In my section of the office there are about seven other people in the retail analytics team. Several of them are analysts in their mid and early 20’s. From the first day, I did not feel intimidated or scared to ask questions. Everyone around me was willing to take a second to clarify something or send me relevant info. When I did not have access to certain databases and Nielsen web pages during my first week, my coworkers were happy to give me their own credentials to use. As this is my first experience in a professional office, I was happy to see that casual conversation can still take place. I’ve learned a lot about my coworkers’ hobbies and personal background. As I am working at Nielsen four days a week, having such great coworkers has greatly added to my experience.

In my CFS class, Civic Engagement, we have often discussed what it means to be in a community. I think coworkers clearly affect the connection one feels to the company they work for. Having good coworkers can increase your effectiveness as a worker while increasing your job satisfaction. I’m happy to be surrounded by such great coworkers at Nielsen, and I will miss them when the quarter comes to an end.