Summer Internship Series: Week 1

First Day Vision vs. First Day Reality

James Hahn

When I finished my Spring semester at Pitt, all I could think about is starting my internship at MRI Software.  I could not wait to utilize my skills and knowledge of my love and passion in a real-life setting rather than in pretend projects constructing objects and classes solely in Java for Sally to run her lemonade stand.  This was my chance to explore how a real company works from the inside with a real setting, real code, and real people; a chance for me to expand my portfolio and begin to imagine where I could be in the future.

I’m glad this blog submission is so early in the internship because my memory of my first day vision is already starting to fade, which is good because the reality has taken over.  However, my vision started in early May.  Of course, when I first interviewed, I knew some quirks around the building, such as the Red MRI Wall, color coated rooms (I have to admit, this saved me 2 or 3 times early on in the internship), the gym, videogames, and of course, the café.  So, I at least had something to base my vision off of.  Let’s start in a more general scheme of MRI, instead of the department I’m currently in.  I imagined MRI Software to be an average company, filled with average people, going about their business and occasionally saying “hello” to the person next to them.  I knew there were cubicles for the sales and global client support departments, but how much interaction could you possibly have in a company selling software?  And in the Product Development department, which is where I am, people were going to have somewhat the same personality as me (introverted), right?  I thought I would be directed to the Product Development department my first day to jump straight into code, since this was my first internship, and I’d be the master of coding.  It turns out, I was wrong on many, many aspects about MRI before coming to work on my first day.  I imagined it to be a quiet environment filled with people minding their own business, but was delighted to find out otherwise.

Now, my first day at MRI was orientation (well, the first 3 days), but my real first day was on a Friday, when all the interns were to report to their respective departments (the HR people might like me less if I straight-out said orientation wasn’t my favorite thing, but I’m a coder and that’s what I do, so I wanted to jump straight in).  I learned so many things about MRI, such as the variety of food in the café, the sales department has their own stuffed lion, the PD department throws darts across the office, and everybody is genuinely nice to each other.  On this “first” day of mine, I learned that I was one of the youngest interns here, and perhaps one of the least experienced, so I certainly was not the master coder.  I learned how real programming projects work (especially through the MVC), and that communication is key to developers; contrary to my beliefs, developers do like to mess around and code.

Leading up to June and now here, my vision of MRI and the reality have their similarities and differences, but the reality is what really changed my perspective of MRI and I definitely think it was for the better.  I’m looking forward to more learning experiences throughout the summer. #MRInterns2016

Tyler Delhees

“What am I going to do for lunch?” and “With whom am I going to work?” were my foremost concerns as I turned down Fountain Parkway for my first full day of work at MRI. I had ideas and expectations about the day, of course. Maybe I’d be put right to work and expected to contribute immediately. Maybe I’d be placed in the mail room or on the phones. The possibilities were vast and uncertain, but I’m happy to say that my first day reality was enjoyable.

Since completing the application process and being offered an internship with MRI, I was eager and excited to start learning and becoming part of the organization. With the opportunity to work in the Cleveland area, broaden my experience at a tech company, and meet the employees who are awarded with inflatable obstacle courses, how could I not be excited? Truthfully, my expectation was to be treated as an inexperienced intern supporting full-time employees. I anticipated some intern jokes and menial tasks because most internships seemed to conform to this narrative in my perspective. However, I must admit that I was confident that MRI would be different and countercultural. Of the people and culture at MRI, I envisioned a young and lively atmosphere where everyone is striving for greatness while maintaining a cool temperament. Some of my vision was verified, and the day unleashed an adventure in my embryonic career.

More than anything else, I learned about the working world and my life after college. I got a taste of adulthood. To begin, I was able to meet employees including other interns that were also starting. Everyone was welcoming and ready to answer the most basic of questions. Contrary to my preconception, the interns at MRI are treated as full-time employees, and it became clear to me that being a full-time employee at MRI is excellent and unusual. The orientation covered everything from product functionality to employee benefits and career advice, leaving most all of the interns without questions for the majority of the orientation. That time on the first day was spent on exposing interns to educational opportunities and useful career-building tools proved to me that my time would be valued and well-spent this summer.

Having passed basic trainings and settled the jitters of the first day, I look forward to a summer of new experiences with the #MRInterns2016.

Quinn McHale

It’s been almost two weeks since I started my internship here at MRI Software, and I have to say, my expectations completely matched the reality I faced. Now before you christen me as the next Nostradamus, allow me to explain how I flawlessly predicted my future. As a matter of fact, it’s quite simple. Two years ago I actually joined the same internship program at MRI Software over the summer. I was a fresh high school graduate, and I had to opportunity to start my first real internship. To make a long story short, I had an absolutely phenomenal time and learned so many things about the responsibilities of an actual software engineer. In addition, my coworkers were all so helpful and always treated me as an equal. I never felt like I was doing any “busy” work or felt like I didn’t belong. The internship ended before I knew it, but I had a blast every step of the way.

Fast forward a couple years, and I found myself in the same situation. Before the first day, I wondered if this time could ever possibly match the amazing experience I had two years ago. I worried if I would like my fellow interns or if the company culture had dramatically changed. I knew MRI had gone through a number of product acquisitions and was actually acquired by GI Partners in 2015, so I feared a new environment. I still went into work expecting the best. To my delight, I realized during my first week of interning that almost nothing had changed at MRI. The employees were as positive as ever, the collaboration was through the roof, and MRI had spared no effort in setting myself up with the training and tools I needed to succeed. Although I had my concerns, this was the MRI I expected, and this is the MRI I love working for.

Jamie Steines

Coming into my first day, never having had an internship before and not knowing much about MRI, I expected basically anything. I was expecting something between getting coffee all day and immediately being expected to code something I have no idea how to do.  Being this clueless it was hard to determine whether I was qualified or not for such a job.

However, walking in the first day I experienced neither of those things. Instead I was with a group of 17 other interns who were all I’m the same boat. The first three days were dedicated to orientation and I could not be more pleased with the preparation these days gave me. I learned what MRI Software is. I learned it so much actually that by day three I was just about over hearing about it, but nonetheless I was happy to understand what all MRI employees are working for! I met all the Managers, Talent Development Team, and fellow Interns as acquaintances as opposed to just coworkers which made me feel like a part of a welcoming team. Lastly, the first three days of orientation allowed me to know my role as a #MRIntern without being thrown directly into work.

It’s now been a full week since we’ve all been working in our own departments now, and I have been pleasantly surprised with just about anything. As a Product Development Intern I sit at a table with all the other Interns in my department at a table inside a large room with several tables all filled with PD employees. The atmosphere is completely different then what I expect an office to be. People are always discussing and being collaborative. Not to mention there are constantly nerf darts flying in the air. Needless to say working in this office building is fun! Which is something I don’t hear often.

Now about the work. I was nervous that I was going to struggle since it seemed like so many of my fellow PD Interns were far more qualified than I. However, on the first day we all began working on a project together, we each took bits and pieces and dove in to working it out. Everyone was eager to learn and also eager to help! I feel as though I’ve learned so much this first week already.

MRI employees have 3 core values and I can gladly say in my first two weeks I have seen them all at work in the office. I can’t wait to enjoy all of my new experiences here at MRI over the next 8 weeks.