By: Jessica Judge, Enterprise Cybersecurity Intern
When I think of the word “intern,” a cliché comes to mind of a frazzled young student tasked to file paperwork or take coffee orders, sitting back quietly while the professionals do the real work. After accepting my position as an Enterprise Cybersecurity (ECS) Intern, I couldn’t help but wonder what harmless tasks the team would come up with to keep an intern busy all summer. Surely, I wouldn’t earn any sort of responsibility towards their intricate and highly important investigative procedures, right?
By the end of my first week at Fidelity, this cliché was a distant memory. Immediately I was immersed into the team, trained on all the specific tools and processes, and given real, meaningful work. Over the course of the summer, as I became more familiar with the team’s alerting and investigative procedures, I was given the opportunity to analyze aspects of those procedures with a fresh eye and implement long-lasting changes. To come into a group that has years of work experience and technical expertise and be valued as a teammate was something I never expected out of a summer internship.
Outside of my day-to-day work, the welcoming and supportive culture at Fidelity enabled me to network with several different groups within ECS and beyond to absorb as much information as possible within the short time I had. Even those in leadership positions were willing to take time out of their busy schedules to talk through their experiences. Through offerings like the Intern Mentor Program, networking events, and coaching with my manager, I gained invaluable career guidance setting me up to navigate the professional world after graduation.
My summer internship with Fidelity was engaging and challenging from beginning to end. As a rising senior studying Information Science and Statistics, unsure of what specific field or role excited me, I came into this experience hoping to learn more about myself and my interests. Thanks to everyone who has supported and guided me throughout the summer, I can see the future trajectory of my career spanning years in cybersecurity.
For students hoping to find their passion and enter the workforce, experience and exposure is everything. I can say with confidence that my technology internship at Fidelity has not only provided me with real, hands-on work experience but allowed me to discover a field that excites me.
