Internship Prepares Psychology Major for Success in Human Resources Field

St. John’s University senior Isabel Notaro, who expects to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, spent her summer interning at Trellix, where she gained hands-on experience in the field of human resources (HR), particularly in Talent, Engagement, Diversity, and Development (TEDD). Under the guidance of her supervisor, Jennifer McCrea, Isabel contributed to a range of administrative tasks and HR initiatives that have shaped her professional growth.

“A typical day for me started with logging into Google Workspace to check emails and see if there were any new tasks,” Isabel explained. “I would send out onboarding surveys, participate in weekly learning cohorts with the executive leadership team, and join TEDD team meetings to review objectives.”

Isabel worked closely with Ms. McCrea to manage office responsibilities such as preparing new-hire welcome packets, sending out onboarding surveys, and analyzing survey data to evaluate the effectiveness of Trellix’s onboarding process. In addition to these duties, she helped her plan virtual events, such as Fun Fridays and Global Intern Day, aimed at fostering engagement among the company’s interns. Isabel also created a comprehensive presentation that showcased the interns, their educational backgrounds, and the Trellix locations where they were based.

Isabel’s role extended beyond these tasks. Ms. McCrea encouraged her to collaborate with the entire TEDD team, allowing her to contribute to projects that ranged from creating a “Poor Performance Evaluation” deck for managers to facilitating LIFO, aka Life Orientation, training for more than 40 interns. 

The assessment placed interns into one of four categories based on their strengths and weaknesses in the workplace. “I found this training especially impactful,” Isabel said. “It offered insights into effectively communicating with colleagues who exhibit different work styles. Learning about individual behavior in the workplace and how different personalities interact has always fascinated me.” 

One of her larger projects involved leading a focus group across regions such as the Americas, EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa), LATAM (Latin America) and APAC to help identify a root cause analysis for sales engagement surveys.

Throughout her time at Trellix, Isabel gained valuable skills, including how to work in HR, particularly within the Talent and Engagement sectors. She learned about the recruitment process, developed proficiency with Google Workspace, and gained experience analyzing data from engagement surveys. Additionally, she managed several projects simultaneously, further honing her multitasking abilities.

The mentorship and guidance Isabel received were pivotal to her internship experience. She worked with a mentor outside the HR team who helped her define a clear career path, and she received ongoing advice from TEDD team members on how to grow within the HR field. This mentorship solidified her decision to pursue a career in HR after graduating in May.

Isabel enthusiastically recommends the internship to other students. 
“At first, I didn’t think I would make many connections or learn much since I worked completely remotely. But Jen was an incredible manager who ensured I had the opportunity to collaborate with various team members, which allowed me to gain knowledge in different areas of Talent and Engagement,” she said. “I not only was able to shadow professionals, but I also contributed real work that benefited the company and the executive leadership team directly.”