Internship benefits – Growth and learning
Intern fulfills family legacy and finds opportunity and growth
“I’ve always been exposed to aviation, having been born and raised in the air capital of the world. It feels like the right place to be and the right thing to do.”
Just as Wichita has a rich aviation history, so too does Sandy Tran’s family. A Wichita native, Sandy started as an intern at Spirit in the summer of 2022.
“I’ve been interested in working at Spirit since I was 13,” shares Sandy. “My dad, aunt and uncle all work at Spirit, and I have other family, like my mom, who work in aviation beyond Spirit. They’ve always said aviation is the best. They’ve gotten so much good out of it and have encouraged me to give it a shot. It comes from such a place of care that I figured why not go for this internship and learn more about the cool planes I see in the sky every day!”
And learn she did. What began as a successful internship led to a co-op experience rooted in a legacy of learning, family and self-development.
Benefits of intern and co-op programs: “There’s something new to learn every day”
“There’s so much room for growth and learning. I feel like the skills I’ve learned are very applicable to situations outside of Spirit,” says Sandy. “It’s also been a big self-development opportunity for me. Coming into the internship, I was very quiet. It’s really helped me come out of my shell.”
Part of what has helped her be successful is the support system she’s had in place. She found working at the same company as her family to be fun, getting to see what they do and, as she likes to joke, visiting her dad when she’s hungry. She also found a support system through her managers and mentor, who were assigned to her as part of the intern and co-op programs and have helped guide her throughout her experience.
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I’ve learned and grown and gotten to do so much while at Spirit.
”“I’ve really enjoyed working under my managers,” says Sandy. “The manager I had during my internship helped me get the co-op position, and my co-op manager has given me so much advice and is willing to answer all of my questions.”
She’s also able to offset the cost of school since both the intern and co-op programs are paid. The programs’ flexible hours have allowed Sandy to keep her other commitments, such as tutoring high school students and helping her brother with schoolwork, in addition to attending the University of Wichita State full-time, where she’s pursuing four majors and two minors.
“I’ve also really liked everyone I’ve worked with so far,” shares Sandy. “They’ve been so kind and willing to help. Through the aviation history project I’m working on, I’ve had to reach out to a lot of people and ask for information, and everyone’s been responsive. And I love that there’s something new to learn every day!”
Advice for other interns: “Be your own advocate, even if you aren’t the most confident”
No matter how much you know about an industry or a company, it can still be nerve-wracking coming into a new work experience. Sandy has two pieces of advice that have been pivotal to her success for other interns and for those who are just starting their careers.
Tip 1: Ask questions to learn more
“I’ve met other interns who got into one program and then started thinking that a different one might be more interesting or a better fit,” shares Sandy. “There’s definitely room to ask around and see what else is out there.”
She encourages others not to hold back. Stay curious and find what else is out there.
“Even though I’m a marketing co-op, I’m also interested in HR, so I asked if I could shadow that team to learn more about what it’s like to work in the HR field. It was super helpful for me to see, for instance, what the hiring and onboarding processes are like and what tools they use.”
Another way to learn is by asking questions of those who are more experienced in a field. Sandy asks about pros and cons, backgrounds in the chosen field and more to understand what a role post-graduation could look like. Continuing to learn about new things and other people helps to enrich the entire experience too.
Tip 2: Talk and form connections with others
To Sandy, building meaningful relationships has proven to be rewarding because it makes it easier to ask for help and opens the door to new opportunities.
Yet she also knows first-hand how nerve-wracking networking can be.
“I’m the most nervous and introverted person when it comes to speaking. But when I push myself to get out of my own space and talk with people, I’ve learned things I maybe wouldn’t otherwise have and made new friends.”
Following that advice helped her to learn more about the co-op position and ultimately secure it.
“Once I knew I wanted to talk with the marketing co-op manager to learn more about the position, I was shaking in my shoes. I prepared questions in advance because I knew I was going to be too nervous in the moment. And then when the time came, I stood outside her door, hyped myself up, and then I walked in as if nothing had happened.”
Sandy has since found success networking with colleagues at Spirit and has this advice to offer:
“Just reach out. Be friendly. Be prepared with questions. Hype yourself up. And be your own advocate, even if you aren’t the most confident.”
Propel your career forward
Knowledge and experience are two steppingstones that create a bright tomorrow. For Sandy and her family, Spirit has provided the environment in which to hone their skills, learn new things and build a successful future.
“I genuinely recommend this program. It’s a great opportunity at a great company that does a lot,” Sandy says. “Learning all of the history I have, I often look to the future and wonder: Where are we going to go from here? There’s so much growth in aviation.”
Internships and co-op programs can be vital to propelling you forward. Learn more about what opportunities could await you in Spirit’s programs.
