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Release Student
Interns > Bianca Bailey |
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 Bianca
Bailey |
Every October is the Fall career fair at
Howard University. I always make sure I am prepared with a resume,
nice crisp suit with stockings, and last but not least my professionalism.
While at the career fair, I came across a company called ConocoPhillips,
an oil, gas and energy company. As I began to ask questions about
the company values and how chemical engineers play a role in the oil
and energy industry, I became more intrigued, not to mention it was
a paid internship.
After months of communicating with ConocoPhillips HR people through
over the phone interviews, paperwork and a drug test, I was on my
way to Houston, TX. I started June 1 as an intern at the headquarters
of ConocoPhillips in the Lubricants Department. On the first day of
the internship I was issued a laptop and it was time to get to work.
My assigned projects included: database cleanup for lubricant product
image files, optimization of export loading process at the Los Angeles
and Savannah locations and applying the Lean Six Sigma principles.
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| To better understand my optimization project, the company
flew me out to Los Angeles for a week to visit the lubricant plant.
Another project included the purification of Hexane-S with an economic
evaluation located at Sweeny Oil Refinery. In the Lubricants Department,
they oversee everything from the research and development of the products
up until the finished product is placed on a shelf for the customer
to buy. Not only did I learn how chemical engineering fits within
the company, but I also learned the importance of business strategy.
My final project consisted of creating an exit strategy for products
that were on the decline of the product cycle. This was strictly a
marketing/business project. Though this project had nothing to do
with chemicals and molecules, I was still able to apply my analytical
skills to develop this exit strategy for the company. Overall,
I thoroughly enjoyed my internship. Of course, there were certain
challenges that included adapting to working in the industry versus
academia, asking the right questions and being more assertive about
my abilities and environment. I would encourage anyone who is interested
in a safe, challenging, business and technological environment to
intern with ConocoPhillips. If and when you do, make sure you bring
your confidence, professionalism, questions and a lot of Bison pride
to the table! |
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