Throughout my time at Cargolux, I gained valuable knowledge on the aviation industry, the professional work environment, and marketing. My main takeaway for other students is to be open. Apply to a variety of companies, no matter the industry or how little you may know about it, Cargolux was not my first choice, but the experience turned out to be very insightful. Learning about an industry I had little prior knowledge on or interest of, made me realize the number of options there are in the working world and that we should not limit ourselves to a select few.
After working there for 5 months, I learned how to better communicate, especially over email and to customers, use different marketing tools (i.e., LinkedIn Campaign Manager, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software) and developed my skills on various Microsoft Office 365 apps. I gained a deeper understanding of how the aviation and cargo industry works, which can more generally be applied to B2B companies. Finally, I realized the importance of effective communication within an organization and how different, external events can influence business (i.e., fuel surcharges, epidemics, seasonal demand, strikes, etc.)
Still, I would recommend applying to companies that you may be interested in working for after graduation or that align with your ideal career. As someone who is quite undecided in what I want to do in the future, I realized the importance of having a good, supportive team and work environment. Therefore, I think that one of the most important factors when choosing an internship is to ensure there is a good work culture and environment that will enable you to have an enjoyable and meaningful experience. If possible, talk with employees beforehand to get their insight.
Although, for now, I do not see myself working at Cargolux or in the industry, it has given me more clarity with what I want to do in life. Looking back, I would apply to more internships within the film industry, which is my main area of interest, to gain more relevant experience and a better understanding of what role I would best suit. Regardless of whether you end up with your first or last option, there is plenty of valuable knowledge to learn to help you toward your ideal future and career. Learn from the advice and experiences of your colleagues and take advantage of the time to learn as much as you can regarding the company and how it functions.