A Day in the Life of a Data Analytics Intern

Looking for an internship can be overwhelming due to the vast opportunities available. I’m here to help by providing an overview of what life is like as a data analytics intern, so you can determine if it’s the right fit for you.

I’ll start with a brief introduction. My name is Moriah Glidden, and I am a rising senior at Christopher Newport University. I’m majoring in Business Management with a minor in Leadership Studies. Since June, I’ve had the privilege to learn all about data analytics through hands-on experience.

Let’s take a look at what my day-to-day is like.

Daily Responsibilities and Projects

7:50 – 8:00 am

When I arrive at the office, I settle in and set up my work station. I check my emails to see if there are any new messages or updates that need my attention. Afterwards, I review my calendar to see my schedule, upcoming meetings, and deadlines. This allows me to plan out my day efficiently.

8:00 – 8:15 am

Following my arrival and set up, I review my tasks. My tasks can be categorized into two groups: client work and internal work. As a data analytics intern at One Analytics, you’ll get the opportunity to work on client accounts under the supervision of One Analytics Founder, Lauren Lacy. This type of work falls under the client work category and provides invaluable real-world experience tackling genuine data analytics challenges.

8:15 – 9:00 am

I begin my tasks for the day. Here’s an example of recent work I did for a client. We needed to determine the engagement rate of various landing pages on the client’s website. For reference, a landing page is the first page you enter on a site.

To solve this, I used Google Analytics data and a BI platform called Looker Studio, which allows you to visualize all your data in one place. I built a formula that grouped the client’s landing pages into content categories, where we could then see their aggregate engagement rates.

You can see a version of the report I built below. This version is built with fake data from a fictional running store.

The image shows a sample report built in Looker Studio that focuses on engagement rates.

A low engagement rate can indicate an underlying issue with the website such as broken hyperlinks, confusing language, or intrusive pop ups. After checking out the client’s site, we provided a recommendation for how to improve engagement rates.

9:00 – 10:00 am

I meet with One Analytics’ internal team every morning. These meetings begin with updates, during which Lauren informs us of new developments. Then she’ll ask us for updates on our work and answer any questions we have. This allows for the team to collaborate and problem solve together, as well as share exciting news in terms of their work.

10:00 – 12:00 pm

In terms of internal work, I’ve had the opportunity to work on One Analytics’ social media. At the start of my internship, I created a comprehensive social media calendar. This calendar provided structure for a posting schedule, allowing us to streamline our content management. Time permitting, I work on social content daily and have gotten hands-on experience in creating compelling visualizations and captions.

Additionally, I have been entrusted with writing blog posts (like this one). Check out my other blog posts including:

12:00 – 1:00 pm

At One Analytics, interns have the flexibility to manage their own work schedules. Personally, I prefer to get an early start to my weekend, so I choose to work through my lunch breaks Monday through Thursday in order to leave by noon on Friday. This is a unique benefit that I fully utilize. However, for those who enjoy taking a lunch break, the option is always available. This allows interns to have some autonomy and choose a schedule that suits their needs.

1:00 – 2:00 pm

In the afternoon, I sit in on client meetings. These meetings provide exposure to industry terminology, business strategies, and real-time problem solving and decision making. By directly engaging with clients, we are able to deliver superior work that more closely aligns with the client’s vision and requirements.

2:00 – 3:00 pm

Following a client meeting, it is common for new tasks to be assigned. I was assigned a task to create a Looker Studio report that displayed a company’s Google Analytics data. These reports showcase and visualize key data points such as how many new users are coming to our client’s site over time.

3:00 – 4:00 pm

On Wednesday afternoons, I meet one-on-one with Lauren. These meetings give interns the opportunity to give and receive personalized feedback and to ask questions.

A large part of our meeting this week was spent discussing my progress on my summer project. At the beginning of the internship, I was assigned a summer project to explore a topic I find interesting and create a corresponding Domo dashboard to visualize that topic. This has allowed me to practice working in a business intelligence platform like Domo, to be creative, and to explore new topics.

For my summer project, I’m currently working on visualizing the impacts of exchange rates on US businesses. Ethan, my fellow intern, is building his own custom connector to pull data from the US Census Bureau into Domo. How cool!

4:00 – 5:00 pm

In the final hour of my work day, I wrap up any remaining tasks I have. For those I don’t finish, I make detailed notes in each task to reflect the work I completed. This allows me to maintain accuracy and efficiency in my work, and it ensures no details are forgotten.

I additionally update my timesheet to reflect the time I spent on tasks throughout the day. This is crucial to make sure we accurately bill for work completed and to help us all to understand where we are allocating our time.

Advice for Future Data Analytics Interns

You might still be wondering if a data analytics internship at One Analytics is for you. It might be a good fit for you if you possess a combination of the following qualities:

Problem Solving Skills – You like identifying and testing solutions before seeking assistance. It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you spend a couple of extra minutes working through your problem. However, don’t be afraid to ask for help! When a problem is especially challenging, our team works together to find solutions.
Attention to Detail – You are meticulous about small details. This level of focus is essential, as those details can significantly impact the results of your work.
Time Management – You focus fully on the task in front of you. To ensure we bill clients accurately and make the most out of our days, you’ll need to avoid distractions (like your cell phone).
Creativity – You embrace creativity and experiment with different approaches to find the best solution. Many of the tasks we encounter are unfamiliar to us, so experimentation is essential.
Willingness to Learn – You have a growth mindset and think of every task as an opportunity to learn new skills and knowledge. If you make a mistake, you view it as a valuable lesson that will help you succeed on future tasks.

When reflecting on if you’d be a good fit for One Analytics internship, you should also consider your alignment with One Analytics’ core values and mission.

Conclusion

I’m immensely grateful for my time at One Analytics. This internship has significantly contributed to my professional and personal development. As an intern, I’ve been encouraged to ask questions, explore solutions, and think innovatively. Lauren’s guidance and willingness to share her expertise have been instrumental in my growth. Her mentorship has not only enhanced my technical skills but also increased my confidence in solving complex problems. As a result, I now feel well prepared to enter the professional world upon graduation, equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed.

Moriah Glidden

Data Analytics Intern