NATA Internship: One Path, Two Journeys Continued from page 11 From Intern to Full-time: Becoming NATA’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator BY COURTNEY BISHOP “I must do better for myself and my future,” I told myself as I was searching for an internship. I had been working as a waitress for two consecutive summers and it was a goal of mine to find an internship that would better prepare me for my future career. Online, I came across a job opening that was interesting. The position was in the aviation industry for the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), located in Washington, D.C., and I met most, if not all, of the qualifica- tions. Beyond commercial airlines, because those were all I had been exposed to, my knowledge of the aviation industry was very limited. I figured I would apply to help me gain knowledge, real-world skills, and experience before graduat- ing from college. Plus, like they say, “If you are not willing to risk, then you can’t grow.” After applying, I was called in for an interview and patiently waited for the potential good or bad news. A week later, I received a call from NATA inform- ing me that I was chosen to be an intern! I felt overjoyed and accomplished that my personal goal was met, and I did it by stepping out of my comfort zone into an area that was unfamiliar. That was only the beginning to my journey. As an intern, I expected to instantly be assigned tasks that sharpened my competence as a marketing profes- sional. Quickly, I realized that it takes years to develop into the professional I anticipated to be. I had an eagerness to know everything, which fueled my desire to continue to learn more. From the start of my journey, I was encouraged to share new ideas and collaborate across NATA’s depart- ments. I was able to create, share and refine ideas that are still used within the association today, such as new software and applications. From proofreading the quarterly Aviation Business Journal and weekly NATA News to assisting with the 2017 Annual Meeting and Aviation Business Conference, 12 I gained many transferable skills, experience and newfound knowledge. There were many tasks that made me feel benefi- cial, but I believe my biggest impact was in researching and documenting fixed based operators (FBOs) from around the country. The three-month assignment involved significant teamwork, dedication and accuracy—and greatly helped NATA with membership, advocacy and other initiatives. Going back to school that fall, one of my professors did an in-class poll asking students if they ever had intern- ships. Surprisingly, about less than one quarter of the lecture hall claimed to have internship experience. This was alarming because, as college seniors, obtaining an intern- ship can be vital to growth outside the classroom. Also, for students who don’t know what industry they aspire to be in, an internship is a great way to narrow down what industries interest them. I realized I was ahead of the average student, but I needed to keep making progress. I have often reflected on my experience and am grateful that I was able to establish a relationship with NATA. This relationship gave me the opportu- nity to intern again, this time performing data analy- sis on NATA News and social media platforms during my winter break. I was fortunate to perform the skills that my professors discussed during my classes. During my final undergraduate semester, I kept in contact with NATA and was later offered—and I accepted— a position as NATA’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator. There were several reasons why this felt like a good fit: this was my area of study at West Virginia University; I already had an initial understanding of the industry from previously interning with NATA twice; and, ultimately, I knew I could continue contributing to the association’s success. Initially, I had limited knowledge of aviation businesses when I interned over a year ago. My experience demonstrates that it takes associations like NATA to recruit and develop future leaders—like myself. I will never underestimate the power of hard work and network- ing; and, I am excited to see where this journey takes me. Aviation Business Journal | 3rd Quarter 2018
