Internship Spotlight: Trina Bui – Southwest Airlines

Trina BuiCompany:  Southwest Airlines

Position:  Technology Analyst

What steps did you take to secure your internship? 

I applied on the Southwest Airlines NoLimits internship page.  Following that, I kept up with the company’s progress in reviewing resumes and applications through their NoLimits Facebook page.  The first interview I had with them was over the phone. I then had an in-person interview with two hiring managers and an individual from HR.  The internship offer came approximately two weeks later.

What were the responsibilities for this role?

My responsibilities were to manage the changes that my team made to our production and QA environments while also helping monitor the quality of code delivered to us through our third-party vendor for the revenue-accounting application Southwest uses.   I also had a separate set of responsibilities within the technology intern team I was assigned to. In that analyst role, I was in charge of creating the budget reports and outlining the phasing strategy for the solution we came up with to a current problem they were facing.

Describe the culture within the organization.

The culture is extremely welcoming.  Every person I met at Southwest, even if it was a random person who walked by, always wore a smile and said “hello!”  The people I worked with were always willing to help me, no matter how busy they are.  The leaders at SWA showed me that they were truly invested in me and my development as an intern (and a possible future employee).  All the employees worked so hard, no matter how large or small their roles were. And of course, the people at Southwest love to have fun!  Weekly parties brought all us together to be a family of employees who enjoyed each other’s presence.  I’ve never seen a company more dedicated to customer service; it’s a wonderful thing to experience on a daily basis.

What was most surprising or unexpected during your experience?

The complexity of Southwest’s booking and revenue-managing system was extremely surprising to me.  In order to provide their customers’ the easiest and simplest booking process, there are many different applications and software that must interact with one another seamlessly.  Learning about this system was overwhelming in the first few days of the internship, but luckily I was able to catch on quickly.

What advice would you offer your peers in the Honors Program about getting the most out of an internship?

My advice would be to ask questions!  There really are no dumb questions.  Each company has their own complexities and with Southwest, there were a multitude of acronyms for applications, software, and systems which I had no clue how to decipher.  By asking all the questions that I did, it helped me to fully understand what everything is and how it all ties together.  Additionally, you’ll have really smart people you work with who can give you remarkable advice for your future.  Never be afraid to ask.

What was your favorite part about this internship?

My favorite part about the internship would definitely have to be the people I worked with and having the chance to get to know each and every one of them.  I had a fully-functioning team that showed me that we could accomplish so much as one unit.  I met other interns who I’m sure will be my friends for the rest of my life.

How did you find your classes in the Business Honors Program at the university to be applicable during your internship?

It was great to see the different aspects of what we learn in our BHP classes shown in the real-world.  Given that I just finished my management class which talked quite extensively about a company’s culture, it was a unique experience to walk into one of the most well-known company cultures in the corporate realm.

How did this organization ensure you got the most out of your internship experience?

I was learning all the time.  I was always picking up something new – either about the company, a new skill, or about the industry as a whole.  They have workshops that even interns can participate in.  The people at Southwest encourage questions and educate you on different topics even when you don’t ask.  The culture pushes the development of its employees, and I got to benefit from it all!

What are the most valuable lessons you gained from this internship?

I learned that a successful organization relies on its greatest assets, its people; developing your organization’s people to be good to one another while having a high standard for the service you’re providing to your customers is a great business model.

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