Barrett is spending his summer as an IT intern at Janicki. A senior-to-be at Washington State University, he is studying business administration with a focus on management information systems. He started out in computer science and switched to MIS for the wider range of job opportunities. This is his first internship.
Barrett found out about Janicki through a friend who had worked in engineering there and encouraged him to apply. His brother works in IT in an office setting, so Barrett expected more basic work than what he has taken on. He quickly learned that IT supports the whole company, and he has gotten to travel to almost all Janicki sites as part of the work.
Most of his work runs through Jira, the central hub for tracking user tickets and requests. A typical week starts with morning standups Monday through Thursday to align on plans, followed by handling 30 to 40 tickets a day and making sure nothing gets lost. He handles setups like configuring new-hire laptops, shadows teammates to learn different niches, and is gradually taking on more on his own.
Barrett describes the culture as laid-back but professional, social but focused on getting things done. His biggest adjustment has been the technical environment, including the difference between IS and IT and the wide variety of problem-solving the role involves. He was surprised by the scale and complexity of the company’s projects, and by how much hands-on responsibility he has been given despite limited prior experience.
In his free time, he loves to surround himself with sports, whether that be playing, watching, or refereeing! He also loves spending time outdoors, hiking, running, and biking.
Barrett’s advice for applicants is that soft skills and professionalism matter as much as technical credentials. Be confident, sell yourself well, and show dedication to learning even if you are not fully trained.
Asked to describe Janicki in three words, Barrett chose fast-paced, moving the needle and always expanding.
Written by Turner McIalwain, Marketing Intern
Are you interested in becoming a Janicki intern? Visit our Internships page for more information.