Interview with Anouk de Lussanet de la Sablonière

How come you chose to do an internship?

I wanted to do something practical instead of only courses. Some variation.

What have you been working on during your internship?

Because the research project was still in the early stages, we were mostly looking for sources that were relevant. In addition to that I transcribed some diaries that my internship supervisor found relevant. Together with the other students on the same project, we would sometimes meet to discuss what we found.

What has been the most fun and interesting part?

I enjoyed working together with other students every day. I also enjoyed that you could apply the skills you learned instead of only writing essays and doing tests and things like that. It didn't hurt that we got free breakfast on Friday.

What has been the most challenging aspect?

Even though I enjoyed having a clear schedule, I had to adjust to working 5 days a week at a specific time. Because this was the first time I had to work in the field of history, I had to adjust to that, but it was okay.

What were your expectations before you started your internship?

I hoped to learn how to use the skills I had requires during my studies, such as analysing sources. It would be fun to move from studying to working.

Was there anything you hoped for or feared that did not happen?

No, it was quite like expected. The only thing that would have been better if it were longer. Time flew by, and by the time you got really into it, it was over.

Was there anything that exceeded your expectations?

I enjoyed working together with someone who was working on the same project as I, because it allowed us to discuss our strategies and struggles.

What have you learned during your internship?

I like that I could see that the skills that I've learned during my bachelor's and my master's could be applied. Of course, you know that you learn skills but it's fun to see that it's actually working. In addition to that I really enjoyed having a steady schedule so working 5 days a week is very much for me.

Has the internship influenced your perspective on possible career paths in regards to academia? If so, how?

I have always been pretty sure that I did not want to continue in Academia but this was a nice way to both confirm that and have some experience in it so that I'm completely sure about my decision.

What would you say to someone considering applying for an internship at one of the research projects at the Department of History, or elsewhere?

I would definitely recommend an internship because I think it's a nice change from the usual studying, and if you get it in a field that you think you might want to go into, it might help you get a more clear picture of that field.