Our 2023 interns: An interview with Aman & Tejah

Aman and Tejah joined Humankind Research for a six week internship in the summer of 2023. They made significant contributions to a number of projects and the team as a whole during their time with us. Alongside the internship, Aman was completing her master's in Global Affairs at King's College London. We are delighted that she joined the Humankind team in September after her graduation! Tejah, entering her third year at the University of Cambridge in Human, Social, and Political Sciences, brought a fresh perspective and valuable insights to our projects and we look forward to staying in touch. At the end of the internship, Aman and Tejah interviewed each other, reflecting on their experiences with us: Favorite Thing About the Internship Aman: It has been really practical and hands-on. It is great that we are able to get stuck into tasks such as analysis and using Fieldnotes, rather than just being told about them. We get the opportunity to experience a lot of it ourselves.  Tejah: I completely agree. I’ve also really enjoyed getting to meet the team, and hearing about the amazing projects Humankind Research has worked on.  It’s been awesome to see the project cycle from start to finish.   From the First Week to the Last Week Tejah: At the beginning of the internship, I had a vague idea about what market research was. But now, in my last week, I have a really strong sense of how Humankind approaches topics to gain deep and meaningful insights. The weekly training sessions have been especially helpful.  Aman: During my first week I was very nervous, and I didn’t know how it was going to go or what to expect. Now, in my last week, I can say that my confidence levels have risen massively, and I am not afraid to try new things or ask questions. The journey these past six weeks has been great and my abilities have improved vastly.  Where Have You Learned the Most? Aman: I think it has been by working with different people at Humankind. For example, seeing everyone’s different moderating styles and speaking to people on the team about their academic and career backgrounds. Also, by seeing the process from start to finish and having a sense of the different challenges that you overcome. I have also learned the importance of teamwork and being in sync with your colleagues. Communication skills are vital so that we are all on the same page. Tejah: I have learned so many things! More than I could ever have imagined. I’ve had brief insight into the different skills throughout a project. For example, the skill of designing an approach to standout when pitching for a project.  Has the internship influenced your belief in your abilities? Aman: It has made me realise how capable I am. At the beginning I wasn’t sure of the tasks I would be doing or the role I would have, so I was unsure of the expectations. Now I have had a big increase in my self-belief and I know that it is okay to make mistakes. Everyone on the team is very patient and encouraging and they want you to learn. Also, in the analysis sessions I felt like a valued member because I had space to share my ideas with the team.  Tejah:  I’ve really enjoyed the analysis sessions as well. I loved bouncing around ideas with other people and coming up with something interesting. Knowing that my ideas can have a meaningful impact on Humankind's work has been one of my highlights.  Atmosphere Within the Office Tejah: I like how frictionlessly and fluidly the team works together. I was surprised by how the office environment is so open and accepting of everyone being themselves. It can be quite fast paced as there can be several projects happening at the same time.  Aman: Everyone is very warm and open, so you never think twice about approaching someone to ask a question. There is a very equal atmosphere, and everyone is valued no matter how experienced they are. The people here are invested in your experiences and the team lunches create a good balanced environment that is sociable but also productive.   Feelings About Joining in September Aman: I am really excited! My initial understanding of research is that it would be mostly desk-research behind a screen, but I have realised how interactive and people-focused it is. I think Humankind have created an environment that allows you to showcase your strengths. My good experience here has been a by-product of the good working atmosphere because there is space for you to show what you are good at even if you don’t realise it yourself.  Surprising Experiences  Aman: I wasn’t surprised but I didn’t expect how patient the team would be with interns. For one project, I was allowed to attempt creating part of a debrief which is something I had never done before. My team were really encouraging and pointed me in the right direction to get the debrief to a great standard. I was given multiple attempts and useful feedback which was a perfect way for me to learn a new skill. I became familiar with Humankind’s templates and was also given my own free reign in terms of creativity.  Tejah: What surprised me was how many different strategies and approaches can be used for a project. There is so much nuance involved. I also didn’t realise how much back-and-forth dialogue was involved with the client throughout the project.    Any ideas it has given you on what you’d like to focus on in the future, or discovered interests?  Aman: I now know how interactive qualitative research is and I like being able to ask the questions that matter to people, for example, how they are impacted by charities. I am excited to discover a new field that I didn’t know much about initially. With this work there are also many opportunities to learn about a variety of topics from the different clients and people we engage with. It is a process of continuously learning about new things. I am particularly interested in learning more about the inequalities that exist within different health structures and understanding nuanced experiences for underrepresented communities. Tejah: I had originally ruled out doing anything related to my degree as I didn’t think any career paths could offer something similar. But it’s fulfilling to know that I can do what I love, speaking to people and learning about their lives in a holistic way. I'm happy that there is a space for dignified qualitative research that tries to look at the whole picture of people's lives.   Any advice you’d give to other people looking to get experience in this industry or via the internship programme? Tejah: I would say … try and get stuck in as much as possible! Don’t be afraid to ask if you can get involved in something you find interesting.  It’s also really lovely to talk to people about their career paths. Some people switch into different industries, and it’s reassuring to know that not every journey has to be linear. Going forward, I'm eager to pursue this avenue further.   Aman: Definitely do your research on the company, look at who the clients are, their ethics and initiatives and see if these align with your morals. It is very reassuring and motivating to know that an organisation does good work that is respectful and dignified and something you will be proud to take part in. Within an internship, it is important to say yes to as much as you can. The six weeks absolutely fly by, so you need to put yourself out there and immerse yourself into as much as possible. That is how you can get the maximum out of this experience.