This week at XL Design Professionals (XLDP), I only worked 8.5 hours because I took some time off to devote to paperwork involving school. My workplace knows I am applying for the master’s program at CSUMB. Last week, my supervisor and his two business analysts discussed how I should help create some documentation of the workflows I am slowly getting accustomed to. Documentation was necessary if I plan to progress my role within the company. I had been introducing more efficient processes that I learned from school, and they want others to benefit from them. I was more than willing to share my knowledge.

My role at XL Design Professionals (XLDP) primarily involves technical tasks that are crucial to the smooth operation of the company. These tasks include managing backup tapes for our data center, monitoring and supporting the XL Design Professional Policy Issues mailbox, and XL Microsoft Helpdesk issues. I also administer the migration/connection between data/reports from various databases, which are essential to our office procedures. Additionally, I handle some administrative tasks that may be requested irregularly. The importance of these tasks is evident in their impact on the company’s daily operations.

From the time I started, I was asked to document these procedures, and in my absence, I made these documents/instructions public so someone else in the office could do them when I was not around.

The long-term projects that I finished include the makeover of an extranet website. This programming project will meet the following Security Requirements for password validation that are described in the “Identification and Authentication Standards – QM6015GBL Version 2.1” of FIC (Framework Internal Control) requirements: Administrator accounts or supervisor accounts must be 12-character passwords. Never be the same as the User ID Not contain more than two consecutive, identical characters.

A programming project I started satisfies the requirements above but involves creating additional fields and tables for an extranet application database. One of my challenges is being patient when I need the proper access or privilege to do something. I am always anxious to get the job done, but I know that it is not possible, especially if you are working with teams. The administrator must document every technical or non-technical procedure in preparation for an audit.

I learned the value of formal documentation of procedures in the office. I also had a taste of how to be meticulous and detail-oriented when dealing with audits. Overall, even as a mere intern, I must adhere to and be familiar with the company’s business standards and requirements. Aside from all the technical knowledge, business procedures, and team collaboration that I learned from the internship, I also gained an appreciation for how people build a long-lasting ecosystem that promotes learning and growth.