I spent eight weeks in San Ramon, California working as an intern in Chevron’s Policy, Government and Public Affairs department. Within the department, I worked primarily with the Downstream and Chemicals Public Affairs Manager for the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. My experience at Chevron not only gave me hands-on experience in the public affairs field, but it also helped me grow professionally and personally.

I learned about the internship through an email sent out by Annenberg Career Development in October 2015. I gave her my resume and cover letter, interviewed in January and by February was committed to spending my summer with the company. I found out which team I would be working with in May, and on June 16, 2016, I walked into Chevron’s Global Headquarters in San Ramon.

From day one, my supervisor was dedicated to making my summer one to remember. To get me acquainted with the company, she insisted I spend time outside of the office in order to understand all aspects of Chevron’s business. I worked a shift in a Chevron station, rode along with a business-consultant, toured a refinery and visited a marketing terminal in San Jose. These experiences provided the framework in which I was able to execute my projects because I understood how public affairs directly impacted Chevron’s core businesses operations.

Throughout the summer, I never had two weeks that were the same. Because my boss was a field operative, my internship consisted of three major aspects: communications, issue management and stakeholder engagement. In all three of these areas I helped my boss improve the efficiency and quality of her major projects. I got to have my hands on many things, ranging from answering local media questions to planning an event at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I wrote a company brief on Chevron’s relationships with indigenous people around the world and worked with different corporate departments on November ballot initiatives that would affect Chevron in Oregon and California. I am very thankful for my supervisor for not only showing me what her job is, but also giving me the independence and freedom to take things on myself.

One of the most impactful aspects of my internship was being surrounded by a wide variety of professionals with many different backgrounds and areas of expertise. I had coffee with more than 20 of my co-workers, gaining exposure and insights into everything from government affairs to social investments. Hearing about their different career arcs and professional advice made me think intensely about my own future and aspirations, especially entering my senior year at USC.

I never thought I would work for an energy company, let alone one of the biggest ones in the United States. But my time at Chevron taught me how important it is to be flexible, open-minded and eager to learn, no matter where you are. I came away from this internship with a higher level understanding of local politics, relationship-building, public affairs logistics and the energy industry. But most importantly, I gained a profound sense of gratitude for the energy my supervisor, team and co-workers took to make my experience deeply rich in knowledge and excitement.

– Caolinn Mejza, Public Relations