Thomas “Tom” Sulkowski, INTA 2008, interned for the Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV), the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast, and the Georgia House of Representatives during his time here at Tech. We asked him a few questions about his internships and how his time at Tech helped him succeed in his internships.
What do you enjoy most about your internship and what do you find most challenging?
The most enjoyable part of all of my internships was the chance to interact with people from different cultures. The most challenging part is definitely getting home from work and realizing I still have homework to do!
Tell us about an experience that made an impression on you during your internship.
At GCIV, one of the best parts of the internship was getting to meet the international visitors coming to Atlanta. Not only did I get to learn about their cultures, but I also got to see how they reacted to visiting our country. The Israeli Consulate was definitely an eye-opening experience – I was very aware that my office was an outpost of a foreign government, which was really interesting. At the House of Representatives, it was great to be able to interact with the legislators and see how policy was made behind the scenes.
In what ways did your time at Tech prepare you for the internship?
The INTA program at Tech prepared me for my internships by helping me develop my writing skills and increasing my awareness of world events. I have been told several times by employers that being a Georgia Tech student really gives you a leg up before the interview even starts. I was not able to do a study abroad while I was at Tech, but through the INTA program, I was able to find some interesting work opportunities with an international focus.
After I graduate, I hope to work abroad in France to gain some international business experience. After that, I’ll come back to the States and work for a few years before I go to grad school. I’m interested in either an MBA or a Master’s in International Affairs.
