Intern Stories: Sanaz Hafezi

I’m nearing the end of a four-month internship at Macadamian and thought I would write a brief post about my experience and what I’ve gained from working here this summer.

Before I get started, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I just graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Industrial Design and a Minor in Psychology. In September, I’m beginning a Masters of Design. It was in the third year of my undergraduate degree, that I decided I wanted to work in medical design, mainly working with devices that aid in surgery, diagnosis, and recovery.

Why Macadamian?

I was initially drawn to Macadamian because of their presence in medical design, but soon realized that what made it the perfect internship is their work culture. I enjoyed working here for a couple of reasons. First, I got to work with experienced and friendly co-workers. From the first day, there was always someone willing to show me around and answer my questions. This helped greatly in my transition into the company and allowed me to make the most of my time here.

Second, passion and learning are some of the core values at Macadamian, and in embodying these values, the company allowed for my personal growth. I was assigned to projects that I am passionate about, and was given the flexibility to explore my interests.

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Finally, Macadamian has built a great work environment. The work hours are flexible. There are monthly ‘fun activities’ (during my stay we went rock climbing and visited Skyzone). Finally, there is a culture of celebrating achievements, which pushes each and every employee to be their best self.

To end off, here are a couple tips for anyone starting an amazing opportunity like this:

1. Make sure you ask as many questions as you can.

2. Make your interests known — ask to be put on projects that interest you.

3. Most importantly, although coming into a new workplace is always nerve-wracking, you aren’t expected to be an expert on the get-go. That being said, you bring a fresh prospective to the table, so don’t underestimate the value of your ideas!

Good luck!

Sanaz

To learn more about Macadamian, our work culture, and current opportunities visit our careers page.