National Intern Day, observed on the last Thursday of July, celebrates the valuable contributions interns make to the future workforce. Maxim Healthcare recognizes this day by investing in its internship program each year, welcoming talented interns who bring fresh ideas, energy and impact.

Emily Ching

This summer marks Emily’s second year interning at Maxim. She is currently serving as an Experience intern within the Marketing Department, building on the foundation she established last year as a Workers’ Compensation and Benefits Intern in the HR department.

Growing through new responsibilities

This summer, Emily’s responsibilities have shifted toward Maxim team member and caregiver engagement. She says she has strengthened her collaboration and communication skills by managing communications across departments and contributing to meaningful, employee-focused initiatives.

One of her key contributions so far has been supporting Employee Appreciation Week, where she helped coordinate seamless communication across departments, vendors and teams to deliver a positive and memorable experience for employees. She will also contribute to several impactful programs at Maxim, including Caregiver of the Year, Voices of Experience, the Caregiver Tenure Program, and various networking groups.

Balancing work and academics

In addition to her internship, Emily is also taking a summer class. She successfully manages her time by breaking assignments into smaller portions and completing them gradually each day. This approach along with adequate rest helps her avoid feeling overwhelmed after work.

Advice for future interns

Emily encourages students interested in marketing and business to prioritize building a strong network—connecting not only with industry professionals, but also with peers, professors and members of their broader community.

She recommends:

• Creating and maintaining a strong LinkedIn profile
• Practicing professional communication
• Scheduling coffee chats and informational conversations

Emily says by learning from others’ experiences and perspectives, students can gain valuable insights that may guide their own career paths.

Timmy Nguyen

Returning for his second year as an IS Applications intern, Timmy continues to build on his experience and confidence while mentoring and supporting new interns. He says the experience has given him valuable insight into the responsibilities of a leader.

Mastering new skills

Through his internship, Timmy has learned the importance of carefully reviewing every task, even routine ones, as small variations can have a significant impact. This attention to detail has helped him improve his efficiency.

“Strengthening my attention to detail has prepared me for a career in cybersecurity,” he says. “Focusing on the smallest details helps me prevent attacks and identify system vulnerabilities.”

Another skill that Timmy has cultivated is his ability to communicate with his coworkers. He says the internship helped him grow from being reserved to more confident and outgoing, as Maxim’s culture made it easier to connect with others, share his interests and seek support—making work feel less stressful.

With Maxim’s support, Timmy has also earned his International Information System Security Certification Consortium—an achievement that marks a significant milestone in his career journey.

Meaningful workplace connections

Throughout his internship, Timmy has formed meaningful relationships that have enriched his experience. His manager stands out as an influential figure, as she offers guidance, encouragement and an open-door policy for questions. Additionally, Timmy has built a strong rapport with one of his coworkers. Having been an intern himself and being close to Timmy’s age, this colleague understands Timmy’s challenges and provides valuable guidance and support.

Expanding career interests

While Timmy initially focused heavily on cybersecurity, his academic experiences broadened his interests. A course in systems design and analysis introduced him to new possibilities within IS, including roles like systems analyst, administrator and engineer.

Although he remains committed to the technical side of IS, Timmy has also developed an appreciation for the business aspects of the field. This combination of technical and business knowledge opened new doors for his future career path.

Advice for future IS professionals

Timmy encourages aspiring IS professionals to explore the many different paths available within the field. From programming to networking to cybersecurity, each area offers unique opportunities. He recommends identifying personal strengths and interests, then focusing on developing those skills to a high level of expertise.

Equally important, Timmy emphasizes the need for work life balance. He believes that engaging in hobbies and activities outside of professional responsibilities are critical for mental well-being. He also says that a balanced lifestyle leads to greater happiness and long-term success.

Harrison Dobbins

After earning his Bachelor of Science this year, Harrison set his sights on gaining hands-on experience as a Marketing intern at Maxim. He says he was drawn to the company’s meaningful impact on the communities it serves.

A unique experience

“I enjoy the atmosphere at Maxim,” he says. “The company provides many benefits and accommodations that I haven’t received before. I also value the strong cross-department collaboration and the opportunity to shadow other teams, which allows interns to explore their interests and potentially build a career here.”

Learning the ropes

Harrison starts his day by reviewing social media inboxes and observing how the team manages cross-platform communication. In the morning, he sits in on meetings to hear strategic discussions and see how teams collaborate. By the afternoon, he shifts into execution, applying what he has learned and building hands-on experience with marketing tools and workflows.

Building skills for the future

Harrison’s goal is to strengthen his soft skills and gain exposure to the software and functions he’ll use throughout his career. Looking ahead, he hopes to become a marketing director or marketing analyst.

Alexis Wheeler

Alexis Wheeler, a rising junior, is majoring in Accounting and Finance and currently working as a Billing and Collections intern at Maxim. She says she discovered the opportunity through a personal connection.

“My neighbor works at Maxim and always said good things about the company,” she says. “So, when the internship position opened, he suggested that I apply.”

Her workflow

On Mondays and Fridays, Alexis works on ongoing projects assigned by her team lead. These typically include Excel-based reporting and tasks that span multiple days, requiring patience and attention to detail. Tuesdays through Thursdays represent the core of Alexis’ workload. These responsibilities include reviewing system-flagged shifts—determining whether to release them or keep them on hold due to missing information—as well as creating and billing claims.

The Maxim difference

One of Alexis’ primary goals is to gain a clear understanding of what a professional work routine consists of. She notes that her responsibilities closely mirror those of full-time team members, offering a realistic preview of a career in accounting. This hands-on experience is what sets Maxim apart for her, as the company goes beyond observation and entrusts interns with meaningful, impactful work.

Turning challenges into growth opportunities

While Alexis cites the most rewarding part of her experience as building meaningful relationships with colleagues, it hasn’t come without challenges.

“Adapting to multiple systems has been the biggest learning curve,” she says. “Once you understand a process—like billing—it becomes much easier. But learning how to handle errors and special cases takes more time.”

Looking ahead

Alexis plans to graduate in the spring of 2028 and hopes to launch her career in Public Accounting. A key milestone on her roadmap is obtaining her Certified Public Accounting license within two years of graduation.

Sandesh Shrestha

Sandesh, a rising junior studying Computer Engineering, was interested in interning at Maxim because he wanted to see how large organizations adopt and implement new technologies.

“I felt Maxim would give me exposure to real enterprise workflows and the scale of challenges that come with them,” he says.

A snapshot of his daily responsibilities

Sandesh’s primary responsibility is imaging and preparing ThinkPad E14 laptops for deployment. He also contributes to the K11 tablet project, an upgrade initiative to replace Chromebooks used by caregivers and nurses in the field. The new tablets offer cellular connectivity and GPS capabilities, which are increasingly required in some states for location-based verification and reimbursement. In this role, Sandesh helps configure the devices and get them ready for deployment.

Developing problem-solving skills

A key goal for Sandesh has been to strengthen his problem-solving abilities by working alongside experienced IS professionals. Through daily tasks and technical challenges, he is building a stronger foundation in troubleshooting and critical thinking—skills that are essential in both IS and engineering fields.

Building confidence

Like many new roles, Sandesh’s internship came with a learning curve. In the early stages, he encountered challenges with bugs during the imaging process. Relying heavily on team support, he has since grown more confident in troubleshooting independently and recognizing when to escalate issues.

Future aspirations

Sandesh plans to pursue a career in Hardware Engineering, with a particular interest in the semiconductor and microelectronics space. He hopes to work in device design or fabrication, applying both his academic knowledge and hands-on internship experience to a specialized and evolving field.