Growth Through Groundwork: Our two-month internship experience at Avant Garde Solutions

2025-10-19

BY: Nirja Shrestha and Shraddha Singh

As our two-month internship at Avant Garde Solutions comes to an end, we can’t help but look back at the incredible journey we had. What initially began as an opportunity to learn, turned into a great learning experience that challenged us to grow both personally and professionally. During this period, we encountered several tasks, adapted to unfamiliar situations, and discovered our strengths through hands-on practice. Working in such a dynamic environment gave us a clear understanding of how the actual corporate world looks like.

The first day of internship was something, we will always remember. The memory of walking into the office, mixed with happiness, excitement yet nervous is something that will never fade away. The thought of meeting new people, understanding corporate work culture, and contributing to ongoing projects was both thrilling and intimidating. We were initially tasked with growing engagement on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn along with follow-up calls to the enumerators working in field.

Before our internship, we viewed questionnaires as just a simple set of questions. However, while working in the office, we learnt that questionnaire design involves much more of thought and logic than it seems to be. Each question is crafted to meet specific research objectives, and even the order of a question could influence the response. This experience enhanced our analytical thinking and gave us a new perception on how research tools are designed to produce reliable insights.

One of our significant tasks involved assisting in Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). This was something that we never learned before. Those sessions brought together diverse opinion of participants to share on a specific topic. We were involved in taking detailed notes, and later transcribed the session. This process improved our listening skills, critical observation, and understanding of human behavior in research settings which required attention to detail and patience.

Moreover, we were engaged in designing certificates using Canva, writing and creating ad contents as well as developing business articles. Unlike academic articles, business articles were different. Business articles focus heavily on clarity and professionalism. We were assigned to draft short business articles, summarize data findings, and prepare reports. Writing this enhanced our writing skills, critical thinking, and arranging the information in more professional way.

We had the opportunity to work as researchers on a project where we were responsible for data entry and analysis. We also worked as enumerators for a digital banking survey enhancing our interpersonal skills and understanding of how people engage with financial technology in daily life making us familiar with tools such as Excel, Word, and KoboToolbox.

Working in collaboration with senior researchers and mentors helped us understand the importance of precision and team work in achieving project goals. Their guidance taught how to communicate our ideas clearly, handling constructive feedback and taking initiative in our roles. Over time, we learned to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and gained confidence in our ability to perform under deadlines.

This internship also helped us appreciate the role of adaptability in a professional setting. At times, the tasks would change unexpectedly, requiring us to think critically and make quick adjustments. Whether it was redesigning the content, correcting data entries or assisting in last minute field coordination, these moments taught us how to remain calm under pressure and find solutions creatively.

Most importantly, the experience taught us about balance between creativity and analysis, independence and teamwork, learning and application. We realized that every task, no matter how small, contributed to a larger goal. This made the experience even more meaningful.

Overall, this internship was far more than a learning experience; it was a journey that combined creativity with research, connected us with real people and communities, and helped shape a clearer vision of the professionals we aspire to become. From social media management to detailed data work, content creation, interviews, and field surveys, every task contributed to our personal and professional growth leaving us confident, skilled, and better prepared for future challenges.