Bassett Mechanical provides internship opportunities across multiple areas of our organization. These internships give motivated young professionals the chance to explore potential career paths, gain insight into various roles and departments, and benefit from hands-on experience that supports both personal and professional development.
This summer, we were excited to welcome Eli S. as an Information Technology intern. We had the opportunity to sit down with Eli to learn more about his background and how this internship is helping him move closer to his goal of a career in cybersecurity management.
Meet Eli
Q. Can you tell us about yourself?
My name is Eli Stenzel. I am a senior at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville, studying Cybersecurity. I enjoy outdoor activities such as golfing and fishing. I also like to spend my free time building Lego sets, playing video games, and learning about new technology.
Q. What made you interested in pursuing a Cybersecurity degree?
I have always been interested in technology and how things work behind the scenes. What really drew me to cybersecurity was how new and unknown the field was. It’s a field where you’re constantly learning and adapting. I am extremely excited and curious about the idea of protecting systems, data, and people from evolving threats. Technology is a huge part of this company and everyday life, and cybersecurity feels meaningful to be a part of.
Q. What current and upcoming projects are on your agenda?
Projects that I have completed already include a Wi-Fi assessment on the first-floor area and looking at that data and creating a report to show what I found during the assessment. A daily task is working with our helpdesk ticketing system and communicating with Bassett employees to resolve the issues they are experiencing. I also analyze emails that get reported for phishing to verify whether that email is safe or not. Those aren’t all the projects, but a good overview of what I have and will be doing.
Q. What is your dream job?
My dream job would be to become a cybersecurity professional at an organization where I can make a real impact, leading/part of a team to help build secure systems, investigate threats, and proactively prevent cyberattacks. I want to work somewhere that values and understands the importance of protecting a company’s assets, infrastructure, and information. Eventually, I would like to mentor others entering the field and lead a team/department in this area, helping to build a strong security culture wherever I work.
Q. What skills or insights have you developed so far?
One skill that I have developed and will continue to develop is communication, both technical and interpersonal. It is important to be able to explain complex concepts in a way that non-technical users can understand, like helping other Bassett employees resolve their issues that they are having. I learned that clear, on-time, honest, and respectful communication helps build trust. I have also developed my technical skills, especially around analysis. Also, approaching problems with a more strategic mindset, thinking not just about fixing issues, but preventing them before they happen.
Q. What do you hope to take away from this experience?
I am hoping to gain real-world experience on how cybersecurity and IT function in a professional environment. I want to deepen my technical skills in networking and process improvement. I am also looking to build my confidence across all areas – communicating clearly and effectively, and understanding topics and steps to take to resolve issues, no matter the risk level. Ultimately, I want to create relationships across the company to help shape me into a more capable and well-rounded cybersecurity professional.
Q. Why did you choose an IT internship at Bassett Mechanical?
I chose Bassett because I was given an opportunity, a year before this internship, to meet with the Director of IT Infrastructure. This meeting gave me a lot of valuable insight into what an internship would possibly look like. What stood out to me was the people-first culture and the friendliness that I experienced before working here. While waiting in the lobby for the meeting, I noticed that people were excited coming into work and everyone saying, “hello” and “good morning” with a smile on their face. This created a positive work environment. This company values innovation and continuous improvement, which made this internship an amazing opportunity for me.
Q. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
In the next 5 years, I see myself working full-time in cybersecurity – ideally playing an active role protecting and securing systems and data from evolving threats. I also see myself continuously improving and learning in this area of study and earning certifications that help build my skills. I also hope to mentor new professionals entering the field, just like others have supported me.
Q. What’s one piece of advice for someone pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity?
My biggest advice would be to stay curious. This field takes a lot of time, and there is a lot of knowledge involved. While it may seem daunting and impossible to understand sometimes, understand that every expert once started where you are. Also, what helps me a lot is to be proactive and learn on my own. Watching YouTube videos, reading articles, researching topics, and doing hands-on labs helped me learn a little more about what this career is about.
Learn more about our other interns:
