Driving innovation as an HR intern

Everywhere you look, you see new ways that Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the way we work, collaborate, and connect to the world. As AI rapidly evolves, we must evolve with it – finding ways to leverage the growing technology to rethink our processes and become more productive than ever before. To see how we are accomplishing this mission, we spoke with HR Businesses Partner intern Katie Nations about her work with AT&T’s secure and operational Large Language Model (LLM) to revolutionize our HR strategies.

Innovation in real time

As a part of our Human Resources department, Katie is fully immersed in the internal workings of the company. Everything from attrition and client support processes to strategizing on how to meet business goals is part of her day-to-day, but the internship is far from routine. There are always new opportunities to explore the many facets of HR and the innovative technologies driving their evolution. “Each day, my supervisor assigns me tasks to either practice using our AI tools or engage in collaborative discussions about how it can enhance productivity based on my growing understanding of the various processes,” she said.

Katie combines these discussions with data to draw conclusions about potential AI implementations and the most impactful ways to move forward. She works with our LLM as well as our own internal AI assistant, Ask AT&T, to identify integrations and better support. “It’s a game-changer,” she said. “We can automate tedious manual tasks and quickly find relevant policies for inquiries that once took much longer to resolve.” With these productivity gains also comes an easier employee experience and gives HR Business Partners and their units the ability to be more proactive and responsive in their work.

A culture of collaboration

While the work itself is plenty exciting for the Psychology major who was drawn to the people-centered work of HR, she’s also loving the supportive culture at AT&T. From day one, she felt supported by her supervisors. They encouraged curiosity and open dialogue, inviting her to contribute ideas, be part of strategic discussions, and giving her a level of independence she didn’t expect to have as an intern.

That openness extends to her coworkers as well, many of whom have been at AT&T for years. Everyone she’s met has been generous with their time and knowledge, even inviting her to meetings to get a better sense of their daily work. As a result, she has learned not to be afraid of asking questions and to take any task that is offered her. “Valuable skills for any future role or workplace,” she said.

Preparing for the future

Katie’s internship has been an invaluable introduction to the world of HR. She has gained experience with the tools of the trade, developed soft skills, like communication and dependability, and built a network of supportive coworkers and mentors. It’s been crucial to her success. “You want to be trusted with sensitive information and be capable of creating solutions for complex situations based on that information,” she said.

Equally important to learning new skills and building a reliable network is evolving alongside emerging technologies. Just a few minutes of research a day can make all the difference in staying ahead of the curve. It’s that innovative mindset that has allowed Katie to thrive in her internship and help implement our latest AI solutions.

“AT&T is a company full of driven individuals who want to see others succeed,” she said. “Here, you can ask questions, think creatively, and build a network of successful hardworking mentors in your desired field.”

Her time as an HR Business Partners intern has given her the confidence and knowledge to make an impact. With that in mind, she shared this advice for her fellow future innovators: “If you have doubts, that’s an opportunity to prove yourself wrong and step out of your comfort zone. So, just go for it!”