Here's how you can turn your data governance internship into a full-time job in the field.

Focus on mastering essential skills ... Technical proficiency: Acquire expertise in data governance tools and platforms (e.g. Databricks' Unity Catalog), including knowledge of data modeling, data lineage, and metadata management. Utilize online courses and tutorials to improve your technical skills. Communication: Develop strong communication skills to effectively convey data governance concepts and policies. Practice conveying complex ideas in simple language and work with stakeholders to understand their needs. Problem solving: Develop problem-solving skills to effectively address data governance challenges. Learn to analyze data problems, propose solutions and implement improvements to enhance data quality and compliance.

I built a strong network during my data governance internship, which was key to securing a full-time role. I engaged with colleagues, attended privacy and security events, and found mentors. These connections expanded my knowledge and opened new doors. Being proactive in building relationships was one of the best investments I made. My network has been invaluable in supporting my career journey and helping me achieve my goals in data governance.

To create added value, consider ... Business needs: Identify key business challenges and align data governance initiatives with them. Tailor data governance strategies to specific business objectives, such as improving data quality or compliance. Be proactive: Take the initiative to propose innovative solutions and improvements in data governance. Actively look for opportunities to streamline processes, improve data management practices and optimize workflows.

It’s important to document not only the success but also your failures. Why? Because data governance journey is not easy. Some processes will be successful and other not. Most of them won’t be successful because they don’t depend on you, they depend on general structure, company, industry and other processes. The greatest thing is that you learn from both. Documenting the processes, their application and results will help you to learn more about the implementation.

Showing initiative is crucial ... Take personal responsibility: Proactively identify gaps or inefficiencies in data governance processes and take responsibility for fixing them. Look for learning opportunities: Continually seek opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills related to data governance practices and tools. Attend relevant workshops, webinars or training sessions. Involve stakeholders: Actively engage with stakeholders across the organization to understand their data governance needs and challenges.