Name: Solongo Altankhuyag
Class Year: 2029
Major: Economics

Internship Organization: Ministry of Finance
Internship Title: Development Finance Division Intern
Location: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

During my internship, I have taken on a variety of responsibilities that have contributed greatly to my professional and personal growth.

One of my main tasks has been assisting in organizing events, including the Development Partners Meeting held at the State Palace of Mongolia. This experience allowed me to learn how medium-to-large-scale government events are planned and executed. My responsibilities included preparing and delivering formal invitations, assisting with logistics, and ensuring compliance with the State Palace’s security requirements. I also learned from observing how my senior colleagues handled event execution and unexpected situations.

I have also participated in meetings involving organizations such as JICA, UNICEF, and the Ministries of Finance of Mongolia and Laos. My role included taking meeting protocols, briefing my team afterward, and conducting additional research on the topics discussed to share my thoughts. These experiences have helped me better understand Mongolia’s financial development policies and international cooperation.

Throughout the internship, I have met many professionals from different organizations, which has strengthened my communication and networking skills. The connections I have built have also provided valuable guidance on the career path I hope to pursue in the future.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I became interested in how governments handle their external loans and debts after learning about how it plays a considerably important role in a financial crisis in one of my economics classes. Hence, I wanted to better understand how these funds are allocated, monitored, and used effectively, as well as explore ways to improve their management. Therefore, I thought the Ministry of Finance would be the perfect place for me to learn about these processes and explore that curiosity.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of this internship has been the opportunity to work with and learn from such welcoming and warm colleagues. Despite the different age groups within the team, there was a warm, family-like atmosphere that made me feel comfortable from the very beginning. I especially look forward to our breakfast time before work, which helped me build genuine relationships with my teammates. I am grateful that I am forming meaningful connections that go beyond professional networking through this internship.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?

The biggest challenge I faced during my internship was adapting to a completely new and often fast-paced working environment. There were many internal procedures, especially regarding official documents, that I was unfamiliar with, which led to a few mistakes. For example, I once incorrectly numbered an outgoing document due to a misunderstanding and had to find a solution while our division head was away on a business trip.

Another challenge was being asked to deliver around 12 event invitations within an hour before the end of the workday. I had to navigate unfamiliar office buildings, and some embassies had already closed early for Friday. I remember that time being quite physically demanding due to the long walks, the short time and the summer heat.

Looking back, I realized that my anxiety about unfamiliar situations and the responsibility I was given made these challenges seem bigger than they actually were. This experience taught me that staying calm, adapting quickly, and focusing on the whole picture are important skills that I need to continue improving.