Internships: Important for Success
by: Adam O’Donnell ‘12What could help you find happiness for the rest of your life? What costs you little but pays you a lot? What did over 135 Hampden-Sydney students do this summer? An internship.
The word may sound intimidating, but internships are important for a successful career. Here at Career Development we encourage students to discover what they enjoy, and not just do what their friends are doing. A summer internship is usually a great way to figure this out.
Throughout this past summer Hampden-Sydney students interned with a wide range of companies from Smith Barney to Cavalier Flooring Systems and even North Carolina Port Authority. Some were paid and some were not, but they all gained valuable knowledge about their industry. I had the privilege to intern with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.
I learned the business of a financial advisor and how to sell life insurance. When you begin an internship you most likely start out with preconceived notions about the industry. As you progress through the summer it is likely you will see a much different side of the job. At the beginning of my experience I didn’t think sales was for me.
As I progressed through the summer I saw a different side of selling, and now I am considering it as a career.
My sales skills began to develop during Northwestern’s “Fastrack” training program at the beginning of the summer. We took many extensive online tests followed by one-on-one mock interviews. This training was important, but with out “joint work” I would not have learned the business. “Joint work” involved scheduling a meeting with a prospect and bring along someone from the office with experience.
During the meeting the experienced agent would do the talking, so I was able to listen and learn. Through many of these experiences I learned that in order to make a sale you have to listen as well as be passionate about your product. Towards the end of the summer I went on meetings alone and began to build the confidence needed to make the sale.
If you don’t feel that internships are for you, think again. There are internships in almost every industry. The summers during college are great opportunities to figure out what you like and dislike. Discovering an internship is the first step to answering this question. Stop by the Office of Career Development today on the second floor of Bagby Hall and we will help you reach that next opportunity.
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