byumusa

[byumusa]

Intermountain Healthcare

written by Sammy Cowley

Catherine Willenbrecht, a senior at BYU, shares with us some of her experiences while interning at Intermountain Healthcare a year ago. 

Where did you intern and for how long?

I interned at Intermountain Healthcare in the cardiovascular rehab center for 5 months.

What was your position?

I was a health promotional specialist, emphasizing the 100 day heart challenge.

Explain a project you worked on.

What I did was meet with my clients for a couple hours and trained them in cardiovascular strengthening and weight training. We really wanted our clients to improve their health and so we helped them also improve their diets. 

To whom would you recommend this internship?

I would recommend this to anyone that is interested in the medical field. Also it is great if you love helping people and love learning about human health. 

Why do you think this was a good resume builder?

I got to work very closely with doctors and so I learned a great deal from them. I also got experience working one on one with clients that actually ended up winning the 100 day challenge. 

Do you think it leads to future job possibilities?

Yes, because it showed that I can work in a hospital setting and work closely with patients and doctors. It was an awesome internship. In every interview that I have had since then, I am always asked about my experiences there because it was so interesting. 

What steps could someone else take to get a similar internship?

Create an e-recruiting account and then prepare a resume. Also, having taken the proper classes, like anatomy, was imperative. 

[byumusa]

Capital Group in Irvine

written by Scott Christensen

Aaron Seiter is a senior studying finance in Marriott Business School. He interned with Capital Group in Irvine, California during the summer of 2011. His experience follows:

What did you do during this internship?

I interned in the PCS division, Private Client Services. This division of Capital Group manages over $18 billion in equity and fixed-income assets for a select group of high-net-worth individuals, trusts, foundations and endowments nationwide.

During my internship, I mostly worked on failed trades, which are transactions that are disputed between the custodial banks and with Capital Group, who manages these private clients’ assets. If there were any discrepancies between the two, I assisted in solving the problem. I also worked in compliance, writing tax filings for the SEC. 

What was your favorite part of the internship?

I really liked the Capital Group culture. People there are more open and willing to work with you. As an intern, you don’t always get respected in organizations. However, at Capital Group, I felt that I was really able to get to know various people, even in top tier management. 

What did you learn during your internship?

I learned a lot about portfolio management. But, overall, I gained knowledge of the industry. It was perfect for me because exposed me to a new world of finance out there. It felt great to learn about private client services work was great as well. 

Steps to getting the internship:

My internship application was unique. I was on a study abroad in Jerusalem during the interview process. I conference called the Capital Group recruiters and interviewed over the phone, halfway across the world. However, the steps I used were still applicable to what you could use here in Provo.

Applied on eRecruiting – got the interview

Researched the company extensively online – prepping for the interview

I talked with as many people that work with the company as possible – utilized the alumni database on the Marriott School’s websit 

I used Glassdoor.com to research what employees thought about the company to gain an overview of company culture and maybe some trends about the company – I highly recommend using this website! After finding some trends about the website, I was able to make a huge impression to the interviewers, even over a conference call. 

If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, feel free to contact Aaron at aseiter@gmail.com

[byumusa]

Pronaia Capital Partners in Salt Lake City

written by Anthony Butler

Salvael Ortega, an international student and junior in the strategy program shares his internship experience at Pronaia Capital Partners in Salt Lake City, Utah and San Diego, California area.

Where did you do your internship?

Pronaia Capital Partners, half of the internship was in Salt Lake, at the Wells Fargo building, and the other half was in San Diego/Tijuana area.

Average hours per week?

I did about 10-20 hrs per week, but only because I was taking classes and had also a part-time job, but full-time at Pronaia was available.

Was this a paid internship?

Yes.

What does an intern in your position do?

This is a small private equity firm as far as the number of people working there goes, so the internship program was very hands-on and less of a formal intern training. The work here is done on a needs base, from financial analysis, to market research, due diligence, asset management, and even sales. 

What were your responsibilities?

I was put under a mentor down in San Diego working on an investment the company had there. I was there pretty much just doing some general due diligence, meeting with management of the firm, and attending conferences. I also did market research on exporting products to international markets, and some financial forecast analysis. The best part was overseeing the manufacturing of a plant in Tijuana, Mexico, where our products were being assembled, and getting to know the supply chain of these firms. 

What kind of team did you work with?

I was pretty much only under a mentor, who was very knowledgeable and really open to share everything he knew about the business with me. 

What were some of the highlights of the internship?

I would say the trip to the Mexican factory, and attending a few conferences in San Diego. I was able to really see how the management team in action trying to network and sell their product. 

To whom would you recommend this internship?

To anybody interested in consulting, finance, private equity, or investment management in general.

What are the steps that should be taken to get this internship?

Network

Network

Network

Did I already say network? Get to know the people that had worked, or are currently working there, and don’t be afraid of asking for an internship opportunity. 

Can students contact you if they are interested in interning for this company?

Absolutely. My email is Salvael@hotmail.com

What did you do to stand out?

I was just really open to learn and understand the industry. And just work hard and get your assignments done well and fast. The best advice would to enjoy it, though; if you enjoy it, then everything falls into place. 

[byumusa]

Capital Group in Virginia

written by Jeremy Sookhoo

Aaron Daley, a senior at BYU majoring in accounting tells us about his experience interning with Capital Group in Hampton Rhodes, Virginia.

What was your position with Capital Group?

I was a Fund Accounting Intern in the Capital Research and Management Company within Capital Group

Explain what you did there.

I did the daily accounting work for 3-4 of our mutual funds. I assisted in calculating the closing net asset value. I also did periodic fund tasks such as asset reconciliations with banks and doing tests for tax purposes to make sure we maintained our RIC status. My team also reported certain figures to the Investment Company Institute which is an outside lobbyist organization that represents the mutual funds industry. They use our figures to track the market. 

Do you feel like the work you did was meaningful to the organization?

Yeah, I wasn’t treated any differently because I was an intern. If I had been a first- or second-year employee I would be doing the same thing. I would hope it was meaningful or else they should just fire there whole analyst level of the organization. 

What skills did you develop in this internship?

I feel like I have a better understanding of how a complex holding company operates. Capital Group is an enterprise level organization and as an intern I was required to reach out to different organizations in different sites and across time zones. I learned about mutual funds and the distribution channels, and how they make money. I don’t plan on working with mutual funds for my career; however, it was very interesting. 

What were some highlights of the internship?

The expose to senior management and the casual conversations I had with them was a great experience.

To whom would you recommend this internship?

My specific recommendation would be to accounting students who are not sure that they want to work for the big four. This internship was great because Capital Group would take you between your junior and senior year. The big four usually only take you before the summer of your MAcc. I would also say this is great for people who are interested in a work life balance. It’s a 40 hour work week until you get into management. That goes for the internship and the full time positions. 

As far as Hampton Rhodes goes, it was great for anyone who wants to experience the East coast and the historical sites around there. DC isn’t very far from the office. There is not a lot of demand from students to go to the Hampton Rhodes office, so if you express interest then you may have a leg up on the competition.

What steps could someone else take to get a similar internship?

I found out about the internship through E-recruiting. I skipped basketball night to go to the information session and signed up for an appointment. I made sure to do my research before the interview on the company and did great on the first round of interviews. My second interview was a few weeks later. I fell in love with the company and took the offer. 

If you have any further questions about the internship you can contact Aaron at awd_daley@hotmail.com

[byumusa]

Wal-Mart in Shenzhen, China

written by Anthony Butler

Yulong Cui, a junior in the accounting program shares with us about his internship working for Wal-Mart in Shenzhen, China during the summer after his sophomore year. As an intern, he was able to analyze and make recommendations about how Wal-Mart could reduce supply-chain and distribution costs in the Chinese market.

Where did you do your internship?

Shenzhen, China.

Average hours per week?

40 hours per week.

Average pay per week?

Not very much—just about a $50 stipend per week.

What does an intern in your position do?

The office that I worked in didn’t have an official internship program, so every internship experience is different. I worked in the full time program, so I went to the office at 8:30 am and left at 5:30 pm. Pretty much on a day-to-day basis you work in a cubicle, and the assignment that I personally got was a little bit different than others because I was the only person with an accounting background. 

What were your responsibilities?

I spent most of my time developing an investment plan and net NPV analysis on PP&E to find ways to reduce supply-chain costs. I spent about a month on cost analysis, so I was given freight costs for the different shipping routes in china and I analyzed to find out if there was any way to reduce costs and then created an investment plan for how to reduce those costs.

What kind of team did you work with?

I worked mostly independently because I was the only person on the team with an accounting background.

What were some of the highlights of the internship?

The highlight was presenting my work to a group of professionals including two senior directors at the end of my internship. 

What did you do to stand out?

I worked independently with minimal supervision. Being self-motivated, responsible, and diligent helped me get through difficult situations.

To whom would you recommend this internship?

I would recommend this internship for anybody with an interest in receiving real world experience in a variety of areas in business.

What are the steps that should be taken to get this internship?

Do well academically. 

Network, network, network

Apply on erecruiting if you want to work in the U.S., but if you want to intern in China then go ahead and contact me and I will help you figure out how to apply and get your resume to the right people.

Can students contact you if they are interested in interning for this company?

Yes, they can contact me at yulongcui@granadaadvisors.com

[byumusa]

HR in Texas

written by Brent Murri

Brock Josephson graduated in December and is now working with a startup company in Orem called SpotterRF. Over the summer, Brock was an HR intern in Houston, TX.

Where did you intern and for how long?

I interned with El Paso in Houston. El Paso is in the transportation of natural gas industry. I was there from May until August.

Tell me about the most prestigious project you completed during the internship.

I was a human resources intern, so I dealt mostly with recruiting. In one particular project, I aided in the development of a new recruiting process. This new process helped the company save $1000 in audit fines by reconciling benefit expenditures.

What did you like most about the internship?

I really enjoyed the freedom that the company gave me. They allowed me to decide for myself what projects I wanted to work on. They trust their interns a lot.

What does a BYU student need to do in order to intern at El Paso?

The company puts out a notice on e-recruiting, so you need to apply there first. 

They don’t come to campus, so you need to be able to interview on the phone.

I went through four phone interviews, so be prepared for the same process.

If you have more questions about Brock’s experience at El Paso, or any other questions regarding Human Resources internships, feel free to reach out to him at brockjosephson@gmail.com

[byumusa]

Beneficial Life in Salt Lake City

written by Sammy Cowley

Matt Fisler, a business marketing major in the Marriott School, shares with us his experiences doing an on-campus internship at Beneficial Life Financial in Salt Lake City. 

Where did you intern and for how long?

I interned at Beneficial Life in Salt Lake City for a few months. 

What was your position?

I was a securities analyst. We studied different securities that the company had invested in and decided if they should buy or sell a certain security and then reported that information to the head of the company. 

Explain a project you worked on.

One of the companies we studied was a big energy company and we went through all their financial statements and made decisions on whether that company was a good choice to invest in based on what we read. We also looked at trends in markets and other business fluctuations in making our judgments about each company.

To whom would you recommend this type of internship?

I would recommend this to anyone that is interested in finance. I am a marketing major and learned that I was not particularly interested in all the financial stuff but at the same time I learned a great deal about finance. 

Why do you think it was a good resume builder?

I learned a great deal about finance and it helped me prepare for future internships with different PAR stories that I could tell and use during future interviews. It shows that I can work on a team effectively and understand financial documents. 

Does it lead to future job possibilities?

Yes, Beneficial Life does hire interns but like I said I was not interested in working there so I did not pursue a career there. I did meet great people and was able to network with people that will help me in the future with my career. 

What steps could someone else take to get a similar internship?

Being familiar with financial documents would be a great help and also because it was through the BYU on campus internship program, being familiar with the different possibilities and opportunities that BYU offers is a great way to be ready for these types of things. 

[byumusa]

Goldman Sachs Leveraged Finance in NYC

written by Anthony Butler

Sam Cannon, an avid golfer from Salt Lake City and senior in the finance program, interned with Goldman Sachs in New York last summer. Sam’s internship was specific to leveraged finance and focused on the consumer retail industry.  

What do you do if involved in Leveraged finance at Goldman Sachs?

The Leveraged Finance group focuses primarily on improving company capital structures through refinancing and issuing debt. There are several divisions within Goldman Sachs: Investment Banking, Asset Management, Operations, Human Resources, Sales and Trading, etc. Within the Investment Banking Division there are also sub-divisions such as Leveraged Finance and Mergers and Acquisitions. In terms of modeling, the Leveraged Finance area builds the LBOs and Mergers and Acquisitions focuses on merger models and other valuation techniques.

What were your responsibilities?

I analyzed businesses and how they should, in the future, finance themselves in the debt markets. Particularly I looked into companies’ optimal debt levels. This was accomplished through comparable analysis of multiple firms and thorough capital market research. I performed Leveraged Buyout Analyses (LBOs) for firms that were on the market to be bought due to undervaluation.

What kind of team did you work with?

I worked with a very diverse five-person team. My team consisted of a manager from India, a vice president from Africa, and an analyst from Cuba—all of whom were extremely bright. Together we divided our projects into parts that we worked on individually, yet collaborated with each other to create a clean product. 

What were some of the highlights of the internship?

During my final week at Goldman Sachs, I was responsible for creating a presentation that we presented to the CFO of Dole Foods. During a phone call we ran through my analysis and I was able to hear his thoughts on our pitch for his company. Though I worked difficult hours, it was well worth it as I feel I returned with an incredible skill set that was a result of an intense summer internship. 

To whom would you recommend this internship?

I would recommend this internship to individuals who are interested in working at an investment bank, a private equity firm or a hedge fund. An internship in Leveraged Finance provides superb exit opportunities to these and several other industries. Any person who would like to gain experience in the capital markets and modeling should seriously consider this internship.

What are the steps that should be taken to get this internship?

Speak with students who previously interned at a bank.

Create a flawless resume.

Reach out to alumni at every bank you possibly can and expand your network and visit them in New York, San Francisco and other cities.

Read and thoroughly understand the Vault Guide to Finance Interviews available for free for BYU students during your preparation for interviews.

What did you do to stand out?

I flew out to New York on several occasions before interviews began. I did this to become accustomed with the deals these bankers were working on, and to cast a wide net for future references in my application process. I stayed in close contact with these individuals and updated them on my research on the industry and my growing desire to work on Wall Street.

[byumusa]

Broadcast Journalism with NBC News

written by Aaron Seiter

Brittany Lesser, a senior studying broadcast journalism, shares with us her experiences interning with NBC News Channel in Washington D.C.

What were some of your daily responsibilities?

Well, it was different day to day but there was always lots of work to be done. I did some logging, which is watching political events and breaking news and summarize what was happening. This condensed version of the event would help reporters decide whether or not to investigate further. Similar to logging I did some verbate, or type out word-for-word, a recorded conversation so that it could be used for the closed-caption system. These were some of the less glamorous parts of the internship, I also got to stand in front of the camera and interview politicians and important government leaders.

What was your greatest take away from the internship?

The greatest take away for me is what I learned about myself. In the classroom you learn the skill set needed for reporting, but not a ton about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses and what you enjoy and want in a job. This internship put me in front of the camera almost daily. It taught me to have grace under pressure. I learned to deal with problems and less than ideal conditions. These are things that I will use no matter where I work in the future. 

What was the coolest project you worked on?

There was a week where I was given a list of senators and given the responsibility to go to the capitol with a cameraman and interview them. There was no guidance with my questions so I had a lot of freedom. Most of the senators on the list were newly elected and not calloused to the press. They were maybe more relaxed than the seasoned politicians and shared some great insights. We got some really great footage.

What did this internship teach you about the industry?

In the letter of recommendation my supervisor gave to me at the end of the internship, she said, “It is vital to be first, but its also important to be right," meaning that of course its important to be the first to break a story, but if your facts are wrong then you have some major problems. 

I learned how diverse the work is. One day we would be filming on the steps of the supreme court, the next day the White House, and the next day on the road to do an interview in a different state. It is not a rigid industry, things are always in flux. Especially with how the industry is changing with the widespread use of the internet and social media. However one thing that is constant is the need of a strong and free press for our democracy to function. 

How did you land the internship?

Well for one, it would be pretty hard to get an internship at the network level without being in the broadcast journalism program. However at an affiliate, they are more flexible and would be open to more majors. 

I actually had landed an internship with CNN in D.C. but didn’t feel very good about that opportunity for some reason. My news director and professor had connections with NBC and suggested I try for an internship there. NBC had two previous BYU interns that they adored and were very open to having another BYU intern. 

In the broadcast world it is very important to know the right people to get jobs/internships--perhaps more so than in the business world. I would say for a non-broadcast majors the easiest way to get your foot in the door would be at the local news level. They love free labor and always have openings. 

If you have any questions about Brittany’s internship experience and would like to learn more she can be contacted at blesser13@gmail.com

[byumusa]

US Treasury in Washington DC

written by Sammy Cowley

Steve Guynn, an economics major at Brigham Young University, shares with us some of his experiences at the U.S. Department of the Treasury last summer in Washington D.C. 

Where did you intern and for how long?

I interned at the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington D.C. for ten weeks. 

What was your position?

I was an analyst in the public-private investment program in the office of financial stability. I reviewed monthly trade reports of companies that the government had given money to as part of the TARP program. We had to make sure these companies were complying with the regulation that the government had for companies that took TARP money. 

Explain a project you worked on

We received about 5 reports a month from different fund managers and I created an Excel spreadsheet of all those reports and deliverables, and a documenting tool of all the companies we were watching with hyperlinks so that the public could view these documents. It made it so anyone could view these documents that needed them. 

To whom would you recommend this internship?

I would recommend it to anyone that is an Econ major because you get to see macroeconomics in real life. Also, anyone interested in investment banking.  Since this internship, I have had a few investment banking internship interviews and they all have been very impressed and asked many questions regarding this experience. 

Why do you think is a good resume builder?

I think working for the government is a good resume builder because it signals that you are actually interested in the area and don’t just do it for the money. Also, I got to work with many people from different Ivy League schools and it was a great way to network with all those people. It shows that you can work and compete with some of the top students in the world. 

Do you think it leads to future job possibilities?

It wasn’t an internship designed to lead to full-time positions but there were some people that worked there full-time and had done internships previously. It is an option but not something that I was really interested in doing.

What steps could someone else take to get a similar internship?

I went online to the government website and submitted a resume and cover letter to areas that I wanted to work in. I also knew a couple people there that helped push my resume through. That really helped since there are no interviews in the internship hiring process. 

If you have any further questions, Steve can be contacted at steve.guynn@gmail.com

[byumusa]

LDS Employment Servies in Lima

written by Scott Christiansen

Robert interned with LDS Employment Services in Lima, Peru during winter semester of 2010. He is a Latin American Studies major and minoring in business management. The following is his experience during his internship.

What were your main responsibilities at LDS Services in Lima, Peru?

I was responsible for teaching a self-employment workshop four nights a week.  These workshops focused on marketing strategy, financial analysis, and basic accounting practices. Each session was attended by 10-15 participants who had sought help from the church for self-employment assistance. I participated with a team who followed up with our students and provided resources about lending, and other basic business practices.

What were some of the highlights of your internship?

One of the best things that I achieved from this internship was earning the Global Management Certificate that the Marriott Business School offers. It is something that I’ll always be able to talk about on my resume as and in fact, it is one of the top conversation pieces I have with interviewers when applying for jobs. Also, I loved working with individuals who were passionate about their business. It was inspiring to see our students work so hard to achieve real success. 

One huge highlight was when BYU flew a reporter and a photographer down to document our work in Lima. They stayed with us for about a week and documented everything that we were doing for the people of Peru. An article was written in The BYU Magazine and gives a first-hand look at our lives as we interned. (Read Robert’s experience at http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=2628)

Who would you recommend this internship to?

Anyone who is passionate for assisting others creating sustainable small businesses. 

Anyone who wants to travel and get out of Provo. 

Anyone is pursuing the Global Management Certificate. 

Anyone who in interested in international business. You can create a ton of contacts.

Anyone who is gutsy enough to live in Lima.

Was it paid?

I paid my way; however, it wasn’t too expensive. Scholarships and grants are also available as well. 

What are the steps to getting this internship?

Go to the Kennedy Center’s website http://kennedy.byu.edu/

Apply for the “LDS Employment Services Internship” under the International Studies tab

Network with those who have gone and done this before to see if it’s something that you really want to do.

You can contact Robert Kinghorn at rmkinghorn@gmail.com

[byumusa]

Moelis & Company in Boston

written by Sammy Cowley

Preston McNeil, an Econ major from Boston College in Boston Massachusetts, shares with us some of his experiences at the investment bank Moelis and Company in Boston last summer. He will be working there full-time starting this summer. 

Where did you intern and for how long?

I interned at Moelis and Company in Boston for 10 weeks. 

What was your position?

I was a Summer Analyst in investment banking.

Explain a project you worked on.

The main thing that I did there was projecting companies’ financial future with different Excel models that was then used by various private equity companies. We would show how profitable these companies would be as well as the returns for the company. We also worked on a lot of due diligence for a company that wanted to sell. This meant a lot of summarizing who the company was, what they wanted to do, what their products were, etc. 

To whom would you recommend this type of internship?

I would recommend this internship to people who have interest in finance and want a great place to start their careers.  Also, people need to be very conscious of the hours demanded for this type of work. 

Why do you think it was a good resume builder?

It was great for the resume because it shows that you are both capable of working in the financial world and of learning from a very broad perspective. It shows that you can work hard, that you are competitive, and that you can deal with other people. It’s a great foundation to start your career.  

Does it lead to future job possibilities?

Yes, I will be working there full-time starting this summer. Also, there are a lot of great contacts that you can make while there. I had awesome opportunities to network with some interesting people. 

What steps could someone else take to get a similar internship?

To be more prepared I would suggest taking several finance classes, and most specifically corporate finance. Particularly helpful classes are those that teach different valuation processes and how everything relating to that works. I would also suggest networking with people and working on becoming as personable as possible. Practice interviews are also really helpful in preparing for this job.  Lastly, it is important to know Excel very well. 

If you have any other questions, reach out to Preston at prestonmcneil@gmail.com

[byumusa]

Franklin Covey

written by Stuart Roach

Mitch Beck, a business strategy major from American Fork, shares about his internship with Franklin Covey. 

What’s your major?

Business Strategy

Where did you intern and how long was the internship?

I worked for Franklin Covey for 3 months this past summer. 

Why did you choose to intern with them?

It was a great opportunity to get corporate experience in a place where I could have an actual impact.

What was your position at your internship?

I was a member of the marketing and strategy team.

What was the highlight of your internship?

At the beginning of my internship I proposed an initiative to re-segment their product market based on jobs-to-be-done as opposed to product lines and geography.  This idea caught on within the company and after several weeks of working on it, the CLO sent out a company-wide email explaining the initiative and encouraging all the employees to cooperate with me.

What steps could someone take to get a similar internship position?

I got this internship through networking.  I knew someone who had a friend that worked at Franklin Covey, so when the head of marketing sent out an email saying he wanted an intern, I heard about it and applied.

Mitch said you could contact him by email if you have any questions about this internship. His email address is MitchBeck1@gmail.com

The company website is http://www.franklincovey.com/

[byumusa]

Business Analyst Intern for Target’s Supply Chain

written by Jeremy Sookhoo

Matt Walter was a business analyst intern at the Target headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota , a unique opportunity to work with an first-class, international supply chain.

What did you do on a daily basis for your internship?

I worked on a 10 week long project that helped Target to reduce its supply chain expenses in its seasonal department. At the end of the internship, I presented my results to my department and Target leadership members. On a daily basis you get a behind the curtain view of how Target manages and runs its supply chain.

How did your internship prepare you for full-time employment?

It helped me to experience the corporate culture, and increase my proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Access.  I also improved my analytical and problem solving skills, communication, and planning and organizational skills.

What surprised you most about your internship experience?

I was surprised by the amount of planning and attention to detail that is required to move products from vendors in China all the way to the shelf in Target stores here in America. Learning how Target's supply chain works overall was fascinating to me.

What would you suggest to another student to get a similar internship? 

Apply on eRecruiting for the Target internship. 

Or email me and I'll forward your email on to Target recruiter Katie Pretzel.

If selected you will then have two phone interviews.

If you move on from that point then Target will give you four online tests to take.

Email me if you have any questions. My email is matt.walter41@gmail.com

[byumusa]

Congressional Intern in Washington DC

written by Stuart Roach

Liz Jones, a senior at BYU majoring in political science, shares some personal experiences she had working on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. 

What was your official title?

I was an intern for the U.S. House of Representatives with the office of Congressmen Jeff Flake. He represents the 6th district in Arizona.

That sounds awesome. So what did you do on a daily basis?

Well, as an intern, I was mainly occupied with constituent relations, i.e. answering phone calls, sorting constituent and office mail, faxes, and emails. I also lead capital tours for constituents. Additionally, I was trained and involved in researching for proposed legislation. I was also able to go to a ton of committee hearings and policy briefings and attend congressional receptions and other events with Members of Congress.

What were some highlights of the internship?

I feel the best part was getting into the weeds of what it takes to create legislation. I saw the entire process of how a proposed bill becomes a law. I was also able to delve into the rich history of the U.S. Capitol and our nation. I was able to interact on the daily basis with members of Congress and their staff. It was so cool to learn how a congressional staff operates. I would say the highlight of the whole internship was going on a Capitol Dome tour with Jeff Flake and standing on top of the Capitol Dome. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

What was your favorite assignment you were given?

Congressmen Flake is a huge proponent of fiscal responsibility. Our office prepared a letter which was sent to President Obama asking him to veto any bill that came across his desk which contained earmark spending. Congressmen Flake was able to get the support of 67 Members of Congress including Speaker of the House John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor. My responsibility was going from office to office and getting the congressmen to sign the letter and prepare it to be sent to the White House. President Obama expressed support for this initiative in the State of the Union Address this January. 

What skills did you developed in this internship?

I really developed and fine-tuned my interpersonal and communication skills. I also learned how to work well in high-stress situations and to meet deadlines. I felt like I expanded my ability to complete anything that was asked of me. I worked on a variety of tasks and had to approach them all with an open mind. I also was able to use my writing ability and develop better research skills.   

What steps could someone else take to get a similar internship?

My situation was very unique. I am not from Arizona. Most Congressmen like to hire interns from their district since they are more connected with the constituents and are more aware of the regional issue. I worked hard to prepare my resume. I volunteered in local political events such as exit polls and campaigns. That is exactly what congressional offices are looking for. BYU’s Washington Seminar program ultimately helped me get my resume in the hands of many congressional offices, and secure my internship with Congressmen Flake.   

If you have any further questions about Liz Jones’ experience you can send her an email at eajones15@gmail.com

[byumusa]

Western Mutual Financial in Provo

written by Sammy Cowley

Jordan Wade, a senior at Brigham Young University majoring in international relations with a minor in business, shares with us his experience as a financial planner at North Western Mutual Financial Network. 

Where did you intern and for how long?

I interned at North Western Mutual Financial Network. I was there for seven months. I first started there last summer in St. George and then worked there last semester in the Provo office. 

What was your position?

I was a financial representative and a financial planner. I got to do everything that the full-time position people got to do. It was a great experience working in the financial world. 

Explain a project you worked on.

What we did was meet with people and help them plan their financial future. We looked at everything they had, what their goals were, and then took into effect social security and other types of income and helped people plan and prepare for the future. 

To whom would you recommended this type of internship?

Any major could do this. You need to be really self-motivated. There is no real base salary, you must work for what you want and you can make good money. It’s all about being self-efficient with time and working hard. 

Why do you think it is a good resume builder?

The company has been around for over 100 years and they are a well-known company and it is always good to have a well-recognized company on your resume. Also, it was good sales experience.  I learned a lot working with people in the financial world. 

Does this lead to future job possibilities?

Yes, many of the interns end up working there. People really like working there and it is a great place to start. I met many great people for networking possibilities in the future. 

What steps could someone else take to be prepared for this type of job?

It was all about connections for me, I knew the guy that helped me get the internship. One thing that I could have been more prepared on was being familiar with and already having been licensed for financial planning. I had to buy a big book and study it and take a test in order to be licensed to work there and do what I did. 

If you have any further questions, reach out to Jordan at jw4scms@hotmail.com

[byumusa]

Analyst for Granada Advisors

written by Jeremy Sookhoo

Dok Kwon applies his accounting background in management consulting, gaining high-quality business experience and unlocking possibilities for future.

What did you do on a daily basis for your internship?

I was on a project just until about a week ago and we mostly did competitive landscape analysis for a leading automotive client, which included a lot of industry research.  My next project will probably involve more industry research and also some financial modeling.

How did your internship prepare you for full-time employment?

I won't be graduating for another two years and so I'm not currently looking for full-time employment but so far the internship has definitely helped me get interviews for other internships with some of the big investment banking firms. It also gave me things to talk about in the interviews since all the work I did is very relevant to the industry I am pursuing.

What skills did you demonstrate/develop on the internship?

I learned to tackle unorganized data to create information and finally to take away insights from the information. I've never had the chance to tackle projects with hardly any directions before and the internship has helped me to think analytically and take initiative on my own. 

What would you suggest to another student to get a similar internship?  

Do well in school - this is something that is very obvious, but nonetheless one of the most important factors.

Be ready to talk about why you are pursuing the field and how you are a great fit for the position and be up to date on the financial markets.

Just be who you are during the interview. At the end of the day, employers want to take on people who they can work with for a long period of time.  Be sincere.

To learn more about this opportunity, feel free to contact Dok at dkwon88@hotmail.com