October 13, 2017
Q & A with Finance Senior Nicole Hawley
Nicole Hawley of Moyock, NC, recently interned with GEICO, a frequent participant with the Career Center’s Employer in the Foyer. She shared her experiences about the internship and how the College’s Career Center prepared her.
How did you learn about the internship?
At the beginning of fall 2016, the College’s Career Center sent out an email informing students of a scholarship opportunity from GEICO. I applied and ended up being a recipient of that scholarship. The scholarship was the GEICO Achievement Award. Once I received the award, a college recruiter at GEICO reached out to inform me of an internship they offer over the summer.
How did the College of Business prepare you for this successful internship?
The College prepared me in several ways, but the following was very useful. For starters, for me to receive the internship, I had to go through an interview process. Interviews are not easy, and successful interview skills come with many years of experience that I didn’t have. The College helped me prepare for my interview with GEICO by answering questions in a STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, & Result), professional dress recommendations and interview etiquette. Also, I was required to give a few presentations in front of directors and managers throughout my internship. The College helped me to prepare for this by presenting a subject matter at various times in a classroom environment. If I didn’t have that experience I wouldn’t have had the confidence to present a topic with credibility. I believe this exposure proved that I could go from the classroom directly to the job market. I am truly grateful for all that I have taken away from my experience at the College.
Describe your experiences at GEICO?
My GEICO experience is one that I will never forget. Throughout the eight weeks, I accomplished many things. I conquered my fear of presenting in front of many people. As an intern, I presented solutions to company problems that upper-level management was facing. I also became more confident in an office environment by interacting with peers and my mentorship with management. To better understand the company as a whole, we took many field trips. We went to the ARX (Auto Repair Center), Martin Agency (an advertising agency that handles GEICO commercials), IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), and the local news station. Volunteering for the Habitat for Humanity was probably my favorite memory of the summer. The interns spent the day helping build a house for a family that recently lost their home to a fire. There are many more things to add to my GEICO experience, but these were just a few key highlights.
Describe your experience at the College of Business?
The knowledge and exposure I’ve had at the College allowed me to apply these experiences in the work environment; such as leadership skills, problem-solving techniques, team building through role playing and critical thinking. My classes have been challenging yet interesting, and I look forward to taking all that I have learned at ECU and the COB to the next level. I also have to mention that the support of my professors has had a large part of my success at ECU thus far. Their willingness to help me succeed has impacted me in many ways. They have provided direction, recommendations and the tools to help me feel confident in my future business career. For that, I am very grateful.
What was the moment during your internship where you knew that your ECU COB education has paid off?
That moment would probably be the job offer I received for a management development program with GEICO after graduation.
Why would you recommend a business student take advantage of an internship opportunity?
I would highly recommend an internship because I gained hands-on experience that is not necessarily learned in a classroom. For instance, I feel I gained insight into working 40 hours a week and the commitment you make to a career position. Working in an office environment as a team is critical to the success of the business. The real world is much more nerve racking than it is in the classroom. This experience showed me I have a lot more to learn, but I truly feel the College has given me a good start.
What would be the one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?
One thing that people will be surprised about is how driven I am to succeed. I am currently in the top of my class of 5,250 students and the top of my field of 554. To me, this shows how commitment and hard work pays off. You can do anything you desire, but it will take commitment and long hours to see results. Sometimes it takes even more than that. It takes years to see the benefit of the groundwork that was laid. I look forward to meeting my career goals and excited about the future.
Editor’s note: We’re not surprised at all.