November 10, 2017
My Internship: Senior Alex Mattes of Johnston County, North Carolina
Senior Alex Mattes of Johnston County recently interned at the National Spinning Company in Washington, North Carolina. He discusses this experience and how the College prepared him for it.
How did you learn about the internship? Where was it?
We had a guest speaker (Jim Chesnutt) in my marketing class with Dr. Judy Siguaw, and he spoke with us about his company, National Spinning Company, Inc. After class, I introduced myself and thanked him for his time and for sharing his experiences in the supply chain. I asked for a business card, emailed him that night, and thanked him for his time (again) and for sharing my resume. I also asked if he had any internship opportunities for the 2017 summer.
How did the College of Business prepare you for this successful internship?
The College of Business helped my personal and technical skills. Once I obtained the internship, I used my updated personal skills to get along with everyone and worked on keeping a positive team dynamic. I also used my technical skills to help with Excel projects and shared with my new mentors some ideas that would make it easier to use spreadsheets.
Describe your experiences at this company?
I worked for Hampton Arts Inc., which is the arts & crafts division of National Spinning. I was really blessed with the opportunity because I was able to get the large company experience while still being a contributing employee. I was allowed to sit in on meetings and conference calls so I could learn different aspects of the company. In addition to my weekly work, I was given additional tasks to complete, which provided not only a challenging experience but an opportunity to gain additional business experience.
Describe your experience at the College of Business?
The College of Business has been a great experience and well planned out. The mandatory business classes prepared me to work with teams, present PowerPoint material, do well in interviews, and have my resume and LinkedIn ready upon graduation. Outside of my finance major, I also had classes prepare me for different aspects of business such as accounting, management, supply chain, etc.
What was the moment during your internship where you knew that your ECU COB education had paid off?
The point I knew my experience with the College of Business paid off was when I was able to work with everyone, complete tasks in a timely manner (and within the scope of work), and help the team succeed. On the last day of my internship, everyone said my assistance would be missed, and they reassured me that they would be happy to give me a recommendation when needed.
Why would you recommend a business student take advantage of an internship opportunity?
The College of Business does an excellent job of preparing students on how to be successful. However, the opportunity to have actual hands-on experience is also very important. It will help you stand out against competitors since it was not a mandatory requirement for graduation.
What would be the one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?
The one thing that people would be surprised to learn about me is that I love to travel. Last Christmas break, I traveled to New Zealand for two weeks and Fiji for a week. I enjoyed learning other cultures and seeing their natural beauty. My two most memorable parts of New Zealand were walking on top of Fox Glacier and bungee jumping, where it first originated. In Fiji, I went scuba diving for the first time and participated in a tribal ceremony inside the mountain, where I had the opportunity to partake in their ritual drink, Kava. Kava is a root that they mince up and mix with water. It puts your mind and body in “the most” relaxed state of mind.