Student Spotlight - Jenna Eckmeder

Intern of the month and marketing student, Jenna Eckmeder, from Cary NC talks to us about how the College of Business prepared her for her internship experience.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am one of five children, the youngest and only girl. During football season I spend every Sunday cheering on the Eagles alongside my brothers and dad, but also love fashion and traveling to new places.

What steps did you take to get this internship?
I began takings steps towards achieving this internship last summer. SAS has always been my goal so I started with the connections that I had.  I reached out and was introduced to one of the Recruiting Managers there who told me about an Intern Exposition coming up at the end of that summer. I attended the exposition and was able to meet with not only the hiring manager, Steve, but was also able to talk to current interns about their experience and gather their advice. I was able to take a look at some of the projects they worked on during their internship. Coming back to ECU in the Fall, I made stronger efforts to get involved and hold leadership positions that could bulk up my resume and give me things to talk about during an Interview.

How did you learn about this internship opportunity?
I learned about this internship opportunity after reaching out to the Hiring Manager last summer. I stayed in touch with him and waited for the application to become available for this summer.

How did the COB prepare you to be the chosen candidate?
I personally feel that the BUSI 2200 and 3200 classes had a huge impact on preparing me for this internship. These classes allowed me to learn about myself as a candidate which ultimately helped me talk about myself and my skills. They also provided me with projects that I could discuss with others about how I worked in group settings, how I developed time-management skills, and so on. I also feel that the COB taught me how to show myself in a professional manner throughout the interview process.

Describe your experience at the COB.
My COB experience has been beneficial. I began my Freshman year as an intended Marketing Major and will be completing my degree next May. All of my professors have been extremely helpful and willing to give extra guidance when needed. Office hours have been a great tool for me in developing relationships with my professors as well as staying on top of assignments. I genuinely feel that my professors in the COB have wanted me to succeed and are happy to help me beyond just classroom hours.

Why would you recommend a business student take advantage of an internship opportunity?
My mother is in charge of sorting through resumes, conducting interviews and ultimately hiring over 100 college-graduates a year. The competition is stiff and having an internship under your belt not only bulks up your resume and your skills, but provides you with a network and a stepping stone toward building a career after college.

What was the moment during your internship search process where you knew that your ECU COB education paid off?
Professor Gribble was lecturing my BUSI 3200 class about how to properly dress, act, and speak professionally during the same time-frame I was conducting my interviews with SAS. I knew how to properly answer questions, giving examples, and offer results. I knew what to wear and how to personalize the follow-up emails. I knew I was prepared when prior to my interview I was re-reading PowerPoint slides and emailing my Professor asking for his advice.

What would be the one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?
I spent three months living and traveling in Italy.

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