In turn with Jack Merklein

In turn is a series that highlights the interns and internship opportunities found within the College of Business (COB). For more information, contact Melissa Parks at parksr19@ecu.edu. 

Driven is how Jack Merklein describes himself. He is the VP of the Beta Theta chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, a nationally-chartered fraternity for students interested in risk management and insurance (RMI). Merklein tells us he “strives to continually get better in everything I do.”

“I love playing sports, cooking, being with friends and playing with my dog.”

Merklein, who is scheduled to graduate in 2021, recently interned with Amerisure and shared his experiences with us.

How did you learn about this internship opportunity? What were your responsibilities?

I learned about this internship from the national Gamma Iota Sigma pipeline after the internship I had lined up was canceled due to COVID-19. I am so thankful for GIS and Amerisure for giving me this opportunity to grow and learn about the insurance industry.

Another intern and I were tasked with interviewing many different people in Amerisure about the sales process and using our findings to make a presentation on how to improve it. We then presented (our findings) to people high up in the company.

Why did you choose to do an internship?

I chose this internship to expand my knowledge of the industry and network with some great people.

How did the COB prepare you to be the chosen candidate?

COB has provided me with some great experiences that transferred over to my internship. The College helped me develop my confidence by teaching me how to interact and present in a professional manner and provided me with responsibility by completing assignments and working within a team.

What did the internship mean to you?

This internship meant the world to me. I feel much more prepared and ready to start my career due to this experience. I got great practice networking, meeting deadlines, working within a team, and presenting to important people.

Why would you recommend a business student take advantage of an internship opportunity?

It really is the best way to practice the skills you develop in school and find out what you want to do post-grad.

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