April 29, 2022
In turn with Natalie Porter
Rising senior Natalie Porter loves her BMW and comes from a family that’s, not surprisingly, passionate about sports cars, e.g., BMWs and Porsches. Is it fortuitous that she happened to land an internship with the BMW facility in South Carolina?
Let’s find out from Porter.
“Ms. (Melissa) Parks and Ms. (Aisha)Powell, my advisor, deserve special recognition. I met with my academic advisor Ms. Powell to discuss interning, who happily directed me to Ms. Parks. I was unclear where to begin in the internship process when I initially started. I had an open mind when meeting with Ms. Parks, but I knew I wanted to intern in the Summer of 2022. When I met with her, she showed me around Handshake and other websites where I could search for opportunities in my areas of interest. She supplied an abundance of resources, which was helpful. She even directed me to our local college career fair, which I attended. After months of searching and applying, I came across BMW internships on LinkedIn. I was beyond ecstatic to apply for an internship with this company.”
What were your responsibilities during your internship?
I have been interning for roughly four months and have another four months left. For this internship, I have various responsibilities. I work at the BMW IT Research Center, the manufacturing plant’s technological facility. I am majoring in business management and management information systems (MIS). So far, throughout my internship, I contacted vendors who own software that my team was considering investing in and set up meetings to see their software up close. I currently assist another department as a member of their production team and participate in a monthly chat circle with IT Americas (South America and North America). During this chat, I met a variety of individuals. I had the opportunity to meet the President and Vice President of IT North America. The individuals that speak during the chats are high-ranking officials. Yet the live-chat meeting is open for all employers to view. So, before the live day, we always have a dry run with the upper authorities who would be speaking. Our number one goal is to make sure that all employers are informed and participating.
How did you apply what you learned in BUSI 1200, BUSI 2200, BUSI 3200 or BUSI 4200 to your internship?
So, I honestly believe that the business classes I’ve completed have prepared me for a career in the corporate world. They have really provided me insight into how a business is run, so being able to observe how this company operates is mind-boggling. Running BMW’s manufacturing plant requires the collaboration of numerous individuals and departments.
What was the most challenging thing you experienced during your internship, and how did what you learned in the COB help you overcome it?
The initial composing of emails proved to be the most difficult task. Throughout my internship, I email a lot of vendors and other employers to set up meetings or ask inquiries. I would constantly go over my emails three or four times to double-check that they were correct. However, ECU’s English and business classes have assisted me in improving my communication abilities.
How have you applied what you learned in your classwork to this position?
I still have a lot to learn, but my MIS and business courses have given me a solid foundation for building my career. Because of my MIS studies, I am familiar with the fundamentals of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and I utilize them regularly. I’m also happy to help people on my team who aren’t as familiar with such applications.
What has this internship taught you about responsibility?
This internship has taught me self-discipline and how to balance my social and professional life. Nonetheless, I can make my hours. I am a morning person who works forty hours a week, so working eight hours a day is not typical for me. As a result, I go to bed early every night and get up at 7:00 a.m. I also learned how to save money while working here. So, I can say this internship has taught me so many life lessons.
Why would you recommend a business student take advantage of the Cunanan Center for Professional Success resources?
I would advise a student to use all the resources provided by the Cunanan Center because I know I am not the only student who is unsure where to begin looking for internships. My recommendation is to take advantage of the resources available at ECU. Without Ms. Parks, I would not be where I am today. She’s also fantastic at going over resumes and cover letters!