In turn with Grace Faller

Junior hospitality management major Grace Faller is a worker. She’s been ECU’s Homecoming Parade lead for the past two years (and has worked on it for three years). She’s president of the ZTA sorority, and she runs the College of Business’ social media accounts (quite remarkably, we add). And, she does it all with a smile and precision that gets things done. Because she couldn’t sit still over the summer, she recently interned with Chicago’s Shoreacres, a position she found via the School of Hospitality Leadership’s virtual career fair from last winter.

“I was a food and beverage intern, which included serving a la carte, learning how to take inventory monthly, being a manager on duty, and working various events. When I was the manager on duty, I shadowed our managers to have a better understanding of what their evenings entailed,” Faller told us.

She’ll soon tell us all of this was accomplished with a dedicated approach to customer service.

How have you applied what you learned in your classwork to this position?

In my classes, we talked a lot about customer service. Through every aspect of my internship, my main goal was to make sure that the member or their guest was happy. I believe that my classes gave me the skills I needed to provide that level of service. I also believe that I was able to implement my ServSafe knowledge, as well. Through this internship, I gained more knowledge on working with members to give them the best experience possible.

What was the most challenging thing you experienced during your internship, and how did what you learned in the COB help you overcome it?

During my internship, the most challenging thing I experienced was achieving the level of service the members and their guests expected. Through what I have learned in my SHL classes, I implemented my customer service skills members could receive a wonderful overall experience.

What has this internship taught you about responsibility?

It taught me how to take responsibility for my actions. If I made a mistake, I should own up to it and make it right for the member rather than arguing with them.

How will this internship benefit you?

Through my internship, I gained a better understanding of the industry. We took classes about different wines. I instructed other employees how to set up dinners, and I worked different events such as golf tournaments, weddings and celebratory dinners.

This internship taught me how to have better customer service skills and how to be a good employee. These are skills and experiences that I will take with me wherever I go in life.

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

Being able to have hands-on experience and implement everything you have learned in classes is worth it.

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• School of Hospitality Leadership