February 7, 2019
Student Spotlight: Erica McIlwean
MBA graduate, Erica McIlwean, lands job at Branscome in Virginia.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in New Bern, NC. I come from a long line of ECU alumni, so when I graduated high school my plan was to attend ECU. I graduated from ECU in December of 2016, with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Supply Chain Management, and a concentration in Operations Management. I will graduate from ECU again, with an MBA this Spring. I have always enjoyed being in college and I always knew I wanted to pursue higher education. I am extremely grateful and excited to start this new journey as a well-educated business woman.
You were juggling a lot during your job search. What steps did you take to get this job?
I networked to begin my job search process. I attended the Fall ECU Career Fair and spoke to Branscome representatives for quite a bit. They later contacted me in October and my journey with them began. During early discussions with the company, I reached out to the College of Business (COB) Career Center for advice to answer some questions that I had and Robyn Slocum helped me make some contacts, as well as gather other information. I also reached out to several professors who I knew would have the knowledge and resources to answer my questions and guide me through the process. I then set up an informational Skype interview with the company. After completing the interview, I knew my next step was to drive up to Virginia to meet everyone in the company and really get an understanding of company culture. Afterwards, I took some time to think over things and decided that this company would be a good fit for me and I accepted the job.
How did the COB prepare you for learning about this position as well as being the chosen candidate?
The COB prepared me for learning about the position, by holding the career fair. I also feel that the COB helped prepare me during the six and a half years of classes that I attended. My college career taught me about professionalism, what questions to ask employers, and how to handle myself. My time as a COB student gave me the confidence to say and do what was needed during my job search process.
Describe your experience at the COB.
The COB has been my home for the past six and a half years. I was a business undergrad student, and now an MBA student. The classes helped prepare me for the real world and boosted my confidence when it came to job searching and being a professional. All of the resources the COB offers are extremely helpful, and I appreciate all of the help that I received.
Why would you recommend a business student take advantage of the COB Career Center?
The Career Center helped prepare me for the things that my classes did not teach me and also opened me up to several new possibilities. It is an extremely helpful resource for important information, as well as a great networking center.
What would be the one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?
One thing that people would be surprised to learn about me is that I grew up on a turf farm operating heavy machinery. I have the skills to drive forklifts, tractors, backhoes, excavators, and other types of heavy machinery.