winter 2008/09
ARE INTERNSHIPS THE KEY?
The Top
100 IDEAL
INTERNSHIPS OF 2008 Profiles:
citi · halliburton · lockheed martin · lutron pricewaterhousecoopers · unilever · verizon
Table of Contents
05
Top 100 IDEAL™ Internships
EDITOR Liz Seasholtz Editorial Director Denis Wilson Art Director Scot Henry Web Manager Lindsay Hicks Editorial Assistant Cara Scharf
JUNGLE CAMPUS IS A MEDIA PROPERTY OF UNIVERSUM
07
08 & 09 Citi Employee Profiles
Universum publishes a portfolio of products, including WetFeet Insider Guides and MBA Jungle Magazine UNIVERSUM 1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1800 Philadelphia, PA 19102 215.546.4900 www.universumusa.com
CEO Claudia Tattanelli Chief Operating Officer John Piccone Senior VP, Media Anne Margrethe Mannerfelt University Relations Tracy Lynn Van Es, Mikael Eriksson Community Builder & Distribution Jeremie Haynes For information about advertising in Universum publications, please contact Ana Baron at ana.baron@universumusa.com or 215.546.4900 ext. 308 Sales & Advertising Tracy Lynn Drye Camille Kelly Jonathan McBride Neha Patel Claudia Tattanelli Entire contents copyright 2008, Universum All rights reserved. Universum’s goal is to improve communication and understanding between employers and young professionals. Our annual Undergraduate, MBA, Diversity, and Young Professional surveys are answered by more than 180,000 people in 30 countries. Universum also produces MBA Jungle, WetFeet Insider Guides, CareerTV, events, and websites. Check out the relaunched WetFeet.com
Top 10 IDEAL™ Internships for • Business • Engineering • Natural Sciences • Liberal Arts • IT
11
Halliburton Employee Profile
12
Lockheed Martin Employee Profile
15
Lutron Employee Profile
16 & 17 PricewaterhouseCoopers Employee Profiles
18
Unilever Employee Profile
22
Verizon Communications Employee Profile
23
Verizon Telecom Employee Profile
THE KEY TO SUCCESS We know you’re anxious to finish school and start your careers. But in a troubled economy, your job search will likely be an uphill battle. The good news is there’s still a way to unlock great opportunities: completing an internship. But not all internships are created equal. A quality internship will give you relevant experience, great references—and perhaps lead to a full-time gig. Take a look at some of the young employees we interviewed for this special internship issue of Jungle Campus. They can tell you best what they enjoyed about their time interning at top companies—and what you should look for in an ideal internship. Former interns at Unilever and Lutron are now on the inside looking out—helping to recruit fresh interns. At Citi and Halliburton, interns-turned-employees show that there’s plenty to learn outside the classroom. When it comes to the rapidly changing industries of finance and energy, the best education is in the trenches. We also learned that interns should expect the unexpected: two PricewaterhouseCoopers interns spent a week of their summer in Belize teaching classes to children and helping with construction projects. And from what the employees at Verizon tell us, making the transition from intern to full-time can be pretty fast paced, “like going from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds.” So try to nail a top internship. It could be the key to your success. Good luck, THE EDITORS
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KNOCK, KNOCK
Internships open doors in good times and bad
I
F THE CURRENT economic downtrend continues, jobs in all sectors are sure to be scarce. Companies are trying to do more with less, and while job applications are pouring in, the number of available positions is shrinking. As the crowded field of job-seekers becomes more competitive, there’s one thing in particular that will help separate you from the pack: a relevant internship. You may start out filing and fetching coffee, but with an ambitious mindset, you might help land a new account, uncover a costly insurance loophole, or recover key data after a server crash—all of which can help you make the move from summer intern to fall hire. Students have made it clear what companies they think offer the best internships. Respondents to Universum’s survey of undergraduate students have conveyed that interns with Goldman Sachs “can get a full-time interview anywhere,” and Google is “always portrayed as the most fun,” so it’s no surprise that those two companies are No. 1 and No. 2 in 2008. (Take a look at the rest of the rankings on the following pages.)
Despite economic uncertainty, Wherever the plan of attack for internships you end up, hasn’t changed much. Make sure to look for a position in the field a first-rate you want to pursue, and one that internship is will provide the experience and training your academics don’t offer. the kind of Research companies that have investment that a history of hiring from within. Some might even keep statistics on no economic the number of interns they convert into full-time hires. And even an crisis can undo. unpaid internship can pay off in perks, such as prime consideration for new openings and solid recommendations. Wherever you end up, a first-rate internship is the kind of investment that no economic crisis can undo. If you can get a foot in the door at a good company, keep it there. – Dave Allen
rank Company
Top 100 Ideal Internships 2008
11 NASA 12 Apple Computer 12 Target 14 Johnson & Johnson
rank Company
15 Merrill Lynch
1 Goldman Sachs
16 Nike
2 Google
17 Boeing
3 PricewaterhouseCoopers
18 McKinsey & Company
4 Walt Disney
19 Bain & Company
5 Deloitte
20 Morgan Stanley
6 Ernst & Young
21 Lockheed Martin
7 JPMorgan
22 Proctor & Gamble
8 KPMG
23 IBM
9 General Electric
24 Pfizer
10 Microsoft
25 ExxonMobil
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Top 100 Ideal Internships rank Company
6
(continued)
rank Company
26
Lehman Brothers
64
Gap Inc.
27
Intel
65
Bristol-Myers Squibb
28
Federal Bureau of Investigation
66
U.S. Air Force
29
U.S. Department of State
67
Novartis
30
Central Intelligence Agency
68
Starbucks
31
Mayo Clinic
69
Cargill
32
UBS
70
Bear Stearns
33
Bank of America
71
PepsiCo
34
BP
72
Coach
35
Peace Corps
73
Yahoo!
36
Coca-Cola
74
Ford Motor Company
37
Cisco Systems
75
Raytheon
38
Chevron Corporation
76
Dell
39
Merck
77
Best Buy
40
General Mills
78
Electronic Arts
41
Toyota
79
Bertelsmann (BMG, Random House)
42
Teach for America
80
Northrop Grumann Corporation
43
Wal-Mart Stores
81
BMW
44
ConocoPhillips
82
L’Oréal
45
Wachovia Corporation
83
Caterpillar
46
Deutsche Bank
84
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide
47
Marriott
85
United Technologies Corporation (UTC)
48
Citigroup (currently Citi)
86
eBay
49
Sony
87
Nestlé
50
Genentech
88
Honda Companies
51
The Boston Consulting Group
89
GlaxoSmithKline
52
Verizon
90
Credit Suisse
53
General Motors
91
MGM Mirage
54
The Vanguard Group
92
Unilever
55
Shell Oil Company
93
Rolls-Royce North America
56
American Express
94
Astra Zeneca
57
3M
95
Dow Chemical
58
Abbott
96
Protiviti
59
Amgen
97
ARAMARK
60
Lilly (Eli Lilly and Company)
98
Texas Instruments Incorporated
61
National Security Agency
99
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
62
Accenture
100
SIG
63
Time Warner
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the Breakdown
2008 top 10 ideal
business internships rank Company
Top Internships by Field of Study
1
Goldman Sachs
2
PricewaterhouseCoopers
WHEN RESEARCHING INTERNSHIPS, it’s helpful to look at companies whose business is relevant to your academic coursework. Take Boeing, NASA, and Lockheed Martin as examples: as industry leaders, they have a reputation for offering leading internships to engineering students. On the other hand, diversified companies such as General Electric offer opportunities to students from a wide range of studies.
3
Deloitte
4
Ernst & Young
5
KPMG
6
7
JPMorgan
8
Walt Disney
9
General Electric
10
2008 top 10 ideal
engineering internships rank Company
Merrill Lynch
2008 top 10 ideal
IT INTERNSHIPS rank Company
1
1
2
General Electric
2
Microsoft
3
Boeing
3
Goldman Sachs
4
Microsoft
4
Apple Computers
5
NASA
5
American Express
6
Goldman Sachs
6
IBM
7
Lockheed Martin
7
Ernst & Young
8
ExxonMobil
8
ConocoPhillips
Intel
9
PepsiCo
10
Yahoo!
9 10
Walt Disney
2008 top 10 ideal
NATURAL SCIENCES INTERNSHIPS rank Company
2008 top 10 ideal
LIBERAL ARTS INTERNSHIPS rank Company
1
1
2
Goldman Sachs
2
Goldman Sachs
3
Walt Disney
3
Walt Disney
4
NASA
4
JPMorgan
5
Mayo Clinic
5
McKinsey & Company
6
Microsoft
6
Target
7
Pfizer
7
U.S. Department of State
8
Apple Computer
8
Central Intelligence Agency
9
Johnson & Johnson
9
Federal Bureau of Investigation
10
Genentech
10
Nike
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Citi
Katie Fritts
O
ne piece of wisdom Katie Fritts came away with after her internship for Citi, is that the financial world is a lot more complicated than it seems in the classroom. She pulled back the curtain on the mysteries of Wall Street, learning all the acronyms and specialized lingo, and now she’s found her stride. When a managing director cites her research during a meeting or presentation, she knows the hard work has been worth it. What made you interested in Citi? I had previously worked at a small investment bank after my first and second years in college. I knew I wanted to be at one of the larger firms. Citi also worked with me to set up interviews before the usual process because I spent a semester abroad. At the time, they were one of the few companies that made accommodations for that. Tell me about a typical day during your internship. It really
depends on what type of project you are working on. My tasks ranged from pulling research to formatting presentations to working on financial models. It helped a lot that a staffer helped manage my workload. He’d also put interns on projects that he thought would be good learning experiences. What was the most important thing you learned? I think it was to keep a positive attitude, especially after spending long hours
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in the office. It’s part of the job that you are basically on call whenever they need you. It was frustrating that my free time wasn’t in my control, but it makes a big difference when you get along well with the people around you. How did you make the transition from being an intern to a fulltime hire? We had a much longer training session and a whole
lot more independence. As an intern, you’re asking all your questions to find out what’s going on. As an analyst, it’s more up to you to make the call and the judgment about scenarios and how you run them. What would you recommend to someone pursuing an internship in finance? You need to be comfortable and confident in your
interview. You want to be more than someone who can just correctly answer all the technical questions. You want to be interesting—someone they’ll really want to talk to. Also, I think it would be smart to ask questions about the business and the market to show your interest and knowledge of the industry. Where do you see yourself in five years? My current program opens a lot of opportunities for all types of jobs in finance. A lot of analysts end up at Private Equity firms or hedge funds after two or three years in banking. Private Equity sounds interesting to me, but it’s too early to tell where I’ll end up. No matter what, I think that investment banking definitely gives the best training for careers in finance.
PHOTOS: M SCOTT WHITSON
> Position: First-year analyst in Mergers and Acquisitions > Education: BS from McIntire School of Commerce at University of Virginia, concentration in finance and marketing, 2008 > on living in new york: “There are so many different parts of the city that you can have different experiences everywhere you go,” she says. Her favorite spot for a weekend? “The West Village and SoHo— good shopping and bars.”
Citi, the leading global financial service company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing customers, corporations, governments, and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Number of employees
365,000 globally, 165,000 U.S. future coworkers
Our belief in employee ownership offers a unique experience in entrepreneurialism on a global scale, and an unparalleled geographic footprint enables our employees to work with and learn from a diverse group of colleagues whose insight, integrity, and commitment set the standard for success in our industry.
Eddwina Gregg > Position: Financial analyst in Global Transaction Services > Education: BS in Finance from Morgan State University, 2008 > my role model: My mom. I have never seen anyone as passionate as she is about what she does. She runs a prison, and she is so passionate about helping people reform their lives. She taught me to be responsible, to put myself first, and that if you set a goal, you must either achieve it or surpass it.
find out more www.citigroup.com send your cv to
www.oncampus.citi.com
E
DDWINA GREGG has her life sorted out. After summarizing her five-year plan, she might ask if you want to hear about the next five. She made a connection to Citi through the company’s sponsorship of a national leadership program. After an internship with Citi’s Finance Analyst Program, she now handles project-based responsibilities in Global Transaction Services, with an eye toward business school and a high-level management position.
for Tomorrow. The first round involved four thirty-minute interviews and those of us in the program didn’t have a second round. Everyone who passed that day got an offer. Tell me about the first day of your internship. I came in ready, dressed up in my business suit, and my supervisor took me around the floor. When we sat down, I learned I would be helping with regulatory reporting, putting together balance sheets that would go to the SEC and other regulatory boards. I thought, “This is a big deal! I’m just an intern!” I told my supervisor that I wanted to be challenged and to learn whatever he could teach me. I think that set the tone for the whole internship.
What made you choose to pursue a career in finance? I’ve always been pretty good at math, and I studied engineering in high school. I realized that engineering was not for me, and I felt that finance is an industry that would allow me to be challenged while making significant and lasting contributions. In college, I was in a program called Management Leadership for Tomorrow. The program helps students prepare for careers through mock interviews and one-on-one counseling throughout their junior year.
What advice would you have for someone pursuing an internship in finance? I would stress diligence and confidence. Interviewers
What attracted you to Citi? I felt that I could be myself here; like I could crack a joke and no one would look at me funny. It wasn’t stuffy or stodgy. I could see myself having a long career here. If I wanted a 20-year career with the same company, this would be the place.
Where do you see yourself in five years? My program is two years with an optional third year extension, and after that, I want to go back to graduate school and get my MBA. I really want to gain a more advanced perspective on a variety of business areas and become more of an expert on the industry. I’m also interested in the Financial Management Associate program. It’s a two-year rotational program within Citi, and that would be the next logical step.
How did you make the connection for this internship? I took
part in a Citi Super Day through Management Leadership
can smell fear, and that can get in the way of getting your message across. In looking for internships, you should get serious starting in August of your junior year. Offers are often made in January, so do research on the companies and business lines you might want to work for. You should know your interests and what you’re willing to do.
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ASPIRATION NEVER SLEEPS.
Dreams.
Realities.
In Princeton, after a seminar on Islamic
We’re constantly growing our business to
finance, Hugo is heading home. Meanwhile in
meet the challenges of a changing world.
London, Hugo’s colleague Christopher is
We anticipate. We act. We lead markets,
beginning to think he’s learned more in four
industries and economies forward. Creating
years of hands-on, international work than
more places for your education and ambition
during his whole economics PhD. While in
to take you. Because, Hugo may have just
Brazil, Anelle is collaborating with the local
started, but he was global from day one.
government to shift its dependence on
That’s why, at Citi, aspiration never sleeps.
industries that cause deforestation.
oncampus.citi.com
CITI, Arc Design and Citi and Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc. Citi Never Sleeps is a service mark of Citigroup Inc. Citigroup Inc. is an equal opportunity employer M/F/D/V
Halliburton
Halliburton is one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry. Founded in 1919, Halliburton has more than 55,000 employees in approximately 70 countries serving the upstream oil and gas industry throughout the lifecycle of the reservoir—from locating hydrocarbons and managing geological data, to drilling and formation evaluation, well construction and completion, and optimizing production through the life of the field. Number of employees
Over 55,000
FUTURE COWORKERS
In our globally located labs and technology centers, Halliburton employs some of the brightest minds in the industry – thinkers, innovators and leaders – with Ph.D. or master’s degrees in various areas of chemistry and engineering to deliver technologies and products to cope with the challenging conditions of today’s energy industry.
Karthik Revana > Position: Product Architect for Decision Management Systems, Landmark Consulting > Education: BE in Chemical Engineering, Visvesvaraya Technological University, 2003; MS in Petroleum Engineering, University of Texas-Austin, 2005. > A GLOBAL INDUSTRY: Just six months into his job, Revana traveled to Villahermosa in southern Mexico. “The experience showed me that you have to be open to new cultures and languages.”
find out more www.halliburton.com SEND YOUR CV TO
www.halliburton.jobs
K
ARTHIK REVANA came from India to study at the University of Texas—a world away, geographically and culturally. After settling into Austin, he made yet another big transition, taking an internship with Halliburton three hours away in Houston. It was another Texas city and another place where he didn’t know anyone, but that experience opened the door to a career in the burgeoning oil and gas industry, with high-demand consulting and travel. What attracted you to Halliburton? It’s a really large company,
PHOTO: Paul S. howell
operating all over the world. It offers a very international experience, working in multiple environments and multiple clients. At Halliburton, they believe in sustainable technologies, sustainable relationships and sustainable sourcing, and they publish a sustainability report that comes out every year. Tell me about the first day of your internship. They took me around and introduced me to everyone, and then told me that my first job was to build a database of Asset Performance Consulting projects that Landmark had completed over the last fifteen to twenty years. It was a big assignment covering hundreds of projects. It meant working with a number of oil and gas companies to identify means of production and finding ways to improve economics. I had to understand everything a reservoir engineer would do with an oil and gas company.
Want more? For detailed information on top companies, check out WetFeet.com’s Employer Close-Ups.
What skills did you need to complete this project? I had to get information from lots of consultants, so that meant having good people skills. I did a lot of interviews and asked lots of questions. I used SQL to program this database, so I also used my technical skills. I was part of a really good multidisciplinary team. What’s it like working in such a global industry? There is a lot of international travel since much of the world’s energy production is outside of the US. The US has the best schools for petroleum engineering, so it attracts a lot of students from oilproducing countries. You find that your coworkers’ educational backgrounds are very diverse. What made you want to stay with Halliburton full-time? I
definitely enjoyed my internship, and I got to understand the culture of a large company—Halliburton has over 55,000 employees. They do work in over 70 countries, and they’re involved with many aspects of the oil and gas industry. I chose them because they offered a solid opportunity for growth. What advice would you have for students looking to work in this field? I took a lot of courses in petroleum engineering, but you
also need to know geology, economics, and other subjects. It is best to be multidisciplinary. That’s something you don’t learn in school. But that’s what it takes to contribute in the oil and gas industry. If you have a background in engineering and science and you’re up for any challenge, it’s a good field.
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Lockheed Martin Engineering Internship
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a premier systems integrator principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, and integration of advanced technology systems, products, and services. Distinguished by whole-system thinking and action, a passion for invention and disciplined performance, Lockheed Martin strives to earn a reputation as the partner of choice, supplier of choice, and employer of choice in the global marketplace. FUTURE COWORKERS
Lockheed Martin is one of the largest employers of scientists and engineers in the U.S. The company plans to hire in excess of 4,000 entry-level professionals, co-ops, and interns this year. Number of employees
140,000 people worldwide find out more www.lockheedmartin.com SEND YOUR CV TO
Visit us on the web at www. lockheedmartin.com/careers
Abhay Verma > position: Systems Engineer > education: MS Systems Eng, UPenn, 2008; BS Eng Science, Penn State, 2004 > landed the job through: Networking > my advice to students: Show you know how to have a life. Get involved in activities that demonstrate who you are as a person.
What’s something about Lockheed Martin that only the people who work there would know? Lockheed
Martin is the company that modified the underwater Lotus vehicle driven by James Bond and also provided the stunt-double engineers as its drivers. Describe Lockheed Martin in three words: Innovative, competitive,
honest Do you have any advice for students who might want to work there one day? Lockheed Martin is a great company that cares
about the welfare of its employees and is dedicated to ethics, integrity, and delivering the best value to its customers. As employees grow and evolve, there are a variety of jobs that allow one to take advantage of their changing interests. What is it about your job that makes you get out of bed each morning? The chance to design and create something that will
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ultimately defend the lives of my fellow citizens. Having been a member of Lockheed Martin for over 3 years, I have seen many facets of this company and each aspect uniquely contributes to the success of this organization. What’s your favorite part of your job? My favorite part of this job is being able to feed my curiosity and get paid to do so. I enjoy researching many unique and innovative technologies. Working at Lockheed Martin has allowed me to use the resources of a large company to investigate new and interesting ideas that will either fit into our current set of products or allow us to grow in different markets. Lockheed Martin is not afraid of taking risks, and that is one of the major reasons that I enjoy working here. Do you have any accomplishments that you’re particularly proud of? One of my proudest accomplishments so far has been
the filing of my patent. Working with a fellow engineer, I was able to come up with a novel idea for sensing electromagnetic radiation. After review by the subject matter experts, the idea was deemed innovative and LM has since started the paperwork to file with the patent office. See Lockheed Martin in action. Go to CareerTV.com to view company-specific career videos and get the inside scoop on top employers.
powered by innovation
guided by integrity
everything is possible. We believe that by applying the highest business ethics and visionary thinking — everything is within our reach, and yours. Like creating systems vital to the safety and security of our nation. Like shaping the latest technological breakthroughs that redefine defense, information technology, and commercial business. Like delivering countless systems and products that reflect the best ideas of people around the globe. This is our view at Lockheed Martin. We’d like to learn yours. Join one of the foremost systems engineering, software, and systems integration companies in the world. We are now hiring nationwide in:
• Engineering • Software/Computer Science • Finance • Accounting • Human Resources • and other technical disciplines. Visit our Web site at: www.lockheedmartin.com/careers for complete details on our college recruiting program.
An equal opportunity employer.
Voted #2 Ideal Employer of undergraduate engineering students in 2008. – Universum Undergraduate Survey, 2008
Together we will build the world’s most extraordinary food company by nourishing people’s lives everywhere, everyday. ABOUT US Campbell Soup Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of simple meals, including soup, as well as baked snacks, and vegetable based beverages. The company is 140 years old, with over $7.3 billion in annual sales and a portfolio of more than 20 market-leading brands. OUR COMMUNITIES Campbell Soup Company is very committed to working with outside organizations such as the American Heart Association, Go Red for Women, Shaping America’s Youth, Harlem Globetrotters, Alliance for a Healthier Generation and National PTA. We also encourage all employees to volunteer in our communities. AWARDS AND RECOGNITION • Fortune Magazine – “One of America’s Most Admired Companies” • Gallup – Great Workplace Award • Black MBA Magazine – Names 2 Campbell Leaders top 50 under 50. • American Heart Association – Recognizes Campbell for creating a culture of physical Activity in the workplace. • SYSCO – Named Campbell its “2006 Supplier of the year. • NJBIZ – Awards Campbell “Best places to work in NJ” OUR EMPLOYEES Campbell’s is a recognizable brand that people trust. That is a powerful and fulfilling reason to join the company. Our people are valued. Our engagement scores are just one indicator that our employees feel valued by their managers and the organization. Many of our employees talk about Campbell as “a big company with a small company feel.” You can make a difference at Campbell. Everyone at Campbell has the opportunity to touch big brands, products, and projects. We support personal and professional growth and encourage employees to lead healthy, balanced lifestyles.
DIVERSITY At Campbell Soup Company, we define diversity as the vast array of human differences and similarities, inclusive of everyone. In order to compete and succeed in a changing marketplace, we must cultivate and embrace a diverse employee population that fuels our growth and enriches our global culture. We truly believe creating an environment where everyone can contribute to their greatest capability and achieve their highest potential is a major component of our competitive advantage as an organization. In order for Campbell Soup Company to continue along our current path, we need every employee to live our diversity and inclusion mission statement everyday. One way to accomplish this is by joining and/or supporting one or more of an array of employee affinity networks. Campbell Soup Company Affinity Networks: • Are open to all employees and play an important role in supporting and sustaining our diversity efforts; • Were established to provide a mutually beneficial relationship for the company and employees; • Exist with the intent of helping to facilitate competency building in specific areas, and assist in growth of the company’s bottom line; • Enrich their members by providing a forum for people from similar backgrounds, cultures, and interests to come together to network, develop professionally, identify issues of concern, and provide mutual support; and • Enhance the company by acting as conduits for information and energy that can increase Campbell’s ability to attract, develop and retain a diverse group of employees, improve customer service and understand new consumer markets.
Campbell … The ingredients to be extraordinary Where icon brands thrive. People are valued. And you can make a difference.
Your best friend’s halfbrother’s uncle’s niece says it’s a great place to work. So what? Do your research. Our Insider Guides give job seekers the inside information they need to make informed decisions about their careers and future employers. We have helped thousands find their own path to career success and we look forward to helping you! Ask your career management center if you have free access to the guides at your campus.
WWW.WETFEET.COM
Lutron Eric Mace E
ric Mace grew up close by Lutron’s headquarters in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, so he didn’t > Position: Design and have to look far to start his career in Development Engineer and College Recruiting Engineering. He served as an intern Representative in Lutron’s co-op program for four > Education: BS in consecutive summers, rising from Mechanical Engineering the assembly line to various product from Pennsylvania State design roles. After full-time positions University, 2005 in product support, design, and project management, he’s currently working in college recruiting, bringing the next generation of ngineers to the place he calls Coopersburg’s “hidden gem.”
PHOTO: M SCOTT WHITSON
What was the most important thing you learned during your internship? I learned how easy it is to find help on the job. An
intern can’t be expected to know everything or how to perform every task, but the employees are always willing to help. If I would interrupt someone and ask for a couple minutes of their time, they’d never say no. Even now, people will drop what they’re doing to help me out. How did you make the transition from design to working in recruiting? The recruiting team needed someone with three See Lutron in action. Go to CareerTV.com to view company-specific career videos and get the inside scoop on top employers.
Lutron’s first product in 1961 was called a “dimmer switch,” and years later the company is still devoted to lighting controls. With more than 10,000 products, Lutron’s focus on product innovations, technology, quality, and customer service has made us the world leader in lighting controls. Future Co-workers
We are looking for people who are smart, enthusiastic, success-minded, team-oriented, creative, flexible, and friendly. Find out more
www.lutron.com Send your CV to
http://www.lutron.com/careers
to five years of experience in engineering to recruit the next best Lutron engineers. I’d done some campus visits before and really enjoyed it. I’ve been recruiting full-time for three or four months now. It’s been nice to have a change of pace, get a different view of the company, and develop a new skill set. What advice would you have for current engineering students looking for internships? My biggest recommendation would be
to start early. You shouldn’t wait until after your junior year to hone in on your career path. Another benefit of starting early is that if your first internship isn’t the best fit, you have the next summer, or even the summer after, to find the place that’s right for you. jungle campus
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PricewaterhouseCoopers
Hassan Hassan > Position: Advisory Services Intern, Summer 2008 > Education: BS in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Economics from Iowa State University, scheduled to graduate December 2009 > COMMITTED TO SERVICE: Hassan took part in PwC’s Project Belize. He spent several days in Central America, working alongside PwC partners, staff, and other interns on community service and development. “I didn’t expect the personal impact on me. It was great to see where it started and where it ended up when we left.”
H
ASSAN HASSAN’S internship with PwC led to a big shift in his career plans. He was an engineering major, with internships in software development and electrical construction under his belt. His first encounter with PwC at a job fair made him think about a career in consulting. Then, his experience in PwC’s Advisory Services and his interactions with other interns and members made a huge impact. He began to pursue different courses and a new career path.
Tell me about the start of your internship experience. For the
first week of training, the interns were at a site in Princeton, New Jersey. We learned about the firm and about their expectations for us. It was kind of a glimpse of what would happen in the following weeks. I traveled to Chicago for the first week of work, and then to Belize to take part in Project Belize with other partners, interns, and staff. It was a difficult transition, but I was never bored, and I always looked forward to the next day. After you returned from Belize, what kind of work were you doing? I was based with a client in Chicago and working on a
project to implement SAP. It’s an IT system that helps manage different divisions—HR, accounting, manufacturing. Our team 16
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studied business models and modified the software to fit the needs of the client. All the work I did was very meaningful. We worked on actual deliverables, creating training manuals so that future consultants could implement these same controls. What was the most important thing you learned during your internship? I really learned how to invest in relationships. I
never thought I would develop so many relationships in such a short time. It’s amazing how closely you get to know the clients and the PwC members. That created a network that I could use for guidance and feedback. It was my first time living in Chicago, and it’s nothing like Iowa, so it was important that my relationship with my colleagues was more of a friendship. How did this work change your vision for the future? Before the internship, I hadn’t declared my economics minor. I knew I liked learning about how companies work. So when I came back to school, I wanted to expand my knowledge in business. I planned to take a few more economics classes and an accounting class before I graduated. I knew it would help prepare for the career that I’ll start next January. What are you most looking forward to in your position with PwC? I’m looking forward to working with people and to
traveling, since I’ll have to travel to my clients’ sites. During my internship, I was able to use my technical background, but I learned so much by talking to other departments. For example, I learned about the accounting department and got to understand their language. I’m really looking forward to being in that multidisciplinary environment again. See PricewaterhouseCoopers in action. Go to CareerTV.com to view company-specific career videos and get the inside scoop on top employers.
PwC is the fifth largest privately held business in the U.S. and the largest network of professional services firms in the world offering a wide range of Assurance, Advisory and Tax Services to many of the world’s largest and most prestigious companies. At PwC, you will be part of a learning culture, where teamwork and collaboration are encouraged, excellence is rewarded and diversity is respected and valued.
Business Internship
Number of employees
146,000 globally; 31,000 in the US future coworkers
PwC primarily looks for Accounting majors, while some of our specialty groups will also consider a Finance or Computer Information Systems major.
Camille McLaws > Position: Tax Services Intern, Summer 2008 > Education: BS in Accounting at Brigham Young University, anticipated graduation in December 2008 > delivering on a promise: McLaws’ background in community service made her a perfect fit for PwC’s Project Belize. The firm’s commitment to outreach, as well as their efforts in Belize, impressed her. “It blew all my expectations out of the water. I knew that PwC was the company they’d advertised themselves as, and I made up my mind that I’d work with them no matter what.”
find out more
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amille McLaws first chose to study accounting because of an interest in business and a desire for job security, but her internship with PwC showed her much more. After taking part in PwC’s Project Belize, McLaws worked in International Tax services in the San Francisco office. She emerged from both experiences with a strong network of support within the firm and the opportunity to come back: She starts as a full-time associate with PwC in August 2009. What attracted you to PwC? I really liked the people and how they interacted with one another. I could just see the camaraderie between the recruiters, the partners and managers who came to campus. Even in the firm’s hierarchy, I could tell that they were friends. That made me instantly comfortable with them.
Tell me about the first day of your internship. I was nervous, but right away there were three people there to greet me. Everyone was so welcoming, and I made some important contacts. After going out to lunch, I got to know my co-workers more on a ‘friend’ level. I left feeling like I had 50 new friends, and I knew it would be a good internship. What did you work on over the summer? Before going to Belize,
I studied the country’s cultural traditions and politics, but nothing could have prepared me for what we would experience Want more? For detailed information on top companies, check out WetFeet.com’s Employer Close-Ups.
there. While the conditions were more dire than I expected, so too was the immediate acceptance and appreciation of the children. I worked in International Tax Services, where I did a lot of research rather than fill out forms or crunch numbers. I didn’t have one huge project, but I did get exposure to what I’d do as a first-year associate. I got to sit in on conference calls with CEOs of other companies. I felt they treated me more like an associate than an intern. What was the most important thing you learned? I gained the knowledge that your career is not just based on a task or about coming up with the right number. Anyone in any classroom can learn that. It’s about finding mentors who you can relate to and who care about you. That’s how you grow within a company. Now, I feel that I have this network of successful professionals who I can turn to for help. What are your expectations for your full-time position? I’ll be in
the same division I interned in, so I’ll be working on structuring and researching. I know it’ll be more stressful and that there will more consequences for my actions. I’ll have larger tasks, including larger projects that will take more time. That’s good, because I don’t want to just sail through. I want to be pushed, and that’s really what I was looking for. Where do you see yourself in five years? I know I still want to be with PwC. I can really see the opportunities with them. I want to try out new tasks and do rotations, maybe in compliance. I think I’d like to try rotations in different cities. Also, I’m taking my CPA starting in February. It might be a little aggressive, but it’s something I really want to do.
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Unilever
Unilever’s mission is to add vitality to life. We meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene, and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good, and get more out of life. Each day, around the world, consumers make 160 million decisions to purchase Unilever products. Number of employees
174,000 globally, 14,000 in the US (includes Puerto Rico) future coworkers
Unilever recruits for both MBA’s and undergraduates. We look for students studying Marketing, Finance, Logistics/ Supply Chain Management, Business, and the sciences. find out more
www.unileverusa.com send your cv to
Apply via your school’s career services or our website at www.unileverusa.com
“Supply Chain Finance Analyst” is a big title. What does it mean? I’m responsible
Jessie Sobel > Position: Supply Chain Finance Analyst > Education: BA, Environmental Economics, Colgate University, 2007 > What I’ve learned today: I learned how to look up the net book value of our fixed assets in SAP, a financial system we use.
A
liberal arts major with little financial background, Jessie Sobel wasn’t sure what to expect when she accepted a spot in Unilever’s internship program. But beyond getting to work with established brands like Lipton and SlimFast, Sobel found a great deal of professional responsibility— especially considering she’s only been out of school for one year. This is your first job out of college. Has it met your expectations?
It has. I’ve been given a lot more responsibility than many of my peers who work at other companies, and my responsibilities have only grown in the past year. I’ve also done a lot outside of my official role. I’ve been involved in planning a lot of our outside events, like our picnic and our yearly finance offsite. I’ve also been working in recruitment at Colgate. And now I’m helping out with our interns, too. How has it been working with the internship program? It’s great!
Because I was a part of it, I understand a lot of what the interns are going through. And I’ve been able to help them and offer advice. A lot of them get stressed, which I totally understand. I just tell them that they own their projects, and that they should take them where they want to. Want more? For detailed information on top companies, check out WetFeet.com’s Employer Close-Ups. 18
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for supplying cost information for my business partners and for the people on the brand teams. I track different commodity prices, and look into what we thought our costs would be versus what they actually are. I’m also the savings financial approver, so I look at all of our savings programs and provide assumptions for those. What’s something about working at Unilever that only people who work there would know? There’s a lot that goes into putting
a small bottle of shampoo onto a shelf—you don’t realize how much work goes into it until you’re actually behind the scenes. What surprised you most when you first started? I was surprised
by just how many people are involved in the making, planning, delivering, and innovation of all these different products. Each person has their own integral role in creating these products and ensuring that they actually get to the shelves and get to the consumers. And what are those people like? The people here are great. Every-
one’s really down-to-earth, and there’s a lot of team spirit. Everyone knows their role and gets their job done, because they know how dependent everyone else is on them getting their part done. If you and your Supply Chain Finance teammates were a league of superheroes, what would your team name be?
The Gross Margin Defenders! See Unilever in action. Go to CareerTV.com to view company-specific career videos and get the inside scoop on top employers.
Verizon Communications Verizon Communications Inc., headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. The company’s divisions include Verizon Wireless, Verizon Business, and Verizon Telecom. Number of Employees
Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 228,000. Future Coworkers
The students we look for have—high-energy, unique, ambitious, fascinated by learning, tech savvy, results-driven, and determined to succeed. While each of our divisions has its own focus, we’re collaborative in the way we all share a commitment to exceptional customer service and a cutting-edge approach to communications technologies. Find out more
http://newscenter.verizon.com/ Send your cv to
www.verizon.com/jobs
Asif Zulfiqar
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TARTING OUT as an intern in the HR department, Asif Zulfiqar was hired after his graduation to be a fulltime Staffing Specialist in Talent and Leadership Management. Besides the change in title, he says going from intern to fulltime employee in a matter of months has come with high visibility, high expectations, and high rewards.
> Position: Staffing Specialist in HR > Education: Rutgers, Masters in Human Resource Management, August 2008
How did you get recruited by Verizon? By the end of the summer internship, my team members recommended me. I interviewed and received a full time job offer. My internship was with the leadership development team and now I’m in employer branding, both of which are under the umbrella of talent and leadership management function of human resource management. What was your first day like? I never really had a first day as
a fulltime employee. I started as a summer intern and then continued working on projects until I was hired fulltime. However, on the first day of my internship I was a little lost, but I was lucky to be with a very supportive hiring manager. She was with me every step of the day. What surprised you most when you started fulltime as an employee? The expectations, the interaction, and the amount
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of multitasking went up and I was forced out of my comfort zone. I didn’t expect that I would be interacting with so many people and my scope would be so broad in nature. It’s a great opportunity, but the transition from intern to full time was fast paced; just like going from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds. What’s your favorite part about your job? There are two things.
First, I like the opportunity to combine my HR knowledge with my analytical skills. Second, the amount of visibility this position offers. I interact with senior leaders a lot and it’s definitely a plus for my personal development. And the most challenging part? The high visibility comes with high expectations. There’s a lot to do but the work is exciting and challenging. What is something about Verizon that only people who work there know? People outside of Verizon often do not know
about business units other than Verizon Wireless. Many times I go back and talk to my classmates and they understand the whole company as Verizon Wireless, as I used to. Wireless is an important business unit, but accounts for about half of the overall business. The other half, such as Telecom, Business, and Fios etc., goes unnoticed by general public. Telecom, VerizonBusiness, FiOs, Corporate and Verizon Services are equally important parts of the business and offer great career opportunities. See Verizon Communications in action. Go to CareerTV.com to view company-specific career videos and get the inside scoop on top employers.
Verizon Telecom
At Verizon Telecom we know that traditional product bundling is out – and flexibility is where it’s at. That’s why we’re the first large Telecom provider to actively market a bundle that includes wireless, internet and television. Our new flex bundle is designed to change the way we live, work, and play, as well as pay our bills. And that’s just the beginning. We see fully integrated communication. Whether it’s television, computers, handhelds, gaming, phones or more, we won’t stop there. Number of Employees
95,000 Future Coworkers
Verizon is a company for people who have a thirst for innovation, who dare to challenge the conventional ideas and create next-gen technology. With its human power and technology, Verizon gives ordinary people the power to create extraordinary things.
Cori Softley > Position: Senior Staff Consultant in the National Marketing department > Education: BS in Marketing with a minor in Leadership from Virginia Tech, May 2002. MBA from Southern Methodist University, 2005 > COLLEGE CONNECTION: I became an officer in the Virginia Tech alumni group for the Dallas area. I joined within a week of moving here, and they automatically put me on the board. I was able to use my marketing skills to inform hundreds of alumni about our events and to plan new ones.
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ORI SOFTLEY started with Verizon and ended up on the ground floor of marketing the company’s newest technologies. Now based in Dallas, she works on the Customer Relationship Management team, helping make first-time buyers into longtime customers.
Why did you want to work for Verizon? I always wanted to work for a huge company because I just loved the corporate model and lifestyle. I also had a drive for technology with an interest in computers and gadgets. Verizon was a perfect fit because they’re huge in data and wireless services, and they developed the first fiber optics systems. How did you make the connection for your internship? A
Virginia Tech alum was on file through the career center, and he wanted a VT student as an intern. He found me and called me for a phone interview. That job didn’t come through, but his co-worker needed an intern as well, and he gave her my name as a runner-up. Though I didn’t get that first internship, it helped me get my foot in the door. Tell me about your summer internship experience. I worked
in marketing for 411 Directory Assistance after its name was changed to Live Source. I did research and competitive analysis of other services, and I looked at prices and compared them in different markets. In doing more general marketing of the service, we helped the company get new customers
through marketing benefits, accessibility, and ease of use. How did you make the transition from being an intern to a full-time hire? It was a pretty scary transition, but I think
it was the best decision I could have made. The Marketing Development Program was a two-year rotational program, starting with two six-month periods in a management staff position. Then I spent a year in the call center, where I managed over twenty sales reps. Being 21 years old coming into the corporate environment was intense. I thought everyone had been there for so much longer, but it turned out they needed fresh ideas. What are you most proud of in your work now? In Customer Relationship Management, our ideas get implemented, and we get to see them all the way to fruition. It’s a brand new team, and we all put our ideas on the table. I get to think, “What would I like? What would a company have to do to keep me?” I always feel like we make an impact. What advice would you have for students looking for internships in marketing? I would highly encourage them not to be
reserved or shy in bringing their ideas to the table or sharing their thoughts. As students, they have the latest and greatest in marketing knowledge. Things have changed since I started, and there are new marketing strategies and perspectives out there. So speak up, and don’t be shy in your interactions. You have an outside view of what we’re doing—you’re almost like a consultant.
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Feed your future See the difference 100 PwC interns made in Belize. Begin at www.pwc.tv
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