A Day in the Life of Our Interns
Hearing the word ‘intern,’ I envisioned making coffee, getting people sandwiches for lunch and spending countless hours around a copy machine. But as a Northwestern Mutual intern, the only time I get coffee or lunch -- or make copies -- is when I need to do it for myself.
“This is an internship opportunity that actually lets me be a real professional while still in college.”
While I was nervous about starting such a professional job while still in college, I find that everyone around me is supportive and helpful. In the beginning, working in groups with Financial Representatives and other interns allowed me to find my place in the company and get to know my surroundings without feeling lost. Now, working with others helps me improve the skills that I have and learn new ones. Wearing the business clothes required in ‘real’ jobs also helped me feel more confident at the start of my internship.
“Also, the clothes really impressed my friends!”
Every day when I go into work at my Northwestern Mutual office, I am treated as an equal with the Financial Representatives. I am able to attend meetings downtown, network with the important people in my city and learn valuable information from my co-workers.
I often hear from my peers that college classes have no part in the real world; however, with my internship at Northwestern Mutual, I’ve found that I use information learned in classes every day! It gives me a sense of accomplishment and makes me feel like the time and money I spend on college is really worth it.
“So what’s my day like?”
My daily activities do not vary much from the Financial Representatives’ duties. One of the most rewarding tasks I perform is meeting with real clients. These are individuals and families who need our help. I’ve learned the best way to gather information from these clients. It’s called ‘deep fact-finding.’ From this information, I create specific ideas and options to help their individual situations.
“So that’s the work. How are the working conditions?”
Well, I immensely enjoy the business environment at my internship. Working in this office, as part of a real-world business collaboration, is a life-changing experience. The change from a typical lecture hall atmosphere has been a maturing experience in my college career.
If you want a chance to be a part of the business world and make a difference in real clients’ lives, as opposed to just making coffee and copies, I strongly recommend an internship with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.
For a firsthand look at what it's like to be an intern,
watch this "Day in the Life" video.
