Internship Spotlight: Megan Zink, OnlineApplication

Megan Zink is an Accounting major graduating in the spring of 2023.  This summer she interned with OnlineApplication as a Market and Systems Analyst in Dublin, Ireland.

What was the process for getting this internship, job, or summer experience?

The overall process for getting the internship was simple and relatively easy to navigate. After applying for the global internship program through Eller and specifying your preferred role(s) and location, Global Academic Ventures really takes the lead on finding you an internship. First, I met with a representative at Global Academic Ventures, and she walked through my application with me ensuring that what I selected was still my preferences and looked over my resume. After that, they take your information and build a profile for various employers and firms to view. From there, firms who are interested in you contact Global Academic Ventures and they help you set up an interview time. I did a group interview with 4 or 5 other interns. It was a very casual interview with mostly questions targeted towards learning about you and your strengths and weaknesses. You also attend an orientation session helping you learn more about what to expect. From there, the rest of the process is unique to the firm you are interning with.

What was a typical day like?

A typical day for me consisted of researching the Irish Mortgage Markets and Financial Markets. The goal of this research would be to see what is in the news and what is sparking public interest. Once I complete this research, I would write two blog posts/articles on the company website concerning what I had found. This entire process would take about three hours. The second half of my day consisted of doing product testing on the client interface. The firm I interned with provides mortgage application software to brokers and their clients, so my goal would be to identify any errors or bugs in the site. I would then communicate my findings with the team, and they would send them to the software development team. This process would also take about three hours each day.

What advice do you have for other students looking for a similar experience, or advice for future students to be successful?

My advice for other students looking for a similar experience is to be open to different experiences and different roles. Originally, I was hoping for an internship that would offer me more exposure to accounting since that is what I am hoping to go into after I graduate. However, this role showed me that any business/professional experience is beneficial. You will learn how to talk with supervisors, peers, and possibly the CEO of the firm like I did during my summer experience. You will learn how to be responsible and manage your time throughout the day, as there are no real deadlines but the work is expected to get done. These experiences help you grow those soft skills that you will need in any type of career post-college.

How did Eller prepare you for this experience?

In BNAD 200, you learn how to carry yourself and prepare for interviews. Learning about how to navigate interview questions and navigate those nonverbal cues during an online interview was very helpful during my interview for this internship. Overall, Eller teaches you how important working in teams is and advocating for yourself in those teams. Eller teaches you how to manage your time and be responsible with it. All of those skills and professional development that Eller helps you grow were extremely valuable during my internship experience.