Internship Spotlight: Mya Cisneros, GEICO

Mya Cisneros '22 BSBA (Business Management) was a Business Leadership Intern at GEICO in Tucson, Arizona.

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

I applied for the internship through Handshake! The interview process consisted of a phone interview, skill assessment, another phone interview with a recruiter, and lastly a video interview with the hiring manager. 

What was a typical day like?

A typical day started off with a team meeting, followed by project time and mentor meetings. We'd then have a presentation from leadership (in person or virtually) and then head to lunch. After lunch, we had more project time and a few presentations from leaders within various departments at GEICO, such as sales, service, claims, auto damage, and much more. We ended the day with a fun group activity and always had a menti, as it gave us time to reflect and plan for the next day.

What was your favorite part of the experience?

My favorite part of the internship was in working with so many different people and further developing myself as a leader. I loved presenting new strategies to management to help address areas of opportunity within the company, and hearing afterwards these ideas are currently being looked into and implemented. 

If you worked on a big project, please describe it below:

I worked in a team of 5 to propose and present solutions to help increase employee engagement. To complete this project, my team analyzed employee engagement data and conducted 20 employee interviews from associates, supervisors, managers, and directors. 

What did you find most challenging?

The most challenging part of this internship was how tired I felt. It's been a while since I worked a full 40 hours a week, so it definitely made me realize I need to prioritize sleep and healthy eating when working full time in order to perform my best. 

What did you learn?

I learned how to improve my performance in a team setting and during presentations. I also learned that asking for feedback is important and developing a mentor relationship can go a long way in growing your professional career.  

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

Go to the Eller Career Fair and meet the recruiters!!! They will help guide you and advocate for you throughout the interview process :) Also make sure to ask lots of questions.

How did Eller Prepare you for this experience?

Eller helped so much with interviewing and feeling confident in my ability to perform well during the internship. Utilizing the career coaches for interview practice and learning how to use the STAR method to tell my story made a big difference in me being successful.  

Did you feel supported by the company or organization you worked with?

 Yes! GEICO has tons of different employee resource groups that made me feel supported and included. There is also more diversity in leadership than I have seen in other companies. 

It was amazing, and I learned so much!!! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the interview process or internship itself :)