BEVERLY, Mass. - The semester-long internship is one of the essential pieces of Endicott's experiential learning model which includes two 120-hour internships, a semester-long internship, and senior thesis. In essence, it gets undergraduate students career ready with a loaded resume geared towards whatever their postgraduate endeavors may be.
Five of the members of the Class of 2018 for the Gulls men's golf program - while balancing strength and conditioning programming, captains practices, official team practice, and the start to their 2017-18 campaign - have all completed their semester-long internship. Three of these exceptional student-athletes - Drew Benshoff (Concord, Mass.), Ben Palazzo (Farmington, Conn.), and Connor Brown (Granby, Conn.) - gave us an insight into their experience working in their desired professions through our new question and answer series.
Drew Benshoff
Entrepreneurship
Semester-Long Internship: CarGurus, Advertising Operations
Previous Internships: Reebok, CarGurus
What inspired you to pursue an internship at this organization or what inspired you to go into the specific industry in which you are working?
I have always had an interest in cars whether it is watching Top Gear or review videos of the latest vehicles. I was inspired by CarGurus' mission to create an automotive marketplace that is both trusted and transparent. I feel that this type of experience benefits everyone involved in the buying and selling process.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences on the job and what did you learn?
During the semester, I created hundreds of dealer campaigns, 400+ audience segments, and reports that made for faster data analysis. I also worked on an ad synopsis to help our team better understand what our competitors are doing and where opportunities may lie. These projects helped me improved my Microsoft Excel and team collaboration skills (if you need a pivot table I'm your guy). This was my third internship at CarGurus and seeing a company grow from 100 employees to 500+ was extremely exciting.
How did your internship help clarify your postgraduate career pursuits?
My internship gave me the opportunity to find my strengths and weaknesses. I also learned that I could improve my weaknesses with practice. Because of this, I want to keep my mind open to any opportunity that may come about. I also learned the type of company culture I want to be a part of. CarGurus makes going to work fun with perks such as a game room, free lunch, and snacks. The result of this is you have employees who enjoy going to work (myself included).
What advice would you give students that are either just starting the internship program at Endicott or students that will be going on semester-long internship?
Try to learn about as many things as you can. This will not only improve your experience, but it will open more opportunities in the future. Also, don't be afraid to try and identify gaps that you may be able to help fill as that process can often result in meaningful work.
Ben Palazzo
Finance
Semester-Long Internship: Horvath & Tremblay
Previous Internships: RBC Wealth Management Riverside Investments
What inspired you to pursue an internship at this organization or what inspired you to go into the specific industry in which you are working?
The real estate industry has a wealth of opportunity and is a tangible asset opposed to something like a mutual fund or stock. Horvath & Tremblay is one of the top teams in the country so there was no better place to learn the industry.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences on the job and what did you learn?
One of the most meaningful experiences I had was going to New York and experiencing the International Council of Shopping Centers: Deal Making Conference. This gave me an out of the office experience where I could observe networking and interaction with clients and other members of the industry as well as practice it myself. Behind the scenes, I gained valuable understanding on all aspects of the deal from a letter of intent to close.
How did your internship help clarify your postgraduate career pursuits?
It made real estate a plausible option for a career whereas before it was just something I thought I would be doing on the side.
What advice would you give students that are either just starting the internship program at Endicott or students that will be going on semester-long internship?
That it's okay to pick something a little different than you may have done before, just being open to all opportunities.
Connor Brown
Sport Management
Semester-Long Internship: Boston Celtics, Live Events/Game Operations Department
Previous Internships: Valley Sports Center, Essex County Club Golf Shop
What inspired you to pursue an internship at this organization or what inspired you to go into the specific industry in which you are working?
I have been interested in professional sports from a young age. Being a sport management major, I wanted to push myself to find a high-level organization for my semester internship where I would be able to learn amongst high-level professionals.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences on the job and what did you learn?
I was able to plan, coordinate and oversee the pre-game singing of the national anthem and presentation of the colors by local military groups. I was also tasked with helping to manage the Celtics "Green Team" stunt group, Celtics Dancers and the Dunk Team timeout and halftime shows during all Celtics home games. I learned the importance of proper preparation and time management when working in live events.
How did your internship help clarify your postgraduate career pursuits?
This internship absolutely helped me see a potential career working for a sports organization. After graduation, I will be looking for similar positions with college and professional sports teams in the greater Boston area.
What advice would you give students that are either just starting the internship program at Endicott or students that will be going on semester-long internship?
I would advise future Endicott students to set goals for themselves starting from their freshman year. It is never too early to begin networking and looking for jobs and internships. The more quality work you do, the more highly regarded you will be for your next position. Set yourself both realistic and lofty goals so by the time you are looking for a semester-long internship, your hard work will help you stand out.
The Endicott Experience feature aims to highlight the entirety of the student-athletes' experiential learning journey throughout their academic careers. The student-athlete at Endicott is afforded the same opportunities as the general student population at the College as it relates to internships, study abroad, and postgraduate career pursuits. This philosophy mirrors the mission statement of the College which every student is encouraged to take intellectual risks, pursue scholarly and creative interests, contribute to the community, and explore diverse career paths. Read more Endicott Experience features by navigating the links below.
INTERNSHIP: Fall 2015 | 2014-15 Internships | Fall 2016 Semester-Long | Gulls "Learn By Doing" On Winter Break | 442 Student-Athletes Complete Internships During 2016-17 Academic Year
STUDY ABROAD: Studying Abroad as a Student-Athlete at Endicott | James Dwyer Focuses on Opportunities Abroad in Switzerland with Les Roches Global Hospitality | Endicott Student-Athletes Study Abroad in Asia | Holly Erbe Studies Abroad in London, Paris, Amsterdam | Andrea Courtemanche Gains New Perspectives Through Study Abroad Trip |
ACADEMICS: Emily Sharpe and Eric Owens Balance STEM and Sport at Endicott | Kendra Walters, Creating Her Own Happiness Through Art at Endicott
CAREER OUTCOMES: Internships Lead To Career Outcomes | 2015 Graduates Find Immediate Success in Job Market
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