Nolan Powers completed the summer internship program with the Property & Casualty Claims Department at State Farm Insurance.
How did you get this internship and why did you choose it?
I got my internship with State Farm on Linkedin after researching for jobs and applying to multiple positions with State Farm. I chose this internship because I heard a lot about State Farm and I knew it would be a good opportunity to learn more about insurance and a huge company and how they operate on different levels.
What was your favorite part of your internship?
The most satisfying part of my internship was being able to make connections with my co-workers and be able to see them everyday in the office. This was meaningful to me because I was able to make strong personal connections that I will carry with me throughout my life. Because, to me, the internship is not only about doing work, but being able to get to know who you're working with all summer on a personal level.
In addition, the impact of my internship experience has been that I was able to help real customers and I felt like my work was meaningful, and not just busy work. Our team got together and learned how to process State Farm claims from beginning to end. For me, I wanted to gain real life experience in the workforce and I feel like State Farm did an excellent job with providing me with that.
What did you find challenging about your internship?
The thing I found most challenging about this internship was learning how to operate State Farm internal systems because there was so much to learn getting started. Also, making outbound calls could be a little difficult because you never know what would happen when a live customer is on the line. I learned that even when times can get difficult or stressful it's important to take a step back and not to get frustrated to get the most out of this learning experience.
How has your internship experience influenced your plans for your future?
My internship experience influenced my plans for the future because I realized what I enjoy and that is helping people and working for a company that's able to provide and do good for its employees, customers, and the community. I now see myself working with State Farm full time because of its company values and completing this internship helped me realize that that is something important to me.
What advice do you have for other students as they search for and begin their internship?
Some advice I have for other students searching for an internship would be to take your time and choose something or a company that you have genuine interest in. The worst thing would be to rush to get a job that you don’t enjoy, because then it will not have a positive impact on you.
An internship is all about learning so along the way during your internship you may find that you don't enjoy it, and that's okay because at the end of the day if you put your best effort forward you will succeed.