Jim Jagielski developed his industry-specific knowledge and skills in the financial sector, specializing in digital assets.
How did you get your internship?
I got my internship through networking, research, and not being afraid to ask questions. Originally, I had a summer finance internship lined up in Phoenix, but I learned my grandmother's health had declined so I wanted to be closer to home in Chicago to be there for her and my family. I spent January through March applying for internships back in Chicago but had a really tough time getting an offer. I decided to reach out to a close friend from high school to see if he knew of any opportunities. He connected me with his dad, who I also had a great relationship with, and told me to apply for a role on the digital side for Cboe. He even helped me prepare for the interview process and I eventually got an offer for a summer internship.
Why did you choose this internship?
I chose this internship because I am interested in entering a career in Finance after college. I knew this was a great company where I was going to be able to learn, grow, and network which were the three priorities for me in deciding where to intern. I wanted to learn more about digital assets, and there is not a better way to learn than working within an organization in that niche of the industry. Lastly, I have had multiple friends intern over the years at Cboe and every single one reported back that it was a great experience and environment.
What is unique about your situation that influenced your internship selection or experience?
My situation was unique because I had to change my plans for my internship unexpectedly. My grandma got sick during the fall and that made me want to be closer to home for my internship, which was different from my original plan to stay on the west coast for the summer. I had to make the difficult decision to decline the internship I was already offered in Phoenix to then restart my search for opportunities in Chicago. After finding out about Cboe, I knew it would be a great fit for my personal and professional circumstances.
What was your favorite or most satisfying part of your internship?
My favorite part of the internship experience was getting to network and learn about the different departments within the Cboe organization. Being able to learn and speak with VPs and other senior leaders about their organization and teams was eye opening and taught me a lot. Another satisfying part was how nice and welcoming everyone was; regardless of position, the employees were always glad to chat and answer questions when they had some free time. It was amazing to work in such a great environment and I can see why the company culture has such a good reputation.
What did you find most challenging about your internship?
The biggest challenge for me was the steep learning curve of starting a new experience in a new industry. At first I felt I was behind compared to the other interns when it came to understanding finance terminology and processes. I started to ask questions for clarification and I learned that there were a lot of other interns who had the same questions as me and were confused about the same things. I also learned that in order to understand more context about finance terms, I just needed to have more conversations with associates and put myself out there. It took some time because there was so much to learn, but I learned that I needed to stay open to opportunities to learn and put myself out there to build connections.
What is the impact of your internship experience?
The impact this internship has had on me has been profound. I was able to meet so many amazing people and build some amazing relationships along the way. My role challenged me in different ways and taught me so much about myself. I learned how to have better time management and how to understand concepts from different perspectives. This role did an amazing job of preparing me for future endeavors in the financial space.
What advice do you have for other students as they search for and begin their internship?
My advice is to understand that it might take you some time to figure out your internship journey and that is completely okay. Do not get discouraged and keep working on your resume and connecting with your network because the right opportunity will come. Do not wait for them to come to you--you have to be proactive and consistently explore different avenues to find opportunities. Lastly, enjoy the whole process because it goes by fast. You will want to make the most of your time wherever you end up. Finally, network with anyone and everyone because you never know who can help you or give you some great advice.