Black Collegian Career Center

Interns build careers

The value of internships has been proven time and again. What better way to gain the ever elusive real world “experience” and test drive a career while still in college?

The internships available through the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network offer interns the same work as full-time financial representatives, whose careers involve developing relationships with clients to address a variety of lifelong financial needs. Interns build and manage their own clients, while learning more about the career through joint work, mentors and training programs.

The financial representative internship is offered nationwide to individuals who are highly motivated. Through their experiences with the Network, many interns are discovering more about themselves and what it takes to be successful in the financial services industry.

Motivated to succeed

Lamont Brown was drawn to the internship because it provided a fast-paced day, excellent income potential and allowed him to work with people. “I had a lot of fun in the internship program. It was just talking to people – and that’s one of the things I felt comfortable doing,” he said.

Brown emphasized that the internship was very hard work, but like many Network offices that develop supportive small teams of interns, the atmosphere was motivating and the interns pushed each other to excel.

He encourages others who want to control their own destiny to seriously consider it. “You’ll learn so much about yourself,” he explained. “But, you have to be willing to accept the good and the bad. You have got to have fun with it. Focus on what you want to get out of it.”

Based on his year experience with the internship, Brown decided to become a full-time representative with The Early Agency in Wayne, Pa., following his graduation from Temple U. He said, “For me, the transition was fairly easy because I knew what to expect, I knew what I was getting into. I just had to do it on a larger scale.”

Perfect match

Tiffany Hamilton knew the minute she heard about the internship that it  as a good match for her. She was a senior at Xavier and was convinced that the experience would be beneficial.

“When I asked to be interviewed, I had already made up in my mind what type of career I wanted to have. But just like you look at different schools to say ‘this is going to be the best school for the degree I want,’ I was also looking for the best company that would offer the best for me and my future clients.” She added, “I wasn’t looking for a job. I was looking for a career.”

She explained how she tried to learn as much as possible in the short six months in which she was an intern. “I knew that I had a strong support system as an intern, so I wanted to use it as much as I could.” By taking advantage of the resources available to her, she was able to kick start her career as a full-time representative with The Hornsby Group in New Orleans, La.

A network of support

Brandin Campbell is currently an intern who also works with The Hornsby Group. He emphasized the value of support he receives from fellow interns and full-time financial representatives. The relationships he has built during his two-year internship are helping him move toward becoming a full-time representative himself.

“As an intern you’re dealing with the  business as a whole, so once you go to the transition of full-time, you’re not overwhelmed by what’s going on. I’m thankful for the Network and the support that’s in the office.”

Campbell’s advice to those who pursue the internship was this: “Northwestern Mutual is an excellent choice. If you are selected as an intern, make sure you take full advantage of the time and do well. It’s definitely the start of building your practice.”

The Northwestern Mutual Financial Network offers information about their internships on-line at www.internship.nmfn.com.

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network is the marketing name for the sales and distribution arm of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI.