giving students a step up
Alumni participation enlivens internship program
James Murphy amassed 10 years of professional experience before deciding to return to school to earn his MBA at Loyola.
Murphy isn’t the type of student who necessarily needs an internship as part of his educational experience, but he decided to participate in one nonetheless.
“My professional experience was in IT and Web design. I don’t want to be pigeonholed as the tech guy,” Murphy explains. So, he spent six months analyzing customer demographics for U.S. Cellular Corp., the Chicago-based cellular telephone provider. He believes the internship will make him a more attractive job candidate when he graduates.
Whether they’re mid-career professionals returning for an MBA, or traditional-age undergraduates, more students are choosing to pursue internships as part of their education. To support this trend, the SBA will hire a full-time internship coordinator.
Goal: internships for all
Internships are highly encouraged for all Loyola business undergraduates and graduate students, and are required for students in the five-year BBA/MBA program (see next page).
—Greg Hinton (MBA ’03)
"Loyola interns are deeply involved in projects that make a difference."
“Our goal — part of the SBA’s strategic objectives — is to have all our students complete an internship,” says Christine Corral, director of the school’s Business Career Center.
The Business Career Center recently installed software called EASE (Engaging Alumni, Students, and Employers) that allows students and alumni to connect with potential employers electronically. Students and alumni can post their resumes, search for internships and job openings, and become informed about upcoming job fairs and recruitment events. Employers, meanwhile, use the system to scan resumes and find the best candidates for internships and to fill full-time positions.
The SBA has strong relationships with hundreds of employers, including U.S. Cellular, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Exelon, Illinois Tool Works, and the City of Chicago, to name a few.
Alumni seek out Loyola students
Alumni support and participation is crucial to a successful internship program.
Bill Kistner (BBA ’72), vice president of internal audits at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and a member of the SBA’s advisory council, is facilitating a unique fellowship for high-achieving African American or Hispanic Loyola MBA students in health care finance and information technology.
Ismael Seguban (MBA ’07) used his internship to help U.S. Cellular develop a special Web site for “Gen Y” customers.
“Diversity is an important component of Northwestern Memorial’s strategic goal to attract and retain top talent,” explains Pamela McCoy, director of the new specialized MBA in health care management (see page 12). “Northwestern chose to partner with the GSB because they share our commitment to developing responsible business leaders.”
Maya Alvarez (MBA ’08) recently began the year-long fellowship in Northwestern’s Office of Investments. She will gain exposure to a variety of data sources used to inform the investment decision-making process by preparing investment-related statistics and internal reports that analyze the hospital’s investment portfolio.
Alvarez’s successful completion of both the MBA program and the Northwestern fellowship will guarantee her a full-time, permanent position at
the hospital.
Greg Hinton (MBA ’03), senior director of strategic staffing and diversity for U.S. Cellular, says business students from Loyola are consistently the company’s top interns.
“They’ve been an invaluable resource for us,” Hinton says. “They aren’t just filling a seat. Loyola interns are deeply involved in projects that make a difference for U.S. Cellular.”
For example, intern Ismael Seguban (MBA ’07) helped U.S. Cellular develop a special Web site to attract “Gen Y” customers, young people between the ages of 16 and 27. The interactive site, www.getusc.com, markets various products and services to Gen Y users.
“My internship was very fulfilling. It really tested my project management skills and gave me experience working in cross-functional teams,” Seguban says.
Seguban says he hopes the positive internship experience will lead to a full-time job at U.S. Cellular, which has a track record of hiring Loyola students, beginning with company CEO John E. “Jack” Rooney (MBA ’69).
“We like to hire Loyola students whenever we have the opportunity,” Hinton says.
That’s just the kind of feedback the SBA likes to hear.
“Internships are an invaluable way for a student to gain professional experience, which is what employers are looking for these days,” says Corral.
Adds Faruk Guder, PhD, associate dean for faculty and administration, “Besides providing students with real-life experience, internships increase job placement. Our goal at the SBA is to have 100 percent employment for students six months after they graduate.”
Could your company or organization provide internship opportunities for Loyola students? Call 312-915-7810 or visit www.LUC.edu/bcc to learn more.