Name:Zack Herd

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: UPS

Position Title: Business Analyst

Major(s)/Minor(s):Business Technology Administration

Work Term:Summer 2018 and Fall 2018

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

Each morning when I arrive to my cubicle I check my email inbox and my calendar to see what I may have missed after leaving the office the day prior and what I should anticipate for the day ahead of me. I have been working on a project that features the expansion of UPS into new markets overseas so I typically have conference calls with international stakeholders the first half of my day to accommodate varying time differences. After I have participated in the calls for the day, I typically begin to work on follow up action items and deliverable that often require Skype meetings with some of my peers in our Georgia and New Jersey offices. I have presented roughly every two weeks while in my current role of a business analyst. Typically these presentations are PowerPoint's that feature some Excel spreadsheets that display the numerical analysis showing opportunities for the company.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I attended the career fair in Fall of 2017 and happened to walk past UPS and noticed a large line and I was curious what positions UPS were recruiting for. I stopped and talked a few minutes and became interested. A few weeks later I received an email directing me to complete an application, and within another few weeks I completed two phone interviews and one in person interview with my now manager and my team lead. Within 48 hours of the in person interview I received a formal offer to begin in May. And I felt extremely encouraged as the time from when I completed and application to when I received an offer was only about 6 weeks and the position was not set to begin for roughly 7 months. I felt excited that they wasted no time in letting me know they wanted to bring me aboard.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?

I honestly enjoy the opportunity to make a real world contribution since the very first day I arrived. I am treated as a normal employee, I am never tasked with anything that feels as busy work instead I work on projects like any new hire would. There are always opportunities to cross train in other departments and further my education through external and internal programs that are company funded.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I definitely feel like I have made an impact in my short time at UPS so far. I have been lucky enough to see and hear my analysis utilized in meetings with senior management. I have seen an entire project from start to finish at this point and I felt so accomplished that I was apart of something that will be released in the near future. I also had the opportunity to use some of my educational background and previous work history and pitch an idea to the marketing department which was well received and now being conceptualized for beta testing.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

I would tell everyone to take full advantage of everything the company has to offer. I have the opportunity to not only apply what I have learned in the classroom to real life situations but I have been able to pinpoint areas of opportunity for me to excel as a professional. UPS not only has an access to a ton of webinars that they cover the expense for but also external learning sites that teach you new skills in your downtime. Their interest in investing in my personal and professional development makes me consider them as a potential long term employer.

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According to career specialists, 70-80 percent of jobs are never posted online. This means most jobs are filled through word of mouth or other private communication, otherwise known as a professional network. I don’t know about you, but whenever I’m faced with someone 10-15 years older than me wearing a power suit, I freeze. Everything interesting I’ve ever said or thought flies out of my head. It isn’t optimal. I’ve had to find resources to teach and prepare me for those awkward handshakes and first meetings. It is important to develop your own professional network while you’re in school so that you have contacts to reach out to when you begin looking for an internship and full-time job.

When to Network:

“Networking” sometimes sounds like a special skill that everyone seems to know except you. Actually, networking is pretty basic. It can happen with friends, family, or strangers,  at a career event, in the classroom, on the job, or anywhere you run into someone with an interesting career path, similar career interests, or skills you find interesting. Just be approachable, open, and willing to talk about your education, background, and career goals, and you’ll be networking in no time!

How to Network:

Again, networking isn’t a special skill you unlock after you obtain a secret adult card. It's just talking and connecting to people in your field. That being said, there are a few things you can do to prepare for the dreaded question: “So what do you want to do?” First, create a 30-second commercial. We have a guide here on on website. Next, remember that networking is a conversation. Have a few interesting questions to ask the other person about their work or career path. Finally, be yourself. People want to work with people who are friendly and competent at what they do. Show that you know what you’re talking about and how to work in a team, and you’ll be good to go!

Where to Network: