Intern Today to Own Your Tomorrow

charles schwab intern academy hannah ewig

By Hannah Ewing – Charles Schwab Intern Academy – Summer 2018

Hannah attended Colorado State University and graduated in May 2019 with degrees in Organizational Management and Human Resources. She has a passion for helping others succeed and enjoys building and creating new relationships.

Hannah’s Experience as a Charles Schwab Summer Intern

From of the first day of my freshman year of college I knew I wanted to walk away with two things; a diploma and an amazing internship experience. My search for the perfect internship began during the fall semester of my junior year. Although I was applying to many companies and was invited to countless interviews, none of them felt right. I began questioning if I was even meant for the corporate world. I came to the same conclusion that most of us cross at one point or another in our lives, it wasn’t me. The companies I was applying to weren’t aligning with who I was as an individual—how could I ever take ownership of my work knowing my principles didn’t match those of the company?

I began making a list of my values and passions. That’s when I came across the internship opportunity at Charles Schwab. After some research, I was ecstatic to see that Schwab’s values were parallel to mine. Values like: Put others first, have the integrity to do the right thing, and live each day to create a better tomorrow. It was everything I had been looking for and more. After completing my interviews and being offered to join the Schwab Intern Academy, I knew what was ahead would create a positive footprint on my journey.

As I look back, I recognize that I underestimated the value of the Schwab Intern Academy. To say my experience has exceeded my expectations would be a complete understatement. I can honestly say the Schwab Intern Academy is the most well thought out and organized program I have ever seen. From my very first day, I was deeply immersed in what it means to be a “Schwabbie”, or more accurately in my case, a “Schwintern.” It only took five minutes to see that everything I was being told was the truth. People at Schwab are genuinely friendly, passionate, and supportive. Rather than people telling me how they can benefit me, they ask me what they can do for me. The strong level of compassion from others has given me multiple opportunities to network, find my fit, and learn more than I could have ever imagined.

As interns we were all excited to become a part of a community that would encourage our professional growth, give us the freedom to find our fit, and provide us with the opportunity to contribute to something much larger than ourselves. It was all too good to be true, right? I was pleasantly surprised to see what I had been hearing and feeling was all very real. Each week my manager and new co-workers invest time in helping me reflect on areas of improvement, ways to utilize my strengths in a professional setting, and how to narrow down my areas of interest. As I started in my business track, Talent Acquisition, my presence became extremely valued– it was as if I had always been a part of the team. For the past month I have been working on and contributing to projects that are significant to my department. At the end of each day, I walk out of Schwab with new knowledge, a greater passion to make a difference, and a desire to come back the next day better than I was before. I have yet to feel like I’ve worked a single day at Schwab. With each passing day, my passion is ignited to explore, thrive in my work, and engage with my new community.

To everyone out there looking for the perfect internship, I encourage you to be persistent in finding one with a company that aligns with who you are, one that grants you the gift of self-reflection, and one that makes you feel excited to come back day after day. You will never regret taking the right steps today to own your tomorrow.

Originally published July 2018.


About the Schwab Intern Academy

Through Charles Schwab summer internships, young professionals like Hannah are able to equip themselves with the necessary skills for a competitive workforce. The Schwab Intern Academy recruits college juniors, seniors, and graduate students for a nine-week experience. Students learn about Schwab’s culture of service while growing through challenging business projects. In addition, the Schwab Intern Academy combines learning programs, team-building activities, networking opportunities, and enriching work projects.

Learn more about the Schwab Intern Academy here.

So, why Schwab? Charles Schwab is one of Arizona’s best employers, winning awards for Most Admired several years in a row. If you’re interested in a career in financial services, Schwab is definitely a place to check out.

Explore current job openings at Schwab and other best employers at BestCompaniesAZ!

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