Once in the Internship Program, Now PSA Employees
Posted in: News
Since July 29 is marked as National Intern Day, PSA would like to highlight our new full-time employees and previous internship participants, Becca Nicholson, Claire Pika, Jared Ozdany-Newman, and Zach Orner, for their contributions to the success of our company.
PSA is committed to finding top talent, providing training opportunities for new members of the insurance industry, and hiring and promoting from within. Part of our efforts also include our formal internship program. If you are a student searching for internship opportunities as well as insights on how an internship can benefit your future career, read on as our new and past interns discuss their PSA internship experiences, the adjustment to the working world, and advice for future interns.
How old are you and where did you receive your Bachelor’s degree?
What were some key takeaways you learned through your internship?
Becca
“I started my internship in June 2018 shadowing the Benefits Analysts team. I learned the importance of making connections within the business world and how much work truly goes into finishing a single project. My main focus during the internship was understanding and implementing actuarial insurance within the industry.”
Claire
“I started my internship at PSA in May 2020, working in the Marketing and Communications Department. By working directly with the teams, I was able to learn vital skills that you simply cannot acquire in the classroom. One of my main focuses was creating graphics for PSA’s social media sites as well as developing my writing skills by assisting with drafting, reviewing, and editing several PSA weekly blog posts. I also shadowed the team as they planned numerous events, such as PSA’s Partnership Program, and learned how to use different platforms, such as Microsoft 365, Marketo, and Adobe. With access to various Adobe applications, I was able to create more advanced and high-touch graphics in new programs that I had never used before.”
Jared
“I began my internship in June 2019 working with the Benefit Analyst team. I learned numerous technical abilities that relate specifically to my current Benefit Analyst position, such as improving my skills in Excel. My main focus during the internship was to assist in the Student Loan Repayment project. This project helped me develop key relationships with vendors and improve my presentation skills.”
Zach
“I joined PSA as an intern in June 2019. I learned the dynamics of working in an office and the importance of communication in the business world. My main focus as an intern while working with the Benefit Analyst team was assisting with a year-long benchmarking project that PSA implemented this spring! Through my internship and projects, I learned and observed what being a Benefit Analyst is all about and what my future role in the company would look like.”
What made you decide to accept the job offer from PSA?
Becca
“I was so excited when I received a job offer from PSA. PSA has endless opportunities and is not like any other company I had worked with before.”
Claire
“Every member of our team is beyond helpful and kind! With such a welcoming environment, I know that I will continue to grow and learn vital business skills from my peers throughout my time at PSA.”
Jared
“I enjoy the work culture and people at PSA. It is not often that you find an office that’s filled with people as fun as this, but also know how to work hard and pursue your professional development.”
Zach
“I have enjoyed my time at PSA simply because of the people. It feels more than just a job. I am given many opportunities to learn and grow within my profession.”
How do you hope to contribute to PSA in the future and what are you most looking forward to?
Becca
“I hope to stay at PSA until I retire! I love working with and learning from my manager, Flora Wang, and the Benefit Analyst team. I am looking forward to working for a company who has such a welcoming atmosphere. PSA’s culture is great!”
Claire
“I hope to continue to grow my knowledge about all things regarding marketing, communication, and graphic design. I aim to create visually appealing and useful content for all three of PSA’s social networking accounts. In the future, I hope to work with more of PSA’s clients to expand my network and develop defined relationships. I am most excited to begin working in the office to meet more of my fellow co-workers and gain a diverse range of knowledge to expand my work experience!”
Jared
“I hope to provide work that PSA is proud to share with our clients and to make them happy that they chose to partner with our company. I am most excited about the analytical aspects of my job. I feel most comfortable working with numbers and enjoy doing that daily in my role here at PSA.”
Zach
“Once I develop more hands-on experience with Employee Benefits, I hope to make sound projections and suggestions for my clients. My goal is to develop and keep well-established working relationships with current and future clients. I am most excited for the opportunity to learn and grow within the insurance industry. I want to help PSA grow by securing new clients because that would be pretty cool to look back on one day.”
What is your advice for future interns?
Becca
“Work with as many different people and lines of business as you can. It will allow you to figure out what you do and don’t like, so you can grow into a role that you truly enjoy.”
Claire
“Any type of work experience is good experience! Being an intern allows you to distinguish what you like and what you do not like in your field. It is important to do your research about organizations that intrigue you and not be scared to make connections to build your network.”
Jared
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help, it shows you are willing to learn something new.”
Zach
“My advice for future interns is to ask a lot of questions. No question is a bad question. Being curious is a good thing and helps you learn.
If you are interested in learning more about our Formal PSA’s Internship Program, contact Tara Bolotin at Tbolotin@psafinancial.com.
