Owen Stehm, an accounting and marketing major from Cortland, NY will graduate in May 2022. In the summer of 2020, Owen worked as the claims intern at McNeil & Company Insurance. Upon graduation, he plans on getting is CPA license and working in public accounting.
How did you secure the opportunity?
I talked with a friend from high school that worked there last summer. He spoke very highly of them, so I reached out to their human resources department looking for opportunities they had available.
What did you do on a daily basis?
I worked in different Microsoft programs like Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher. I would fill out different spreadsheets every week that helped with the manager’s efficiency. I also worked on different marketing projects for the Claims team that included making brochures and PowerPoints to promote themselves to outside insurance carriers.
Most importantly, what did you learn?
I learned a lot about what it takes to work in insurance. My knowledge of insurance going into this position was very limited but over time I learned so much about each individual department and what role they play in making a company like McNeil strong and successful.
What advice do you have for future students?
Be willing to say yes to opportunities. Even though I was worried that my lack of knowledge in insurance would hurt me, I decided to still take the opportunity at McNeil. It ended up working out for me because I got hands on experience and expanded my knowledge in a topic (insurance) that was previously outside my field of study.
If you have worked with Career Services, how have they helped you?
I have worked with Career Services a few times. They helped me craft my resume to be more appropriate to use in a professional setting. Career Services also helped me by giving me a mock interview prior to my internship interview this semester.