Major: History
Minor: Economics
Hometown: Lewisburg, PA

How did you learn about this opportunity?

I worked with the Weis Markets pricing team doing data entry work each summer since I graduated high school. After spending multiple summers around the corporate office, I’ve met many members of the Asset Protection (AP) Department and learned about their internship program offered to Penn State students.

Tell us a little bit about your experience.

This internship provides students with the ability to see numerous aspects of AP in retail. It’s a fast paced environment, in which interns have new experiences each day. This internship is a wonderful opportunity because it is so hands on. Interns follow a rotation, which places them in stores, the corporate office, the distribution center, manufacturing plants and the food safety lab. Some of my projects included in-store audits, food testing, CCTV video review, creating analytic reports, building upon the AP associate training program, touring facilities and assisting with department operations. The team creates a schedule, which allows for interns to return to areas that they were most interested in at the end of the 12 weeks.

How did this experience impact you academically?

This internship allowed me to gain a wealth of real world experience. I learned something new about the business each day, which built upon the foundation that my college courses (particularly in economics) had already set for me. I met and worked with many people this summer from company vice presidents to store level associates, which I feel improved my overall communication skills. The projects I was a part of helped further develop my analytical skills and I learned a great deal about business and the retail environment, as well as, Asset Protection which I will be able to use in my career. Most importantly, I discovered a whole new aspect of business that I previously knew nothing about. I now plan to pursue this field in my near future.

What are your career goals and plans?  How did this experience impact them?

As a result of my internship experience, I have decided to pursue a career in Asset Protection upon earning my degree. I have learned the importance of actively working as part of a team to achieve goals and effectively working in a professional atmosphere. I would love to be a part of an AP team and would be thrilled if I could continue with the Weis Markets team. This field will continue to grow and offer multiple avenues and career options within. I am really happy to have discovered this field while at Penn State.

I have learned the importance of actively working as part of a team to achieve goals and effectively working in a professional atmosphere.

Would you recommend this experience to other Liberal Arts students?

This internship is great for Penn State students and I would recommend it even to students, who like me, are not majoring in Criminal Justice. Asset Protection interns at Weis are exposed to new experiences each day because there are so many different aspects of the department. These 12 weeks flew by and I truly believe that is because this was such a fun and unique internship. I recommend students consider an internship with Weis because I am really grateful for the people I met and the new career field I have found.