Buffalo, N.Y., native Julie Kaczor will graduate from MSU this week with two degrees: one in advertising and the other in psychology.
Her most recent summer internship with First American Equipment Finance—a commercial lending company—allowed her to use both fields of study as a marketing intern.
Based in Rochester, N.Y., First American Equipment Finance helps schools, restaurants and health care providers to finance technology investments. As an intern, Kaczor worked with all the divisions of the company doing all kinds of things: creating marketing emails, designing portions of the website, and even working on internal signage.
Kaczor is in the media and management track of the advertising program, but she wanted a summer internship that would let her use her creativity. She first heard of the opportunity through a family friend who works for the company.
"One of the things I really, really loved was the company culture," she said. "They keep getting top of the list for the best companies to work for in New York. I felt like they were going to put a huge investment into me and they already have. I didn’t know code, Photoshop, Adobe anything, and I came out with all these skills."
Kaczor also received the Jana O’Brien Internship Award, which helped her to cover the costs of moving to Rochester for the summer.
Not long after she finished her internship, Kaczor was offered a full-time position with First American Equipment Finance upon her graduation.
"When they offered me the position, I was 100 percent yes," she said. "I’ll go back trying to achieve the goals I put forth in July."
Kaczor urged other ComArtSci students searching for jobs and internships not to discount small companies.
"It doesn’t matter that it’s not Macy’s or some big name," she said. "Look for where you’re going to get your value."
She also encouraged students to look beyond titles and really dig into the job description.
"This title was in marketing and my degree was in advertising, so look a little outside what you think your job title is supposed to be and find that right experience," she said.