Landing the Internship
As a third-generation Laker, Tyler Eshleman, Class of 2022, had a pretty good understanding of the types of programs and opportunities available to him at Grand Valley State University. What he learned firsthand was the amount of support and guidance he would receive from the Grand Valley community.
“Since being here, I have learned that Grand Valley’s priority is to provide a foundation and framework to build upon,” said Tyler. “There is an incredible opportunity to explore within your major to see what you like best and to network with people outside of class.”
Tyler is preparing to graduate in December with a bachelor’s degree in finance. However, there is one final requirement he needs – an internship. Tyler is proud to share that he just accepted a 10-week internship with PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. This opportunity will allow him to learn the breadth of roles within the industry while working on a team project with other student interns in different markets.
This internship opportunity didn’t happen on its own. When Tyler started the application process, he sought guidance from the GVSU Career Center.
“I was looking for help with my resume and some tips on where to hunt for internships. I was very impressed with their knowledge and how excited they were to help me. Then Lori [Staggs] connected me to one of her contacts at PNC. It was the most beneficial experience when going through the internship application process,” said Tyler.
Lori Staggs is a career advisor with the GVSU Career Center. The very week that Tyler met for assistance, one of Lori’s connections from PNC reached out to her with information about their upcoming internship program. Tyler shared how grateful he was to have a personal connection with PNC in addition to his application.
“Every business student will tell you that networking is so important to starting a career or landing a position,” he said. “The GVSU Career Center is quite literally a buzzing hub of connections, and their skills and experience help you connect to all the right people.”
The GVSU Career Center’s mission is to empower students and alumni to develop and implement their short- and long-term career plans. With a dedicated team of career advisors who specialize in different disciplines, the GVSU Career Center can offer sound career advice and professional connections relevant to each student and alumni’s specialty.
This is just one example of the many resources offered on campus. Through the support and generosity of donors, student success services such as tutoring, counseling, and advising are made free and available to all Lakers.
“To the donors, I would like to say thank you a thousand times over,” said Tyler “I know giving like this is not done for personal gain, and you might not know the full extent that stems from your gift. But I am one example of the good that is created by your generosity.”
After graduation, Tyler hopes to move into a relationship management position with PNC. He plans to gain as much knowledge as he can and bring it back to the classroom as an instructor for Grand Valley.
“Grand Valley has been so impactful for me. Being able to teach with many years of real-world experience is not only a great way to give back to future students, but it would just be awesome!”