Career Development Center Helps Business Transfer Student Land Prudential Internship Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Meet Ben Katz
Internship: Financial Professional Associate, Prudential
Major: Business Management with a concentration in marketing
Expected graduation: May 2016
Degree earned: A.S. in Liberal Arts, Westmoreland County Community College, 2014
Hometown: Mount Pleasant, Pa.
High school: Mount Pleasant Area Junior and Senior High School
College activities: Working with faculty to start a business club at Point Park this fall
Hobbies/interests: Guitar, piano, chess, poker, golf, baseball and history
LinkedIn: Ben Katz
How did the Career Development Center help you land this internship?
The Career Development Center has helped me substantially throughout my whole experience at Point Park University. I have to give Angela Scaramucci a shout out because she has been such a big help from the beginning. She has consistently made herself available and always had top-of-the-line suggestions. After she suggested Prudential, I did some research and learned that it was exactly what I had been looking for in an internship. I could not ask for a better opportunity, and I am proud to be working for Prudential.
Why did you decide to transfer to Point Park to study business management?
I knew at a young age that I wanted to pursue a career in business, specifically in sales. While I was at Westmoreland County Community College, I learned that Point Park University accepts more transfer credits than many other schools. I then learned that the credits I acquired earning an associate degree in liberal arts could go toward earning a bachelor's degree in business management at Point Park so I was killing two birds with one stone. Choosing Point Park was an easy decision.
What have you enjoyed most about your summer internship?
So far, there are many things that I enjoy about being a part of the Prudential team. Everyone is very welcoming and has made me feel at home. The management clearly knows how to run the office and have taught me something new every day. What is really important to me is that I get a good look at what it takes to be a Prudential employee. I am determined to work hard to attain a full-time position when I graduate.
How have your business management classes helped you professionally?
What I like about my business management classes so far are my professors. They are professional business people who have knowledge of working hands-on in the field. Their real-world experience has been beneficial to me because they have been able to demonstrate situations that I will be running into in my business career.
What are your goals for your upcoming senior year at Point Park?
I want to graduate with a high GPA and be able to proudly walk across the stage and get my diploma. Also, I am going to continue working hard at my internship at Prudential while doing well in my classes. Another thing I am excited about is that Professor Ed Scott and I are planning to start a business club for Point Park students. If anyone is interested in being a founding member of Point Park's business club, feel free to reach out to either Professor Scott (escott@pointpark.edu) or me (bakatz@pointpark.edu).