Although beginning an internship is very exciting, it can also be extremely nerve racking, especially for first-time interns! I began my internship in the winter/spring in the Philadelphia office as a first-time intern; with no prior internship experience, I had no idea what to expect. After some time at Cohen & Company, I am proud to say this internship exceeded my expectations. In this blog post, I will discuss how the recruitment process, and the people in the firm, truly helped me feel welcome and confident throughout my time at the firm.
From the start, employees at Cohen were very kind and there to help. The recruitment process for the internship was entirely remote, yet I was still able to feel connected with the people in the firm. The interviewers were all respectful and happy to answer any questions I had. The recruitment team did a great job explaining the role of the internship and information about the firm. When I was speaking to them, it did not feel like I was getting interviewed…it felt just like a normal conversation.
In addition, the recruitment process was efficient and quick. After my first interview, I was notified within a few days that I had received a second one. The second interview consisted of two interviewers compared to one. Sometimes with more interviewers, people tend to get more nervous, but this was not the case for me due to how comfortable and respected the employees made me feel. After the second remote call, Cohen responded promptly with the news that I was offered the role!
I was a little nervous coming into the office for the first day of work. When I arrived, the Welcome Committee greeted me by introducing themselves and giving me a tour of the office. I spent a majority of the first day with the committee, in which they were super resourceful and nice. They truly made me feel less nervous and made me feel more excited to begin at Cohen. There were also other new hires starting the same day as me. It was nice that we all had that in common and were able to go through some of the training process together.
I think one of the most important aspects of a work environment is the people you meet and the relationships you build. During the recruitment process, I was told that everyone at Cohen is here to help one another and that I shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help or questions. Now having been at the office, I can see that this is very true. It is a very positive work environment, and I am glad that I had a chance to be part of this great experience.
Emily Maire, University of Delaware
