SHARRON SWAIN
(l-r) Sami Erickson, Benjamin Yarboro + Abigail Anderson (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)
Toward the end of college, it’s normal to think about what’s next. We spoke to three young people in Birmingham who found a paid internship program with Protective that was the perfect stepping stone to further their careers with the company. Keep reading to hear their stories, and apply now.
Internships at Protective: apply now
Meeting great people was a favorite part of everyone’s internships at Protective. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)
Here’s what you need to know:
What: Protective’s internship program is designed to expose students to the company’s business goals, culture and role in the community through networking events, industry education, leadership roundtables and meaningful work.
Qualifications: Applicants must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program such as accounting, actuarial science, general business studies, information technology, marketing or finance, among others.
Skills: Internship candidates should demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, the ability to learn new technology quickly, strong problem-solving skills, a self-starter attitude, curiosity and a drive to learn.
Note: Some—not all—interns move into full-time positions, and a full-time position is not guaranteed.
Timeline: June 3-August 2, 2024
Housing: paid, furnished housing may be provided based on need
Compensation: all internships are paid
Apply now
Meet the interns
2023 interns at a game. (Protective)
Sami EricksonOriginally from Huntsville, Sami Erickson got her undergraduate business degree from the University of North Alabama, then moved to Birmingham to pursue an MBA with a focus on Information Systems Management from UAB.
In her free time, she loves to go on walks, spin at Ignite Cycle and enjoy local coffee shops, bookstores and restaurants.
Her internship at Protective was in the summer of 2022, and in August 2022, she started in a full-time position as a Value Management Associate immediately after finishing graduate school.
Abigail AndersonAbigail Anderson graduated from The University of Alabama in 2022 with her Master’s in Management Information Systems.
Outside of work, she loves hiking, running, bouldering, going on road trips and going to concerts.
In 2021, she did an internship with Protective, then started working full-time with the company. Now, she serves as a Product Owner for the Digital Application Experience team and the Digital Marketing Solutions team.
Benjamin YarboroOriginally from Birmingham, Benjamin Yarboro graduated from The University of Alabama in May 2023. He’s a baseball and football fan who plays guitar and has recently picked up golf.
He began his internship in the summer of 2022 and started back in a part-time role in February 2023. He then transitioned to full-time employment at Protective as an Actuarial Assistant for Protection Product Leadership just over two months ago.
When I spoke with these three recent hires, five elements stood out that made Protective’s internship program transformative.
1. Meeting senior executives during their internship was a highlight
Interns participate in executive roundtable discussion groups. This one was led by Wade Harrison, EVP & Chief Retail Officer.(Protective)
One standout of Protective’s internship program is how interns have the opportunity to sit down and have a discussion with Rich Bielen, Protective’s President & CEO and other executives. The company hosts roundtables with other senior leaders across the company, which give interns valuable exposure to senior leaders.
“The fact that the CEO makes time every year to talk to the interns says a lot about how they value the interns at Protective.”
Benjamin Yarboro
Abigail appreciated how her former manager set up meetings for interns to network with different leaders.
“My fellow interns and I were put in front of VPs, so we could talk with them, learn from them and ask questions. It was really cool to have that kind of high-level access that early in my career.”
2. Being matched with a mentor was invaluable
Sami Erickson (l) chatting with Abigail Anderson (r). (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)
For Benjamin, having a mentor was a standout part of the program:
“I had a really, really good mentor. It was nice to sit and chat with him at lunch and talk about anything work or non-work-related, and just have someone I could ask questions to and learn from.”
3. Collaborative work on real projects was meaningful
Interns at Protective collaborate on solving real-world problems. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)
Abigail and Sami both appreciated the opportunity to work collaboratively on real projects.
Working with two other interns from different departments on a joint project helped Abigail develop collaboration and project management skills.
Sami was impressed by how the projects she and other interns worked on gave them an opportunity to showcase their existing skills while moving outside their comfort zone within a supportive environment.
4. The internship provided leadership development opportunitiesLeading meetings helped Abigail develop as a leader at a pivotal time—going into her senior year of college. Her internship required her to talk with leaders from different sectors of the business and get what she needed from each meeting.
5. Protective’s internship program provided a solid foundation for full-time jobs
Benjamin Yarboro (l) + other employees at Protective. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)
All three said their internships prepared them well for their full-time roles at Protective, and felt grateful for the training and exposure they had right at the beginning of their careers.
“The managers knew everyone’s priorities and worked with each of us individually. I really saw what it means when a company appreciates your time and effort, and when employees live out the values of a company.”
Source: Rushing Waters Media LLC/Bham Now 2016-2023. All Rights Reserved.
Original content:
https://bhamnow.com/2023/09/05/these-3-students-found-incredible-internships-in-birmingham-apply-now/ 
