Hannah Berman is "just" a college sophomore pursuing a finance major and data analytics minor at Kent State Geauga’s College Of Business Administration, but she also happens to be working for the Federal Government as a U.S Commercial Service Intern.
“I'm really proud that I’m able to start my career in the business field as a sophomore,” she says. “I never would have believed that at such a young age I would be working for the Federal Government. Kent State University has been by my side to help guide me through the start of my career. Whether it was mock interviews and resume building with career services or references from professors, I would not be where I am today without Kent being there to support me. I am truly thankful for everyone who has helped me through this process.”
Hannah is working within the U.S. Department of Commerce in the U.S. Commercial Service. Her duties include effectively communicating U.S. Commercial Services goals to clients, providing information to business professionals throughout Northeast Ohio regarding networking and training events, and utilizing Salesforce to track companies’ progress with export sales. Hannah’s internship began February 11 and lasts through May 24, requiring about 21 hours per week.
“This internship has impacted my future career path in many ways,” Hannah says. “Working at the U.S. Department of Commerce has shown me how different businesses operate and how the government and local businesses interact. I didn’t realize how many ways the government can help U.S. companies export. The U.S. Department of Commerce helps create and retain jobs, increase GDP, and assist small businesses."
Hannah credits Kent State Geauga with preparing her for this professional experience. “The hard and soft skills that I learned in the classroom have assisted me in my day-to-day life at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Kent State Geauga also gave me the confidence I need to excel in this role. In addition, my internship has helped me in the classroom by giving me first-hand knowledge by working in the real business world.”
She continues, “All of my professors a Kent State Geauga have been great but Professor Mahli Mechenbier — my College Writing II professor — has stood out to me because she challenged me to not just find the answer but also understand why. English was never my strongest subject; however, Professor Mechenbier gave me all of the tools I needed to succeed. The small class sizes enabled me to interact with Professor Mechenbier; so not only did my English skills grow as the semester went on, but also my analytical skills. She helped me develop soft skills that enabled me to succeed in many different environments. In addition, she has inspired me to research further into financial and economic theories.”
Then again, Hannah has always been a bit ahead of her time. During her junior year of high school, she realized that she wanted to challenge herself and start her college career early. College Credit Plus was an easy and affordable way to do this and Kent State Geauga and the Regional Academic Center was both close to her home and offered all the classes she wanted to take.
“I also loved the small class sizes and the experienced professors,” Hannah adds. “I knew I wanted to major in the college of business, but I wasn’t certain of the exact major. After taking many math courses, I realized how much I enjoyed working with numbers and analyzing them. Also, as a child, I was always interested in the stock market and buying and selling stocks and bonds. This led me to major in finance and minor in data analytics. Currently, I am a sophomore, so my career goals are still not concrete. Becoming a financial planner or financial analyst interests me and I know I want to work with numbers in my future job.”
If Hannah continues on this trajectory, any analyst can predict she will enjoy a challenging and rewarding career in finance — perhaps a step ahead of her peers, but right on time for Hannah.