Through this blog, we will spotlight Otterbein students who are engaging in internships and professional experiences in a variety of industries and geographic locations. We will also share tips and advice on searching for internships and making the most of internship experiences.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Neal O'Brien - Resolute Athletic Complex


Neal O’Brien '87 is one of the co-owners and operators of the Resolute Athletic Complex, and he also plays the lead role in their internship program.

Resolute has a very small staff, and when it comes to business related functions, they need people they can trust and give small, but important, jobs. For example, things such as setting up financial reports might not seem important, but they need smart and motivated people with a base knowledge who can complete important tasks. The primary roles that the interns serve is to assist with budgeting, financial documents, marketing, operations, and facility management. In Mr. O’Brien’s opinion, their internship is ideal for students interested in sport management. It is a great way to get a feel for whether or not it might be the right career for them. 

Mr. O’Brien said, “We only hire interns from Otterbein because my wife, Maureen, and I are both Otterbein grads. So we felt that it was important to give back to Otterbein, and one way we can do that is to provide these opportunities to students. Also, since we are Otterbein grads, we look for similar people who possess the qualities that we had when we left Otterbein.”

The best way to get an internship, especially at small businesses like Resolute, Mr. O’Brien said, is that, “more than anything else, you need to have the same drive and desire that we had in building our business. So you have to understand that it took a lot of time, energy and effort to start our own business, and if you can’t bring that same amount of energy to an internship, at least from a small business aspect, then it reduces the impact you can make.” According to Mr. O’Brien, you really have to be all in. By all in, he means the internship has to be important to you. You have to be on time, and realize that anything that is asked of you is critical. To have the best experience, you must be dependable.

His best advice is to know everything you can possibly know about the company before the interview, because there is no excuse for being unprepared. He says, “There is so much information out there that there is no excuse for coming into an interview and being unprepared. Have questions that you want to ask. At the same time, try to anticipate the questions that an interviewer might ask you. It will make you feel more comfortable. And lastly, be energetic.”

If you are interested in an internship at Resolute Athletic Complex, contact Neal O’Brien at neal@resoluteac.com or check Cardinal Careers.

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