While looking for jobs and internships this past winter, it seemed as if the bulk of the opportunities that were presented to me comprised of mundane “gofer”-like tasks of fetching coffee and making copies, until I met Mr. Cash. The summer associate position that he advertised was different. I was really drawn to the idea that we would spend at least one day each week learning some sort of business lesson or financial modeling. As a rising sophomore, there is not really a bountiful supply of internships available and therefore to stay competitive, it is essential to gain as much relevant work experience as humanly possible, and this internship seemed to offer that.

Towards the end of the summer, when I started to compare my job with my friends’ jobs, I really felt much more confident than before about my experience. Where everyone else was simply managing simply databases and small survey-like projects, I was doing hands-on, client oriented work with the Managing Director and Senior Associates of the firm and practicing valuating and underwriting real properties.

In regards to the negative aspects of the job, I cannot say that there were many. I lived in Chapel Hill for the bulk of the summer, which means that commuting to Winston-Salem was relatively expensive; however, that was my personal choice and actually speaks to the fact that this summer position offers a large degree of freedom. Aside from any meetings that I had, a lot of my work could be done from home and on my own schedule as long as it was completed by the proper date. Also, David Mullins, my assigned Senior Associate, gave me the opportunity to work alongside him to give me the chance to do the real work that he has to complete on a daily basis. He took time out of his schedule on many occasions to help me set up client meetings, follow up on leads, and learn how to properly gather background research about potential properties. I can now say, for a fact, that I know significantly more about real estate investment banking than the vast majority of my class at UNC, and it would not have happened without this internship.

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill student, Stephen Long, authored this guest article about his experience in the Wharton Gladden Developing Excellence Summer Internship Program.