Internship Spotlight - Caroline Welty

	From:	Oakridge, TN
	Major:	Business Finance
	Company:	JPMorgan Chase & Co.
	Location:	New York City, NT

Born in Staten Island, New York, Caroline has a special connection with New York City. "I've always wanted to go back to New York," she said, and in February 2004 she did.

The BYU-Idaho Business Department organized an intern expedition to NYC, one of the largest business centers in the world, to help students secure internships with various companies. "When I heard about the expedition, I knew that I needed to go," Caroline said. "If you're supposed to be somewhere, it'll just work out."

While in New York, Caroline felt as though she might go away from the trip empty handed. "The other students were all telling each other about the interviews they had been granted. Some had even been offered an internship already, but I hadn't seen any success," she said.

Caroline said she was a bit nervous, but the other students' success didn't discourage her. Right before they left New York, her faculty supervisor Josh Holt told her he received a call from JPMorgan Chase saying they were interested in interviewing her for an intern position.

Caroline called the interviewer back, was interviewed over the phone, and offered the internship. "It was really interesting because most of the students' interviews didn't materialize," she said. Caroline's dad is a venture capitalist, so interning with JPMorgan Chase was right up her alley.

Caroline worked in the Investor Services division of the Treasury department. "JPMorgan Chase is an intermediary for other companies and banks. I dealt with international stocks and bonds," she said. Her largest project involved investing money into Brazilian banks, where she had the keenness to notice they were losing profits. "I spoke to my supervisor and pointed out what I noticed, and they made the necessary changes to the way transfers were performed."

With their offices in Brooklyn, Caroline had to ride the subway from her apartment in Harlem to get to work each day. "Security is tight to begin with, but at one time each subway coming into the city would be stopped and checked because of al-Quida threats," she explained. "Otherwise, it was just business as usual."

Working alone most of the time was one aspect of the job that didn't appeal to Caroline. "I'm more of a people person," she said. Caroline would like to become a bond trader at JPMorgan Chase, which would allow her to utilize her communication skills.

Competition for jobs with JPMorgan Chase is tough, but Caroline is just as determined to work with them as she was to land an internship. How determined is that, you ask? "I'm taking next week off from school-unexcused-and flying to New York to meet with them. I'm doing this on my own time and money. Rather than just sitting around and waiting, I want to show them my initiative and desire to join their company." That determined.