Facing an entrenched global recession and swelling national unemployment rate, Stefanie Davis had an uncertain outlook as she neared college graduation and began searching for work in the spring.
FROM BOOK BAG TO BRI EFCASE Internships often lead to job opportunities for UM–St. Louis students By Maureen Zegel
“I had been looking for a job in human resources, and there just weren’t any openings,” she said. “I was getting discouraged.” Davis completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration in May at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. In June, she was offered an internship – one of hundreds available to UM–St. Louis students – with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the country’s largest mortgage lender. “I interviewed for the Wells Fargo internship because I thought it would be a challenge.” By August, Davis turned challenge into opportunity. Her 10-week internship blossomed into a job offer. She was brought on full time as a home mortgage counselor. She said she enjoys the work, particularly her involvement in an industry that’s undergoing significant change. “I’ve learned more than I could ever imagine about home mortgages – the many loan sources and regulations,” Davis said. “But I’m also involved in consumer education. I’m creating educational seminars to help people understand the mortgage process and all the steps to buying a home. It’s invaluable knowledge.”
UM–St. Louis alumna Stefanie Davis is a home mortgage counselor at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. She made the most of the university’s internship program, turning a 10-week spring internship into a full-time job in August.
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