PRICE is a financial services focused business, education and community partnership that provides career development and workplace learning opportunities for college students and college bound high school students. This initiative is structured to increase your awareness of and preparation for careers in the financial services industry within the Pittsburgh and Southwestern PA regions.

Employers: Financial services organizations within Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Target Careers: Financial Services (Accounting, Banking, Finance, Investments, Economics, Actuarial Science and other Business related careers).

Intern's Role As a PRICE Intern, you will:

• Work to exceed the established internship results-based goals for the mutual benefit of the organization, department and intern.
• Collaborate with internship manager to complete the PRICE Internship Accomplishment Plan in order to develop and improve skills and competencies required to be successful in a career in financial services.
• Collaborate with PRICE Program Coordinator to fully participate in all PRICE developmental activities and networking opportunities, develop and improve identified career development skills and competencies. Examples: One-on-one coaching, networking breakfast.
• Participate in a career exploration exercise to gain a better understanding of career choices in financial services. Skills Improvement Curriculum, one to two hours per week.
• Participate in a mentee-mentor partnership in order to grow, develop, learn and acclimate to the corporate environment.
• Participate in PRICE Career Development Workshops that provide lessons, strategies and methods to assist in the development of career goals.

Your manager will expect that you will:

• Show up for work everyday, on time.
• Accept responsibility.
• Ask Questions. Follow directions.
• Work hard to exceed established internship results-based goals; develop and improve identified skills and competencies.
• Concentrate on the work assigned and care about the quality of the work produced.
• Communicate well and get along with other people.
• Dress properly and practice good grooming.
• Have a positive attitude.
• Show initiative, flexibility, cooperation and respect.

The PRICE Program Coordinator will expect that you will:

• Collaborate in the career development process.
• Participate in all career development workshops training and networking activities scheduled for PRICE interns.
• Participate in meetings to discuss internships, career development and performance within the designated internship period.

Your mentor will expect that you will:

• Remember that you own your own development; your mentor does not own it. It is up to you to keep the relationship going and to keep it focused.
• Be respectful of your mentor's time; return phone calls promptly, be on time to meetings and activities, and say thank you for his/her efforts.
• Use active listening skills in discussion with your mentor.
• Be prepared to ask for specific advice on your ideas, plans and goals. The more specific you are, the easier it will be for your mentor to respond.
• Be complete, yet succinct in your comments and explanations. Be sensitive to clues that you may be talking too long or ask directly if you are.
• Keep any and all commitments made to your mentor. If your mentor has offered advice, let him/her know the results, or how you used the information in your decisions.
  • Keep all confidences between you.
  • Make it easy for your mentor to give you honest, specific feedback. Ask for it early in your partnership.
• If you get some feedback for improvement, don't defend yourself. Thank your mentor for being honest with you. Then ask, "What specifically can I do differently next time?"
• Take initiative and seek educational or growth opportunities whenever possible to broaden your capabilities.

Intern Benefits As a PRICE Intern, you will:

• Experience a growth and learning opportunity to assist you in making an appropriate career choice.
• Further develop identified skills and competencies through exceeding the established internship objectives.
• Develop a career development plan in collaboration with PRICE Program Coordinator.
• Determine and develop career goals through PRICE Career Development workshops.

Sample Questions from Mentee to Mentor:

1. What are your job duties?
2. What is a typical day like for you?
3. What do you like/dislike about your job?
4. What did you learn the hard way?
5. What kind of education was required to get your job?
6. What are your hobbies/interests?
7. How do you balance your work and home life?
8. Have you ever had a mentor in your life? Tell me about them.
9. Are higher degrees rewarded/beneficial in moving high within the organization?
10. What were your educational and career choices? What are your life goals? How do you plan to achieve them?
11. What is important to you? (research, interests, family, hobbies, sports)
12. Where does family stop and work begin?
13. What are the boundaries of work relationships if you are trying to move up in the organization?
14. What is it like to manage managers who are older than yourself? Was there resistance? What approach must you take to reach all ages?
15. What current trends do you see within the financial services industry and (your given area of business)?

Download an application today!

For further information contact:
PRICE Point of Contact within your organization or Melissa Price, PRICE Program Coordinator, at (412) 396-1401 or via e-mail at pricem@duq.edu.