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Auburn Harbert College of Business — Layton Martin (left), an Auburn student interning at Oakworth Capital Bank with her supervisor, Jennifer Shaw (right). Photo via Nathan Watson for Bham Now

For college students, an internship with a local company can be a daunting but invaluable experience. Oftentimes, an internship is a college student’s first foray into the real world—so it’s important to find a program in line with their career path. For Layton Martin, a senior at Auburn’s Harbert College of Business, that internship is at Oakworth Capital Bank.

Why Pursue an Internship?

For college students looking to gain experience in their field (and earn college credit while they’re at it), an internship is the way to go. While college courses are excellent ways to learn concepts, an internship gives students the opportunity to practice those concepts first-hand and develop invaluable business skills for the future.

At Auburn’s Harbert College of Business, internship programs are taken very seriously. To help each student find the internship they need, the Harbert College of Business utilizes the expertise of their Program Champions—a group of allies & mentors that play an important role in the career choices of students in ways like:

Coaching students in the development and understanding of their internship & career aspirations.
Designing specific professional development courses for each major that build on the college’s curriculum to better prepare each student for the internship and job seeking process.
Implementing an employer-development model to promote student-employer engagement.

In other words, Program Champions are cheerleaders—nudging students in the right direction to help make positive, career-forward decisions. Learn more about how the Harbert College of Business supports students’ career development.

Meet Layton Martin

To learn more about the internship program at Auburn’s Harbert College of Business, we spoke with Layton Martin. Layton is a rising senior at Auburn, majoring in Finance with a focus in Financial Advising and Wealth Management. Currently, Layton is working her second internship with Oakworth Capital Bank before heading back to Auburn in the Fall.

How did you land an internship at Oakworth Capital Bank?

Layton: “Jennifer Shaw actually came and spoke to my finance class. I was used to being surrounded by all men in my classes, so Jennifer was a great example of what a successful woman in finance looks like. I interviewed with Jennifer and realized that Oakworth Capital Bank had such a valuable program. When I learned I was accepted to the internship, I was so excited that I screamed!”

Why did you decide to major in Finance at Auburn?

Layton: “When I came to Auburn, I knew I wanted to study wealth management and help people with their finances. The internship program at the Harbert College of Business has allowed me to explore all the difference sectors of finance—credit, accounting, wealth, banking and more—so I can see which path feels right to me.”

How has Auburn prepared you for your internship with Oakworth Capital Bank?

Layton: “The point of any internship, including mine at Oakworth, isn’t just to learn hard skills like banking, but to meet people, make new connections and learn from their experiences. I think my time at Auburn has really helped me with relationship building, which has helped me thrive in my role at Oakworth!”

Educating the Next Generation of Financial Experts

Layton’s internship is facilitated by Jennifer Shaw, the Managing Director Talent & Leadership Development at Oakworth Capital Bank. Before coming to Oakworth, Jennifer worked in the healthcare field as a human resources and talent acquisition professional. Now, she’s utilizing those skills to help train the next generation of finance experts at Oakworth.

What does your role at Oakworth Capital Bank entail?

Jennifer: “I joined the team at Oakworth Capital Bank in late 2017, and since then I’ve led all things related to talent and leadership development. I work with all of our interns on personal development, career growth and making sure they have the tools they need to succeed.”

How long as Oakworth Capital Bank utilized an internship program?

Jennifer: “When we started the internship program in 2019, we knew we wanted to foster a pipeline of talent that will support Oakworth while teaching students about the career paths in this industry.

Do you think the Harbert College of Business prepared Layton for her everyday duties at Oakworth?

Jennifer: “We think Auburn has done a fantastic job preparing their students for internships, especially in finance—that’s why we keep going back to encourage students to intern with us! In fact, Layton is on her 2nd internship rotation with Oakworth. She has the confidence to ask questions, build new relationships and take the initiative. That leads to her gaining more responsibility.
Whether they’re making the decision on a career path or searching for a new job, each student at Auburn has the full support of their professors and advisors, even beyond the classroom”

Learn More About Internship Opportunities with the Harbert College of Business

Harbert College of Business: Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | LinkedIn
405 West Magnolia Avenue, Auburn, Alabama 36849

Whether you’re a current or prospective student at the Harbert College of Business, an internship will help prepare you for the post-graduate work life—plus, you’ll make valuable connections along the way! To learn more about internship opportunities with Auburn, click here or reach out to one of the six Program Champions:

“If you’re interested in finance, you can’t go wrong with the Harbert College of Business. A degree in business really opens the door to a number of opportunities, like my internship at Oakworth!”
Layton Martin

Want to learn more about how the Harbert College of Business supports students’ career development? Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on the latest!

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