In September of 2015, Morgan accepted a full-time position as the Manager of Talent Acquisition for University Relations at Reynolds American. Reynolds American is the second-largest tobacco company in the United States and has received numerous awards for environmental sustainability and employee safety initiatives. There, she will assist in the development of the internship program, recruiting and monitoring over 60 new interns throughout the company. She has always held an interest in recruitment, so this position is directly in line with her career path.
Q: What aspects of your internship caused you to want to return to Reynolds American full-time after graduation?
A: I adore the people there. All of the employees are loyal to the company, and the company is, in turn, loyal to its employees. Most people have been working there for 20-30 years, and some are the 4th generation of their family working at Reynolds. Everyone tends to recommend the company to their family and friends because of their wonderful experiences. In general, it’s known as the best company to work for in Winston-Salem because of how well they treat their employees.
Q: Were there any aspects of the IOHRM program that aided you during your internship?
A: When I was initially hired, my supervisor told me one of the main reasons he was excited to work with me was because I was coming from an I-O psychology background. He had worked with I-O psychologists in the past, and he was excited to see what I could bring from the field and apply at Reynolds.
Q: Many first-years in the IOHRM program are currently applying and interviewing for internships. Do you have any guidance you would like to offer them?
A: Stay open-minded. When people hear “tobacco” they tend to cringe, including myself. This was actually one of the last internships out of 50 or so that I had applied to. When I was called in for the interview, I was still slightly hesitant, but I fell in love with the company and its people throughout the interview process. As for the actual interview…practice! Make sure to review back to course work that we had. Because we are unique in having the dual Masters degree, you definitely want to showcase its value during the interview.
Q: What do you think caused you to stand out as an intern that eventually led to a full-time job offer?
A. The projects interns had were very independent, so that allowed us to be creative. I was in charge of helping to develop the employer brand. I went out of my way to interview about 100 people in total within the company to gain a deeper understanding of the company culture. It was a great networking experience, and being able to meet with everyone helped me to stand out in that I could refer back to them and ask questions. Each intern had to also present their final project plans/proposals to their department’s leadership team. Introduction to HR, in particular, was incredibly helpful with my public speaking skills. I made sure to book a room in the building to practice and ensure my presentation was both thorough and engaging. Afterwards, I received a tremendous amount of positive feedback.
Congratulations Morgan!
Morgan Jewells
