Class of 2020 alumnus Kyle Morrow, a finance and economics double major, was featured on the UD Career Center blog in 2018 as a #UDintern for his summer internship with Zurich Insurance. Today, he is still with the company as a market-facing underwriter in the diversified financial group. 

“Essentially, I perform financial analysis along with an in-depth analysis on financial institutions to see if we would want to insure them for our different products we offer, such as directors and officers’ liability coverage,” Morrow says. “Some responsibilities the job requires are a strong sales execution mindset, an ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with brokers, and proactively seeking renewal and new account opportunities.” 

Morrow says he has evolved a lot since his very first internship with Zurich in 2017.  “I have grown with the understanding that it is okay to ask questions when you need clarification or help with a certain task,” he says. “Everyone starts out not knowing things, and the only way to grow in a new role is by asking for help when you don’t know something, and I have become more understanding of that.” 

Over his years with the company, Morrow has not only grown in his role at Zurich, but learned valuable skills for overall career success. “It's a fast-paced environment where you get to think and make decisions on your toes, but yet have a lot of different professional hats to wear,” he says. “The biggest career skill I have learned so far is time management. It isn’t like school where you are told this project is due next Thursday; it just needs to be done.”

If Morrow could speak to his younger self as an intern, he would impart a few words of wisdom.  “Absorb as much as you can and ask as many questions as you can,” he says. “There are no dumb questions.” 

He stresses the importance of pursuing professional opportunities. “Internships help not only to learn as much as you can, but to help you form more of an understanding of what you are truly interested in and have a passion for,” he says.

Morrow offers advice to recent graduates seeking a job in this uncertain time. “Put yourself out there. Send as many emails as you can. Apply to as many things as you can,” he says. “If it doesn’t lead to a job, call someone and try to learn from them; it could help you out down the road.I’d say don’t get down on yourself with a rejection from an internship or a job—it can show you where you still need to develop and grow. Lastly, keep growing your network; it always helps if you can know someone.”

This blog post is written by our Division of Student Life student intern Olivia Schnefke.