Management major experiences six functional areas of business through automotive internship

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Heading into his junior year at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, Mufeed Aroworowon was looking for an internship that would best showcase different career options he'll enjoy with a business management degree.

And boy did he land one.

Aroworowon spent the summer interning with CJ's Tire & Auto, a family-owned and operated automotive business serving 18 locations in Pennsylvania, where he gained experience in not just one but six different departments of the company. The unique internship arrangement provided him with an eye for how each unit functions as a separate entity and how they all work together to contribute to overall business success.

"This internship helped me confirm I'll be taking the management career path because I was able to see all the departments," Aroworowon said. "I had the opportunity to go to meetings with the company executives and watch them negotiate deals, determine where they were going to grow, and analyze the P&L (Profit and Loss) statements."

Rotating through six departments - purchasing, supply chain, retail, accounting, human resources, and marketing - provided Aroworowon with a broad picture of the company's operations. He said the most positive aspect of the internship was not the technical expertise gained but the relationships built in the process.

"The genuine connection I made with the people I shadowed was the highlight," he explained. "They taught me a lot about business but also gave me real-life lessons and advice."

Like in every new venture, there were challenges.

"My unfamiliarity with the tire industry was my biggest challenge, but it did not deter me," Aroworowon said. "I had wonderful mentors to guide me, and I would study at home. I even took courses to be more knowledgeable in the industry."

The internship also gave Aroworowon the chance to see classroom lessons come to life in real-world settings.

"My Bloomsburg classes helped me a ton, as I would remember things from textbooks happening in real time," he said. "One specific example is in the HR department, where everything Dr. John Okpara preached was real. I got the opportunity to look at background checks and review resumes to see if they would be good fits for the company."

Aroworowon also highlighted how the Zeigler College of Business prepared him for this opportunity. Career workshops, resume reviews, and involvement in campus organizations all played a role.

"A huge part of my getting hired was my resume, as I went to resume workshops to maximize the quality of my application," he explained. "I even reviewed CJ's website and found some of their slogans, which I used in my email to ask for the internship, something I learned to do in my freshman learning community."

Involvement on campus has also been a key part of Aroworowon's development.

"Joining clubs and organizations is huge for internships, as they are another way of learning and gaining real-life experience," he said. "SAM (Society for Advancement of Management), FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), and AMA (American Marketing Association) are all great clubs to join because they provide trips and opportunities that give you real-world exposure."

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