Q&A with Zarah Reeves: pursuing an internship in executive search

Zarah Reeves, a rising senior at Howard University, first heard about the executive search industry at a college job fair. Now, she serves as a recruiting intern in our Washington, D.C. office. Meredith Brosofsky, a current marketing intern, sat down with Zarah to discuss her first few weeks interning at Charles Aris and the journey that led her here.

Meredith: What brought you to apply at Charles Aris, and how did you learn about the executive search industry? 

Zarah: Upon joining my business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, we were exposed to many industries, one being executive search firms. It was something that intrigued me, so I decided to pursue an internship in the field for the summer. The job fair at Howard University exposed me to many recruiting firms which led me to conduct research on my own. Charles Aris was one of the first firms that I found.

Meredith: How would you describe your first few weeks in this role? 

Zarah: It has been amazing. Honestly speaking, everyone has been so nice and very helpful throughout the onboarding process. I really appreciate the different training I’ve had, such as script training and shadowing!

Meredith: What qualities are important to you in an internship? 

Zarah: The work environment. One of the three questions I always ask at the end of an interview is ‘how is the environment, especially for an intern?’ I want to be in a welcoming and very hardworking environment that helps me to flourish and acquire more knowledge and skills. 

Meredith: What experiences prepared you for this internship? 

Zarah: I have spent time in many executive board roles within my university as well as my own entrepreneurial endeavors. These experiences have provided me with invaluable communication and relationship skills that I believe prepared me for this role.

Meredith: Do you think you need previous experience to be successful in this role?

Zarah: I think you definitely need the charisma and ability to not take the first ‘no’ when searching for candidates. You don’t necessarily need experience if you have the determination to accomplish your goals! 

Meredith: Do you have any advice for those looking to pursue internship opportunities?

Zarah: Make sure you apply to any and everything that interests you. Don’t put yourself in one box! You never know how you can utilize your skill set and expand on those skills unless you apply.

Meredith: Do you have any advice for those just starting their internship? 

Zarah: Make sure you ask questions! One thing that has been reinforced throughout the onboarding process is to ask as many questions as you can, even if you are scared or are afraid that someone has already answered the same question you have. Getting the extra clarification helps create fluid lines of communication and lets you know what you need to be doing.

Meredith: What resources did you find helpful in your search for a new role? 

Zarah: The internet, especially LinkedIn. This is the second internship I have secured as a result of utilizing the LinkedIn jobs feature. I use this platform as much as I use social media, so I am always on the site connecting with others and looking for new opportunities. You never know what people or roles could help you in the future! 

To learn more about interning with Charles Aris, visit charlesaris.com/intern-at-charles-aris.