Internship Program Spotlight: Regan Leblanc

Regan Leblanc is currently an undergraduate student at the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. During the Summer 2020 semester, she completed an internship with a company in Lafayette, LA. We interviewed her to find out more about her experience and how her time at the company benefited her professional development.

Regan Leblanc

Senior, graduating in December 2020
Management major, Human Resource concentration

Why did you choose to attend UL Lafayette?
I chose to attend UL Lafayette because I wanted to be close to home and remain rooted in the culture but also the University has great programs and a diverse group of students. 

Why did you choose your major and concentration?
I knew Management was a broad major that could lead me in any direction after graduation. As I continued to try to find my purpose, and what I wanted to do, I began to take classes that sparked my interest. Human resources and employee relations really stuck out to me. I began to do research about human resources and the different departments in companies and it really interested me. From there I took part of the concentration that Moody Business offers and became the Vice President of ULSHRM (UL Society for Human Resource Management).

Why did you decide to participate in the Moody Business Internship Program?
An internship can be a valuable learning experience. Completing an internship gives you the opportunity to experience real life work environments and perform duties in the field in which you want to make a career. 

What company were you interning with during the summer semester?
A highly respected and local CPA firm, Darnall, Sikes & Frederick.

How did you first hear about your internship?
I first heard of Darnall, Sikes & Frederick at the UL Lafayette career fair. 

What was your favorite thing about the internship?
Being able to accomplish hands on tasks that taught me more about human resources. Sitting in with the HR director and seeing her day-to-day activities. I also had the opportunity to learn firsthand of compliance, benefits, and policies offered in the real world and its vital role to company operations. 

What did you do at your internship? What were your tasks?
I created a new hire packet with the company files that needed to be signed, dated, and returned to the HR Director. I also updated databases that stated which employees turned in their annual paperwork. At the time of my internship, the firm acquired two firms and their goal was to have a paperless work environment. I had the important task of using high-end scanning equipment that indexed these files. I also valued from being able to shadow different people in the company and learning how their role is important to the function of the company.

What is the most valuable thing you learned during your internship?
I learned firsthand how the role of human resources is important to any company, especially in today’s world with compliance, regulations, and benefit packages.

How do you think participating in the internship program has benefitted your professional development and education?
The hands-on work experience that I received as an intern is invaluable and cannot be obtained in a classroom setting. Being able to work alongside the HR Director extended my knowledge on the career I plan to pursue after graduating.

What advice would you give to someone considering participating in the Moody Business Internship Program in the future?
Do it. Not only will you have the opportunity to perform the duties in the career field of your choice but you also develop relationships that can lead to referrals and sometimes a job offer from the company where you interned.

Students and employers can learn more about participating in the Moody Business Internship Program at business.louisiana.edu/internship or email internship@louisiana.edu.