This summer, students from the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics discovered new avenues for professional preparation and practical hands-on experience. Lerner College students pursued an array of internships, externships and other professional development opportunities. From MBA scholars to undergraduates entering their second year at UD, students across a spectrum of Lerner programs shared their experiences accomplishing an assortment of projects.
Our “My Summer Internship” series highlights these unique experiences, showcasing how students translated classroom knowledge into real-world success.
Tara Reilly, Class of 2027, strategic leadership MBA student, spent her summer as a human resources intern at The Dixon Group.
Lerner: How did you find out about this internship? Why did you pursue it?
Reilly: I met The Dixon Group at the Spring 2026 Career Fair, I pursued an internship with The Dixon Group because they were able to offer me a well-rounded internship experience. Allowing me to have the opportunity to learn all aspects of the HR department.
Lerner: What was the most exciting task or project that you completed?
Reilly: I worked with the entire HR Department, but a majority of my time was spent working with the recruiting team. So, I spent time reviewing resumes, interviewing candidates, communicating with Branch Managers, and setting up in person interviews. With that came extending verbal job offers, initiating the pre-screening process. That included background checks, a physical test, and a drug test. I would help guide applicants through the application and interview process. Once a job offer was extended, I assisted applicants on working through the onboarding and pre-screening process. Another exciting project I was tasked with while working with The Dixon Group, was attending Job/Career Fairs. I specifically attended the University of Delaware’s Career Fair as an employer. This was a great experience as being both a UD alumni and also a current UD student. When working the Career Fair I was able to speak with fellow UD students and give insight into what the Dixon Group does as a company, while also sharing about my experiences with the company.
Lerner: What did you learn from the internship that you think you wouldn’t have learned elsewhere?
Reilly: I learned the true extent of what it is like to work on a Recruitment team. I learned about it in classes, but you don’t realize the true extent and amount of responsibilities and roles that the recruitment team takes on.
Lerner: What is an example of a time where you were able to apply what you’ve learned at Lerner to your role?
Reilly: When working in my internship role, I was constantly utilizing Excel and the formulas I learned from taking multiple classes with Lerner in the workplace and was even able to show my fellow coworkers some tips or shortcut tricks.
Lerner: Did you face any challenges during your internship? If so, what was the issue and how did you overcome it?
Reilly: The most notable challenge I faced during my internship was keeping myself on track. When working in Recruitment, you are speaking to multiple applicants a day, for a variety of different positions, for multiple branch locations; some even being in a different time zone. I noticed that if I didn’t keep my notes organized or constantly updating my notes and status on open positions
Lerner: What are your career plans, and how do you think the internship will push you closer to your professional goals?
Reilly: I am completing a 3+1 here at UD. I graduated this past Spring ’26 in just 3 years with my Bachelors Degree in Management with a concentration in Human Resources. I am completing my MBA in Strategic Leadership and graduating this Spring ’27. I worked this past summer as an HR Intern with The Dixon Group, but once the summer came to a close, I was given the opportunity to stay on board with the team and transition into an HR Administrator role. I am working part time during the school year while completing my master’s degree. My internship has helped me narrow down what field of HR I want to pursue a career in, that being Recruitment and Talent Acquisition. I am forever grateful for all of my experiences and people I have been able to meet with during my internship at The Dixon Group.