Summer Intern Profile Series: A Conversation with Alexandra Dodge

Welcome to our Summer 2024 Intern Profile Series! We are thrilled to introduce you to our interns, each bringing their unique talents to the J.Jill family to support of our vision to live in a world where the totality of every woman is seen, valued and celebrated. Over the next several weeks, we’ll delve into their experiences and insights, offering you a glimpse into the dynamic and enriching environment of our intern program.  

To kick off our series, we’ll highlight Alexandra Dodge, J.Jill’s Finance Intern. Alexandra is a rising Junior at Fairfield University studying Finance, and her enthusiasm and dedication make her a valuable addition to the team.

J.Jill: So Alexandra, what initially drew you to join J.Jill, and what excites you most about being here?

Alexandra: I was drawn to J.Jill because it was a store I would see in malls. When applying for internships, I thought it would be nice to apply to a familiar place. Since I was looking for finance internships this summer, I knew I wanted to work in a hands-on environment, focusing on budgeting and forecasting. So when I read the job description for J.Jill’s summer internship, I was excited to apply and even more thrilled to be hired!

So far, I love how welcoming and understanding everyone at the company has been. It’s reassuring to know that I can ask questions and receive guidance from my colleagues, as they themselves have been in my shoes before.

J.Jill: We’re delighted to have you on our team! Could you describe a typical day in your role? What might people not realize about your day-to-day tasks?

Alexandra: A typical day for me involves sitting in on financial meetings and shadowing the financial analyst to better understand the reports that go into helping J.Jill run efficiently. I also get the chance to help with these reports, while also learning new financial software with my coworkers.

Every week we have Lunch & Learns, where interns hear from J.Jill’s senior leaders to learn more about their background and ask questions. We also have the opportunity to join Lunch & Learns focused on gaining new skills like Business Writing or Visual Communication. I think people might not realize that as an intern, we are getting the opportunity to have hands-on experience in the field we eventually want to have a career in, and the best experience you can get outside of the classroom is being at a place like J.Jill.

J.Jill: Thank you for sharing your day with us! What project are you most looking forward to working on during your time with us?

Alexandra: I am excited about starting our intern project where we will have the opportunity to research a new customer segment! Collaborating with people from many different departments on a project that we will eventually get to present to senior leadership is so motivating. The fact that our hard work, new ideas, and research is being listened to by so many members of J.Jill is thrilling. I can’t wait to get started!

J.Jill: We can’t wait to see what you and the other interns accomplish! Is there anyone at J.Jill that inspires you?

Alexandra: Someone who inspires me at J.Jill is our Chief Human Resources Officer, Maria Martinez. All the interns had the opportunity to attend a Lunch & Learn with Maria and got the chance to hear about her career path. She was kind enough to listen to us and respond to our questions. Since this is my first internship, I asked her for advice, and she was more than happy to draw upon her own experiences and answer my questions.

J.Jill: To wrap things up, what’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received? And, what advice would you offer someone who is looking to get into your line of work?

Alexandra: The best career advice I have received is to ask questions and speak up. As a first-time intern in a financial department, many things are new to me and can seem overwhelming at first. But, asking questions and being curious is the best way to make all these new tasks less intimidating. Everyone at J.Jill is so supportive and wants to see me succeed.

If someone is looking to go down the financial path, I would tell them this: Even though finance is very number-heavy and the reports can seem daunting, it’s important to understand exactly what these numbers mean and why you’re doing this work. Once you take a step back and figure out why you’re dealing with certain figures and what they mean, it will make the experience that much more comprehensible and rewarding.

Thanks, Alexandra, for sharing your insight! To our readers, keep an eye out for next week’s intern profile featuring Annie McDonald, our Marketing intern.