Getting the ball rolling: Summer internship prepares Bergstrom for career off the field

KEENE, N.H. 7/20/11 – Getting set for his final season with the Keene State College baseball team, Erik Bergstrom is spending his evenings and weekends this summer playing ball in a twilight league in Manchester, Conn. The senior outfielder from Enfield, Conn., is also spending his summer getting ready for a career when he graduates. 

"At first I thought I had to chose one or the other," said the versatile Bergstrom, who finished second on the team in RBIs (42) and third in hitting (.359) last season. "I have one more season left to play, but I also want to set myself up for the future."

Bergstrom decided that the future is now. Looking to get a leg up on his career after school, he's working as an intern with a financial representative from Northwestern Mutual this summer. "It's the best of both worlds," said Bergstrom, who gladly ditches his day attire of a shirt and tie for a baseball uniform in the evening. 

The internship isn't for everyone. Driving around New England, Bergstrom puts in 12-hour days learning the financial business. "The company likes to hire athletes because we're extremely competitive," said Bergstrom. "It's like a marathon doubleheader or five games in a row. You're tired, but you have to find a way to keep on going."

Like many students entering college, Bergstrom needed a little time to determine a career path. After considering athletic training and health promotions, Bergstrom finally settled on business management as a major. "It's in the family and you can do many things with it," he said.

An aggressive hitter at the plate, Bergstrom also showed some initiative off the field, attending an intern/job fair at the school last fall where he hooked up with Northwestern Mutual. When Bergstrom wasn't able to get a position in New Hampshire, he contacted the company's office in Hartford and was accepted into their internship program. "I really stumbled upon it. I didn't realize it was named one of the top-10 internships in the financial field," he said. "If anything, it's a great way to network and maybe make some money."

Bergstrom has shuttled between Keene and Conn., meeting with potential clients, including several of his Owl teammates. "I tell them about what I'm doing and see if I can help them out," said Bergstrom, who has a license to sell insurance as well as disability and long-term care policies. 

Bergstrom already has the insurance lingo down. "They might not be into it now, but the earlier you start the better," he said. "You can start earning interest on the money you put into the policy and that can grow and become a tool for savings."

"Not everybody is going to be interested," concedes Bergstrom. "If I can sit down with 100 people and I can help five of them, at the end of the day I'm happy."

Bergstrom feels baseball has prepared him well for the ups and downs of business.  In both, you need to keep your chin up and be flexible.  "I always thought of myself as an infielder, but they moved me to the outfield my sophomore year," he said. "You have to adapt and go with the punches. I don't care where they put me as long as I'm in the line-up."

Keene State Coach Ken Howe admits that Bergstrom's versatility has deterred his improvement. "Being able to play a number of positions has been a drawback for Erik, because it hasn't allowed him the chance to concentrate on one," said Howe about his senior captain. "His role has changed from year to year."

No one has ever questioned Bergstrom's drive to succeed. "You might not have all the natural ability, but if you work hard and put the time in, you're going to become a better player," said Bergstrom.

The same holds true in the business world. "Even if I don't stay in the financial field, I know I've given it everything I got," said Bergstrom. "I finally have a direction and know where I'm headed. I didn't want to be the guy coming out of college who didn't know where he was going. It's a tough job market out there and you might as well get started looking now."