As college students return to school for another semester of coursework, some of them can now say they have worked internships in professional atmospheres. In an effort to capture these valuable experiences and share them with other internship-seeking students, I am starting a post series on Joe’s Musings called Inside Internships. My hope is that you will learn how students found and prepared for their internship as well as skills acquired on the job. Now, perhaps you are thinking, “Why didn’t you wait until the spring to start this series?” To that I say, the internship search begins the fall at career fairs and other recruiting events. Our first college student is Phil Bastow, a junior studying in accounting and information systems at the University of Kansas. He is passionate about learning, shooting guns, and playing guitar. Over the summer, Phil completed an 11-week internship program at US AgBank, FCB (Farm Credit Bank). As a part of the Farm Credit System, US AgBank, FCB is a lending institution that specializes in providing funds to eligible American agriculture borrowers in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
1. There is an enormous amount of information available through Career Centers and internship search engines regarding internships. How did you find your internship at US AgBank, FCB?
I actually did not have any contact with US AgBank or knowledge of their internship program until the Career Fair in September of 2010. I was familiar with the Farm Credit System, but did not know AgBank was being represented at the Fair. I approached the representative, Daryl Nikkel, and began to speak with him about the program and if there were any opportunities for me at the Bank. He asked for my resume and contact information and later sent me information about applying for the position. From there I was able to progress through all the necessary steps to obtain the job, for instance predictive behavior index, phone interview, personal interview, etc.
2. Although most internships offer a week of training, a wise student will prepare far in advance to ensure you are the most qualified candidate for the job. How did you get ready for your internship and the interview process? Looking back, would you prepare any differently?
I had never been interviewed for a job before because all of my previous employers knew me beforehand. Because of this, preparation was especially important for me. First, I researched background information on US AgBank. For example, what does the organization actually do, what are its different facets, what are some informative numbers and statistics to be familiar with, and so on. It was extremely important to use this information to compose well-informed, knowledgeable questions specific to the organization and department I was applying for. I investigated its internship program and prior students who were apart of it. Lastly, it was important for me to consult with other people that had experience in recruiting and hiring into professional environments. We discussed what types of questions might be asked of me in the interview process and possible things to cover in responding to them.
On the other hand, I did not prepare very much for my role as an intern at the Bank. I did ask my supervisor what I should be doing to prepare. He indicated there was nothing I needed to do and that they would train me when I began working. Nevertheless, I attempted to brush up on pertinent skills such as Excel and Access. Because my role at the bank dealt largely with Finance, it did not require much curriculum from my major (accounting), and therefore it was not necessary to practice and study those types of things.
3. After completing an internship, one common student observation is how formal the business world can be compared to college life. What elements of a professional work environment had the biggest impact on you?
The most difficult thing for me was to interact with the people around me as co-workers and supervisors rather than my "buddies" or even peers. I had not been exposed to professional relationships and interactions prior to my internship. It was important to always keep in mind there are appropriate ways to communicate with your co-workers. This of course is ranges anywhere from addressing them in the hallway to sending out an email. I felt that I handled it very well and was able to develop and practice these necessary skills.
4. What was the best thing about your internship?
It is hard to say at this point. There were so many little things and opportunities I was able to take advantage of through this internship - its difficult to determine which will prove to be the most significant in time. I think simply being exposed to a professional business environment was paramount. As aforementioned, I was able to develop essential communication skills which will be a great advantage as I re-enter and operate in a similar environment in years to come.
5. One of the core purposes of an on-site work experience is to equip you with the skills necessary to succeed in your career. What are three skills you acquired or refined through your internship?
In addition to what I discussed in Question 4, I refined database skills. I worked a great deal with Excel and Access to create dynamic worksheets for analyzing model sensitivity. I also learned about how the two software packages can work in conjunction. The third major thing refined was analytical skills. I am analytical by nature, but my role at the Bank gave me an opportunity to practice those abilities in a real-life situation. This proved much more difficult than it can be with school projects or homework.
6. Every internship is different because companies have vastly different missions, work environments, and leadership. What are a couple advantages and disadvantages of doing an internship at a bank that offers loan products and financial services to agricultural businesses, farmers, and rural homeowners?
An advantage would be that I was able to see some of the ties between accounting and finance as well as what makes the two areas different. Also, accounting for loans is something covered frequently in the classroom but rarely understood well enough without real-life application. The only disadvantage I can think of is the lack of diversity in accounting experience.
7. Perhaps the most advantageous aspect of an internship lies in the fact that you can finally apply all you have been learning in the classroom. Can you give an example of a time when you were able to apply knowledge gained from coursework to on-the-job situations?
As I said before, my internship was largely in finance while I am studying accounting. Nevertheless, it still required some accounting knowledge. I was asked to research, record, and trend risk data as far back in history as I could. Annual Reports were used to do this. My knowledge of GAAP concepts and how to navigate an Annual Report came in quite useful as I interpreted and decoded some of this financial reporting information.
8. Many students don’t know that you can acquire college credit for completing an internship, even if you landed a paid position. Did you elect to receive college credit? What are the requirements of the University of Kansas Business School to receive college credit for your internship?
Yes I did. I am receiving credit in ACCT 599 - Accounting and Information Systems Internship Program. The requirement to enroll in the class was to write a one-page report describing your role during your internship. The director of the area then uses that to determine whether or not the student is eligible for credit. Once enrolled, the student must attend a class orientation and wrap-up session, keep a daily activity journal during the term of their internship, and write an 8-10 page report.
9. In one sentence, what advice would you give to students seeking to intern?
It begins with asking questions and knowing everything you can about interning as early as possible in order to know how to prepare yourself.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar