Mikayla Reiser

Describe the steps you took to obtain your internship/research opportunity/fellowship. 

The FSU Career Center was instrumental in allowing me to land my dream internship. With the preparation tools provided by the Career Center, I was able to successfully network with my employer at Seminole Futures. Following Seminole Futures, I was quickly in touch with a recruiter, leading to an on-campus interview and an offer. Ultimately, the guidance and resources that the FSU Career Center provided facilitated and streamlined my internship recruiting process. 

How far in advance did you prepare and begin applying for your experiential learning opportunity? 

I began the recruiting process in summer of 2018. 

If you used any Career Center services, resources, or events to obtain your job offer, what were they? How did they support your application process?

The Seminole Futures Career & Internship Fair and the on-campus interviews facilitated by the Career Center were services that ultimately streamlined my recruiting experience. Seminole Futures is an invaluable resource, allowing students with in-person access to incredible companies that are looking for Seminole talent. The on-campus interviews that follow Seminole Futures allow for companies to better access students and accelerate the process, creating an overall improved experience. These services were instrumental in allowing me to secure my dream internship. 

Describe some of your responsibilities or duties during your experiential learning opportunity. 

During my internship, I provided high-quality, professional project management services in a client-facing role. The project management services provided entailed of collaboration with project teams, senior management, vendor personnel, and client personnel to support the implementation of an improved state healthcare system. This collaboration occurred through client and vendor meetings and direct contact with all stakeholders. Additional project management responsibilities included tasks such as the creation of Gantt charts to provide clients with a project schedule visualization and maintaining project status and vendor compliance using applications such as Microsoft Project and Microsoft Excel. 

What was a typical day like "on the job?" 

A typical day “on the job” often entailed being at the client site and interaction with clients, client personnel, coworkers, and vendors. Day-to-day, my tasks varied depending on the project needs. The stagnant factor day-to-day was having the opportunity to actively observe the progression of an important project and my contribution of services and ideas. Additionally, a typical day included networking with members of the firm to build professional relationships and to grow personally and professionally. 

What are some major takeaways from your experience? How will these help prepare you for the next step after graduation?

1. Be a sponge. Soak up as much knowledge as possible, it will not only make you a more in-tune employee, but it will also contribute to your personal growth journey. It is important to listen, actively participate, and ask questions for clarification when needed. 
   2. Network, network, network. Networking is instrumental in growing both professionally and personally. Networking allows you to gain more knowledge about the industry and role while building professional relationships. You never know when these relationships could positively benefit your career later on. 
   3. Ask for feedback. Active feedback and recommendations for improvement allow you to gain a sense of your strengths and weaknesses. Capitalize on your strengths and work to improve your weaker areas. 

Did this experience help clarify your career path? If yes, how so? 

This experience was ultimately phenomenal. It gave me a clear view of management consulting while providing me with opportunities beyond my expectations. Through this experience, I am now excited and prepared to explore the world of consulting full-time.