Wilson students turn internships into career confidence
Wilson students turn internships into career confidence
In honor of National Intern Day we're celebrating the hands-on experiences that help Wilson College of Business students turn classroom learning into career success.
At Wilson, internships are a key part of the student experience. In fact, 89% of Wilson graduates complete at least one internship before graduation, gaining real-world experience, building professional networks and discovering what they want from their careers.
Accounting and Financial Management student Chase Lauman has experienced those benefits firsthand.
“I would encourage every student to do an internship because it’s one of the best ways to learn outside of the classroom,” said Lauman. “You get to gain real world experiences, build relationships with professionals, and get a better understanding of what you want to do with your career before you start it.”
At UNI students are supported every step of the way. Two career fairs each year connect students with employers looking to hire interns and full-time employees, while Career Services helps students prepare with resume reviews, mock interviews and career coaching.
Meet a few Wilson students who are putting their education into practice and making an impact at organizations across Iowa and beyond.
Matt Scieszinski
Major: Accounting
Internship: Financial Audit Intern at Iowa Auditor of State; Des Moines, Iowa
Describe your internship.
I assist with financial audits of Iowa state government departments, counties and municipalities. Working alongside experienced auditors, I help conduct testing to ensure financial information is accurate and reported properly while gaining firsthand experience in governmental accounting.
What's something exciting you've worked on?
One of the most meaningful parts of my internship has been meeting with the people behind Iowa's public assistance programs. Seeing the work they do to support thousands of Iowans has given me a greater appreciation for the impact of public service and the importance of financial accountability.
Peter Wojciechowski
Majors: Business Analytics and Management Information Systems
Internship: Sales & Growth Strategy Intern at John Deere; Remote
Describe your internship.
I support John Deere's OEM Off-Roads team by creating opportunity assessments for key customer accounts. My work includes researching equipment production volumes, market trends and industry insights to help inform business strategy.
What's the biggest thing you've learned so far?
I've learned how to combine technical information with business strategy. Analyzing market data and turning it into actionable insights has shown me how data can drive smarter business decisions.
Chase Lauman
Major: Accounting and Financial Management
Internship: Accounting Intern at Pella Corporation; Pella, Iowa
Describe your internship.
As an Accounting Intern at Pella, I support both the GM Finance and Sales Finance teams by improving financial reporting, analyzing business performance and creating data visualizations that help leaders make informed decisions. Through a variety of projects, I've learned how different areas of the business work together to drive success.
What's something exciting you've worked on?
One of my favorite projects was simplifying Pella's brand reporting by combining productivity, inflation and volume data into dashboards used in Brand Review presentations. It was rewarding to know my work helped leadership better understand business performance and support key decisions.
While every internship experience is different, the lessons are remarkably similar. Internships give students the opportunity to apply what they've learned in the classroom, gain hands-on experience and build the confidence that comes from solving real-world business challenges. Along the way, they build professional relationships, explore potential career paths and gain a clearer picture of where they want to go after graduation.
“Your internship is a trial run of your major and the enterprise you'd like to work for,” said Scieszinski. "It helps you put into perspective what your career might look like after graduation while giving you a peek at the office culture and the people you might spend the next few years working with."
Whether it's confirming a career path, expanding a professional network or developing the skills employers value most, internships give Wilson students a competitive advantage and help ensure they're ready to make an impact from day one after graduation.
