My STEP Signature Project was an internship with Continental Office Furniture in the Finance and Accounting department. The main activities of the project included sending invoices, reconciling rebates, processing subcontractor contracts, and organizing and filing project and prevailing wage paperwork. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working for Continental Office, and I made friendships with coworkers that will continue beyond my internship.
While completing my STEP Signature Project, the biggest thing that changed for me was learning the ability to push myself to my limits in productivity. I had previously worked as an Office Assistant at the front desk and was able to complete homework while working. During my internship, I was taking 16 credit hours and working 15 hours a week without having the ability to complete homework during working hours. With 15 hours of each week occupied by work, I had to create a schedule for myself to dedicate enough time to complete all of my schoolwork. I gained a great understanding of my ability to complete work in the best way possible, which is by waking up early and getting the most important work done first.
Another transformation that took place during my STEP Signature Project is my understanding of working in a corporate finance setting. Before completing my internship with Continental Office, I thought that corporate finance involved talking more with people about the financial situations of the company. After working in this setting, I learned that much of corporate finance involves financial analysis and how to properly come up with conclusions while working in Microsoft Excel. I realized that this type or work is not what I want to be doing for my future because I enjoy talking to people more than conducting financial analysis. I enjoyed my time working in the corporate finance setting at Continental Office; however, I know that I would like to do work that involves talking more with people.
An interaction that happened at the beginning of my STEP Signature Project was a discussion with Kurt Weidner, the Executive Vice President of Finance at Continental Office. This interaction occurred within my first two weeks of starting my internship, and I was able to gain an understanding of his background and the background of others working in the finance department at Continental Office. Almost every person in the finance department had an accounting background, and he told me that many people in the finance departments of companies have a strong accounting background. After the conversation with Kurt Weidner, I realized that I was more inclined to work in the financial services and wealth management industries because I enjoy talking with people more and not doing most of a day’s work utilizing spreadsheets and completing the financial analysis.
The most significant event that led to my change in productivity during my STEP Signature Project was the COVID-19 pandemic. With the regulations set in place by the government due to the spread of the virus, I was able to utilize the time spent staying at home to complete more schoolwork while working 15 hours a week. Over the summer, I took 15 credit hours and worked 40 hours a week, and during the autumn semester, when my STEP Signature Project took place, I took 16 credit hours while working 15 hours a week. Many people have said that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused so many problems and took them off the track of their goals, but I was able to take advantage of the situation and will be able to graduate in 3 years from The Ohio State University.
Throughout the course of my STEP Signature Project, I developed a great relationship with an employee at Continental Office that aided in my understanding of corporate finance. Kierra Sharp, formerly the staff accountant, but now the finance manager at Continental Office, was the person that I learned how to do everything that I was instructed to do. I greatly appreciated her patience and willingness to answer my questions when I had them. While working with Continental Office, the then Finance manager, Kierra, and I would start work at 6 am, much earlier than the start time for the rest of the office. During that time, I was able to ask Kierra so many questions about her past work experiences and how work was conducted at Continental Office. She offered insightful information about corporate finance that allowed me to gain a better understanding of the work. To this day, Kierra and I stay in touch to talk about her recent promotion to the Finance Manager at Continental Office and my full-time job search.
The impact of my ability to learn my maximum productivity is extremely valuable for my life because I now can explain to potential employers that I work well when having lots on my plate. With working 40 hours a week and taking 15 credit hours over the summer and working 15 hours a week while taking 16 credit hours over the fall semester all while having a GPA over 3.80 during that time, I have proof to show companies that I work well while having a lot going on. Also, this knowledge is valuable personally because I know that I can complete many things when I work hard and stay focused.
During my STEP Signature Project, I also learned that corporate finance was not exactly what I thought it was before the internship. I am extremely glad that I was able to figure out that I do not want to do corporate finance work during an internship instead of after starting a full-time position. With the knowledge I gained from not wanting to do corporate finance work, I will begin pursuing positions in wealth management. Wealth m
anagement seems to be a career more catered to my desires because there is a greater ability to talk to more people and see the direct impact a financial plan can have on their lives.