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“Invest in building your network. Whether you’re starting off your career or looking for internships, networking is key.”
It’s a piece of advice that proves to be true year after year – building your network is key to finding your dream internship and job upon graduation. Students with networks and internship experience especially paid internship experience, broaden their experiences and develop professional and financial skills that may not be available to them in the classroom – and it shows. In fact, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, nearly 80% of eligible interns were offered full-time positions by their employers in 2021.
On this #TalentDay, Miami Dade’s official day to celebrate South Florida’s local talent in the form of students, young alumni and employers, FIU is celebrating by highlighting the stories of outstanding Panthers around the country who started off as interns in their careers and are now set up for success because of it.
Leigh-Ann Buchanan
President, aīre ventures
Engagement Advisory Council Board Member
“Don’t be afraid to ask for advice, introductions or feedback.”
I serve as the founder and president of aīre ventures, a venture studio that scales technology, entrepreneurial and social impact solutions to systemic gaps in access and opportunity. I'm also the founder of Nyah Project, a social impact organization focused on providing BIPOC youth from disadvantaged backgrounds with experiential leadership development and tech-enabled college strategy coaching. aīre ventures provides Nyah Project and its other portfolio ventures with strategic advising, positioning, platform development and operational infrastructure support to accelerate growth and impact. The aīre ventures leadership and team have successfully raised more than $4.5 million over the past five years which fueled our organic growth to serve more than 55,000 individuals, establish partnerships with more than 1,000 organizations, and facilitate more than 4,000 hours of 1:1 training and support.
Where did you land your first internship that helped you get to where you are now?
My first internship was in high school. I was 15 years old and was selected for a competitive internship with the Crown Counsel (criminal prosecutor) at the Law Courts of British Columbia in my hometown of Vancouver, Canada. This experience reaffirmed my desire to pursue a career as an attorney and I ultimately practiced law for over 8 years until transitioning to the technology and innovation industry where I work now.
What advice do you have for students who are starting off in their careers or are actively looking for internships and may not know where to begin?
My advice to students is threefold. First, invest in building your network. Your social capital — the relationships you cultivate —will be your doors of opportunity. Second, don't be afraid to ask for advice, introductions or feedback on your strategy for gaining more professional experience. Third, focus on identifying where and how you can uniquely add value to others. This level of clarity will help you connect with the opportunities that are the best fit for you.
Kevin Lothridge
Executive Director at FIU's Global Forensic and Justice Center
“Do what you love and love what you do."
Where did you land your first internship that helped you get to where you are now?
In 1984, I got an internship at the Hamilton County Crime Lab in Cincinnati, OH. It solidified my love for forensic science and gave me a path toward my future career.
What did you learn from your internship or first job that you use in your daily life as the executive director at FIU’s Global Forensic and Justice Center?
The key to being a good forensic science professional is the right blend of science practice and management. It’s why our Professional Science Masters in Forensic Science (PSM-FS) is an important program here at FIU. Being a part of a working laboratory requires more from the scientists than just science.
What advice do you have for students who are starting off in their careers or are actively looking for internships?
Do what you love and love what you do. Find a job where it does not feel like work. Treat everyone as you would like to be treated.
How did FIU help you as you grew in your career?
FIU helped me work across all the colleges and departments to develop multidisciplinary projects and programs. Forensic science isn’t confined to white coats and laboratories anymore. FIU provides the ability to transform the landscape of forensic science from the crime scene to the courtroom.
Maximilian A. Staedtler '14
College of Business
Executive Vice President, 10X Capital
"Start your research very early - even before you start your major-related classes – and understand the typical recruiting timeline and process in your field."
Where did you land your first internship that helped you get to where you are now?
My first internship was during the summer of my sophomore year at Goldman Sachs in New York.
What did you learn from your internship or first job that you use in your daily life?
My first internship really put me on the map, career-wise. I learned how to work in a demanding, corporate environment, built a foundational understanding of corporate finance and it was the beginning of my professional network in New York and elsewhere.
What advice do you have for students who are starting off in their careers or are actively looking for internships?
Start your research very early — even before you start your major-related classes — and understand the typical recruiting timeline and process in your field. These differ quite a lot, and importantly, several career fields exclusively recruit through their internship programs, meaning you don’t have the opportunity to apply for an entry-level job as a senior as all open roles will have been filled with rising seniors out of the internship class.
Furthermore, if securing an internship in your field is very competitive, you stand a greater chance of success if you are well prepared and have highly credentialing experience from your freshman/sophomore years rather than as a junior with the benefit of three years of coursework.
Many employers actively seek out freshman and sophomore candidates for internship programs, or at least pre-internship summer networking events and conferences that allow you to build a relationship with the company before you apply.
How did FIU help you kick-start your career?
FIU helped me in multiple ways. First, my deep involvement with several campus organizations helped me understand the importance of establishing a very competitive profile as early as possible by practicing critical career skills such as effective communication, teamwork and data analytics.
Second, the early exposure to more experienced students, alumni, faculty and staff helped me understand the importance of taking true ownership of my career, proactively finding opportunities and preparing for coveted internships opportunities with greater intensity and focus than anybody else I’d compete with from other schools.
Third, I was working at the career services office in the College of Business during my sophomore year and learned of many free events in the Miami business community that were excellent for networks. One of those events was hosted by Goldman Sachs when I was in my third semester only. Despite being early in my degree, I networked aggressively at that event and gained an invitation to fly to New York City for an interview only a few weeks later. In the short period between that event and my interview, countless of my FIU friends, mentors and professors rallied to help me prepare comprehensively. The focus and preparation paid dividends when I was extended an offer for a paid internship at the firm’s New York office the following summer.
Oscar Morejon
President, John Bell Construction
Moss School of Construction, College of Engineering
“Learn as much as you can and be the best you can be.”
Where did you land your first internship that helped you get to where you are now?
My college internship was with Suffolk Construction. I was a part of the greatest team I have ever worked with; the team taught me so much, mentored me and ultimately became my family. The lessons I learned with this team are still the way I run the projects of my own company.
What did you learn from your internship or first job that you use in your daily life and company?
I learned the five P’s: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Construction is 99% planning and 1% execution.
What advice do you have for students who are starting off in their careers or are actively looking for internships?
I would tell students to look for good companies that are building challenging projects. Do not be intimidated by the size of the project. I learned so much because I was exposed to everything – even if the project you are assigned to is not the biggest, learn as much as you can and be the best you can be.
How did FIU help you grow in your career?
FIU changed my life. Without FIU, I wouldn’t be where I am today. The construction management program challenged me with their curriculum and prepared me for the field experience I would get with Suffolk Construction.
Eric Duran '17
Producer, Audience Development at Yahoo!
FIU Honors College, Broadcast Media and International Relations
"Hustle."
Where did you land your first internship that helped you get to where you are now?
My first internship that jump-started my career was interning at Viacom, working on a Nickelodeon show in Miami. It was my first time in a real TV studio and working alongside other FIU interns across different areas of TV development. Although I ended up moving away from scripted television, it got my foot in the door for many opportunities to come.
What did you learn from your internship or first job that you use in your daily life?
After Viacom, I went on to work across multiple news internships and media programs and they all taught me one thing: your hard work never goes unnoticed. You may not get a pat on the back after every task, but the impression you leave on others will last a lifetime. Almost every team I’ve had has helped me land my next role, so make sure the connections you build remember you admirably.
What advice do you have for students who are starting off in their careers or are actively looking for internships?
Hustle. Everyone wants to land their dream job, but the work you put in and your ambition is what sets you apart. Always remember how hard you worked to get here. It will motivate you and keep your work ethic strong.
How did FIU help you kick-start your career?
My career started with a job posting from Professor Bustos, which helped me land my first job at Univision. That one recommendation got me all the way to New York working at NBCUniversal, and is the reason I am where I am today working as a Producer at Yahoo.
Alexis Smoot '17
Engineer III at Nexant, E.I. / E.I.T.
FIU Honors, College of Engineering & Computing
“Networking and asking questions are key to starting off at your first job and internship.”
Where did you land your first internship that helped you get to where you are now?
My first internship was at the Department of Energy: Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) funded through the FIU Applied Research Center. I served as the environmental engineering intern at DOE-EM Headquarters in Germantown, MD under the mentorship of Senior DOE Officials.
What did you learn from your internship or first job that you use in your daily life?
Communication is important. How you communicate to your internal team is different from how you communicate with a client. Every day there is an opportunity to learn how to advance your communication skills: whether it be over-communicating or asking the right questions and listening. These skills are important at any job and throughout life.
What advice do you have for students who are starting off in their careers or are actively looking for internships?
Networking and asking questions are key to starting off at your first job or finding out where to look for internships. For example, don’t be afraid to ask your coworkers and supervisors to join you for coffee. Sit down with them and talk to them about your career goals and how to excel at the company. Asking questions to the right people is a good start to know where to move forward in your career when you don't know where to take the next step.
How did FIU help you kick-start your career?
The community at FIU's Engineering Center and FIU's Honors College provided me with the resources to improve my technical and soft skills that allowed me to stand out amongst most of my competitors in the applicant pool for the position I applied for at my current company. By providing me with research opportunities, leadership experiences, funding my presentation at conferences and supplying me with mentors that stood by my side, I will forever be grateful for all of the experiences I have learned and the people I have met at FIU.
Nico Pasquariello '17
Senior Associate, Carlyle Aviation Securities Partners LLC
FIU Honors College, Finance
“Get involved outside of the classroom!”
Where did you land your first internship that helped you get to where you are now?
I interned at a small hedge fund in Coral Gables called Kieffer Capital. This experience catapulted me into a successful career in finance first at Bank of America Securities in New York City and subsequently at The Carlyle Group back here in Miami.
What did you learn from your internship or first job that you use in your daily life?
The hands-on experience from my internship (programming, advanced excel modeling) along with the soft skills I developed there (sales, negotiation, effective communication) have been incredibly useful throughout my career.
What advice do you have for students who are starting off in their careers or are actively looking for internships?
Get involved! The main reason I landed that first internship was because of my involvement outside of the classroom. I recommend attending at least 1-2 career-related clubs a week. Become a regular, it will be a huge tailwind for you.
How did FIU help you kick-start your career?
The FIU Honors College provided me with everything that I needed to jump into a career in finance. The networking opportunities, hands-on learning through clubs, and mentorship were instrumental in my development. This applies not just to my career but also to my growth as an individual.
Branden Bedoya '22
Previous intern at Google and BOLD Finance Intern - Systems Team
"Remember to be a human and genuinely connect with hiring managers and recruiters."
My very first internship actually started in high school - through the ACE Internship program my senior year. That then set me up for success. At FIU my first undergraduate internship was with an open-source AI startup that I met through StartUP FIU. Everything else stemmed from these initial experiences.
What did you learn from your internship or first job that you use in your daily life?
Working at the AI startup, one of the first things I learned was the importance of being scrappy and getting things done. "Done is better than perfect" was something I learned and still try to apply in my life whenever I find myself stagnating and not being able to begin a daunting task.
What advice do you have for students who are starting off in their careers or are actively looking for internships?
Main pieces of advice, do the obvious: update your resume, apply to places, etc. But also go the extra mile: meet with hiring managers, recruiters or just people in a team/position you want to be in. Pick their brains, see how they got into their current role, and if they can share any insights with you. Remember to be a human and genuinely connect with them.
How did FIU help you kick-start your career?
FIU has helped in a multitude of ways. Giving me access to student organizations like StartUP FIU, UPE, and PIF, an amazing network of students, scholarships, class projects, student competitions, you name it. I've tried to take advantage of all the opportunities FIU has given me, and it's led to a plethora of success for me.
Looking for a PAID internship experience? Make sure to connect with FIU’s numerous resources and opportunities, including:
- The Talent Development Network, South Florida’s premiere internship hub operated outside of FIU’s Office of Engagement that connects students from Miami’s seven major academic institutions with PAID internship opportunities
- Handshake, an online platform free for students and employers to connect on internship and job opportunities
- The Fall 2021 Internship Fair, where recruiters come to FIU looking for interns of all majors.