Students at the Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business learn the value and importance early in their college career of having an internship before graduation.
This summer, Ivy students have been a part of a wide range of internships that add real-world experience to their resumes. Meet Khuyen Nguyen, who shared why her summer internship added value to her college education.
Nguyen, a senior originally from Vietnam, moved to the United States three years ago and is studying accounting. She is spending her summer as an accounting intern at HNI for their internal controls team in Muscatine, Iowa.
As the accounting intern, Nguyen is involved in many projects, including reviewing and updating a mitigation controls file related to an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system used by one of their corporate branches. This involves reaching out to control owners to confirm that their assigned controls are still being executed effectively. Nguyen and her team are also responsible for ensuring proper controls over the financial environment, specifically helping to maintain effective workflows between internal departments, as well as internal and external auditors. Additionally, she has also had the opportunity to contribute to a long-term project that aims to align job titles with corresponding system access across two enterprise applications.
“It’s exciting to be part of something that could have a lasting impact on the company,” she said.
Nguyen’s internship experience at HNI has had many exciting moments, but her favorite was stepping out of her comfort zone. Tasks that initially feel intimidating, such as writing professional emails, scheduling meetings, reaching out to new people, and presenting her ideas to senior-level professionals, have become much less daunting, making it feel rewarding for her to realize what her capabilities in handling these challenges.
“Ivy has played a big role in preparing me. I worked closely with career advisors, professors, and even peers who already had internship experience to improve my resume.”
— Khuyen Nguyen
Nguyen’s first connection with HNI was through the company’s on-campus involvement. She saw their representatives multiple times on campus and at career fairs, where Nguyen finally got the chance to speak with HNI recruiters. She was drawn to their collaborative culture.
HNI felt like a place where ideas are valued, and people are supported, she said. Because of this, Nguyen knew it would be a great place to develop and grow professionally, so she applied.
“I was impressed by her hard work and the way she sought out advice and followed through on what she was asked to do,” said Nguyen’s career coordinator, Tony Fucci. “I was excited to hear that she obtained an internship this summer because that’s not always easy to do after just one year on campus, especially as an international student. But Khuyen was dedicated to the process and put in the work to be successful.”
Nguyen advises students who are going for an internship to take full advantage and make the most of the resources provided by Ivy and the community it is surrounded by.
“Take full advantage of the resources Ivy offers and the people around you,” Nguyen said.
“You might think you already know what it takes to land an internship, but feedback from others can be incredibly valuable,” she said. “Have your resume reviewed by multiple people. It increases your chances of making it past initial screenings. Attend events such as Mocktail Day— not only will you improve your interview skills but you’ll also expand your professional network. Remember, your network is your net worth.”
To connect with Khuyen Nguyen or follow her collegiate and professional career, visit her LinkedIn profile.
