ST. PETERSBURG – As a first-generation college student at the University of South Florida Muma College of Business, Kelsey Stansbury wasn't sure how to navigate college life, much less making sure she'd graduate with a job.
Thanks to some key career counseling and interview prep work, she landed a prime summer internship in her the finance industry with a top firm and even has a job lined up after graduation.
Stansbury, a senior at the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance, credits her initial interest in finance to her favorite course, Principles of Investments.
“It was a class that I was excited to go to and absorb everything that the course could offer me,” she said.
With her graduation eight months away, Stansbury knew it was time to find an internship that would prepare her for her career. She met with Ashley Curtis, a career counselor and internship coordinator at the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance, in the fall of 2022.
“I worked with Kelsey to polish her resume and cover letter as she prepared for her internship search,” said Curtis. “The following semester, she reached out to me for help regarding an internship opportunity at Raymond James.”
Concerned about her lack of experience in the finance industry, Stansbury looked to Curtis for guidance on relating her experience in the restaurant industry to her future finance career.
“We had two mock interviews, one for each round of her interview process,” Curtis said. “We discussed interview etiquette – things like what to wear, the importance of sending a thank you letter to the hiring committee – and how to write one.”
Stansbury’s hard work paid off. She accepted an offer from Raymond James for a summer 2023 IT finance intern position. Her job included creating and presenting reports for project budgeting, project approvals and capitalization. Her eagerness to learn during her internship was valued by her supervisor.
“From the second I walked in, I never felt alone,” Stansbury said. “I worked with a team of other interns from all over the world who were all looking to build connections.”
Stansbury credits the company’s guidance, mentorship, and culture for her desire to stay and grow within the company.
“The way that Raymond James treats their employees is second to none,” she said.
Through a combination of hard work and the connections she had built at Raymond James throughout her internship, Stansbury was offered a position as a financial analyst in the IT Finance Division.
Stansbury eagerly said yes and is set to begin her career at Raymond James in January.