Many people have asked me how I found my Santander internship. I’d have to say it was a mix of luck and determination. In early February, I found the opening and applied. I reached out to a friend who was working at Santander at the time and asked her to put in a good word for me. That was all it took for me to get my coveted internship! This internship was the result of reaching out to my connections and I have to emphasize the importance of a solid network.
My experience at Santander has been truly rewarding. I’ve learned a lot from strategic planning and business reporting to risk analysis. Additionally, I had a great supervisor, who to this day I consider to be an inspiring mentor.
Looking back, my MBA courses at Suffolk definitely prepared me for my internship. During my first year, I was able to gain confidence, gather constructive feedback from peers and professors, and lose my fear of public speaking. My internship was extended through the fall, so I could continue enhancing my skills and expanding my network.
If I had to give a piece of advice to any incoming MBA students, it would be: Use your MBA courses as practice, ask for feedback whenever you can, and continue to develop all your connections.