Early career opportunities vary from summer internships and externships to entry-level positions. When exploring possibilities in the beginning of your career, rotational programs offer a unique opportunity to gain diverse experiences and to learn how to work with multiple teams – all within one company.

Synchrony, a Fortune 200 financial services company, inspires career growth from day one. Synchrony is at the heart of many U.S. financial transactions that are made every day and is committed to providing hands-on experiences for its early career talent. The company has a robust early career development program that aims to identify, attract and develop the company’s future leaders.

Synchrony’s driving force is to be essential to people’s everyday lives by making it easier for the tens of millions of people who rely on us to access their essential needs and everyday wants with consumer financing that works for them – from their first credit card to a lifetime of flexibility. The company is recognized in the industry as a top employer, recently named by Fortune as one of the nation’s top five best companies to work for.

The Business Leadership Program

One of the programs that makes Synchrony stand out is its Business Leadership Program (BLP). These early career development programs are designed to accelerate the careers of tomorrow’s leaders.

The summer internship program is a 10-week program for rising juniors and first-year HR graduate students. As a BLP intern, you will work on projects and participate in meaningful work in your desired field while experiencing the support of the team, mentors, and Synchrony’s award-winning culture. If you are interested in the summer internship program, learn more here.

The Full-Time BLP program is a two-year, rotational program for graduating university seniors designed to facilitate your career growth across three different disciplines. If you’re still undecided on what you want to pursue professionally, a rotational program could be a great opportunity for you to explore after graduation.

The Synchrony BLP program has more than 10 different tracks, from sales and relationship management, finance, data analytics, and other areas across the business. The program includes community service, networking and social events.

The BLP program helps transition graduates into the working world by offering experiences similar to what students had with student clubs and organizations. The participant-led committees include Development, Wellness, Recruiting, and Engagement, providing real-world opportunities for new grads to grow in their communication, planning, and leadership skills.

Beyond the leadership development gained through the committees, the BLP program also helps accelerate individuals into positions of leadership.

Creating a Fast Track for Leadership

One of the top appeals of the BLP program is how it offers early career candidates access to leaders within the organization and helps to advance opportunities for leadership for themselves personally.

Due to the nature of the program, you gain diverse work experiences across multiple teams and practice areas and are steps ahead of your peers as it relates to career growth.

Wyatt Craig, SVP Digital Finance – PayPal, who was in the first cohort of the BLP rotational program shared that the biggest differentiator is the support from leadership. Leaders and mentors help you define what you want to do in your career and suggest experiences to help you achieve your goals.

The investment from leaders continues long after the program ends. Wyatt mentioned the value of the alumni network, which provides mentorship to BLP participants. To help recent graduates transition into the corporate world, these alumni provide guidance on what a career path post-BLP could look like.

Synchrony continues to invest in its employees and offers ongoing learning opportunities, including tuition benefits, which was essential for Wyatt when he decided to pursue post-grad education.

Cultivating a Culture of Flexibility and Well-Being

Through its people-centric culture, Synchrony co-designs programs and initiatives together with employees. The company offers flexible work options, allowing employees to work from home, in the office, or both in a hybrid work environment while redesigning its workspaces to encourage meaningful connections.

Josh Mugabe, a HRBP BLP, described the company’s emphasis on flexibility and choice.

Josh also shares how purposeful engagement provides valuable ways early in your career to meet and interact with people in the office. The Synchrony “hubs” or workspaces also provide a collaborative atmosphere to build relationships.

Synchrony also prioritizes employee well-being in the workplaces, providing comprehensive wellness programs and benefits. For example, the company provides a psychologist onsite and employees can have up to 12 sessions per year at no cost to them personally. The program was built with everyone in mind, including interns.

Angela King, Sales & Relationship Management BLP, was the first BLP to lead the BLP’s Wellness committee.

Initiatives include physical activities like intramural sports, the Brooklyn marathon and ice skating in Bryant Park as well as stress reduction and wellness programs including a cooking class, financial literacy, and virtual monthly conversations.

Gaining Real-World Career Skills

Angela shared how fast the two years went by and how much she accomplished and grew during that time. She learned about Synchrony and business acumen and increased her confidence, gained insight into her own strengths and weaknesses, and developed leadership skills.

A rotational program offers tangible work experience that could help you solidify the direction for your career. The program dedicates time for you to explore your interests and learn from different roles and leaders. As you consider possibilities for your life after graduation, we encourage you to look into Synchrony’s rotational program. If you don’t have plans to graduate yet, then you can learn more about the summer 10-week internship program.

You can learn more about the company here. If you’re interested in starting your career at Synchrony, visit us here to find out more about the internship program, the rotational program, and other early-career opportunities.

The post Inspiring Career Growth at Synchrony appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

It’s that time of the year again: National Intern Day! Created by WayUp in 2017, this holiday focuses on celebrating and appreciating the future leaders of the world…interns! NID has gained widespread popularity thanks to media coverage from Good Morning America, multiple Forbes articles, (see here), (and most recently here), participation from companies like NASA, Google, and hundreds of smaller companies every year. This year National Intern Day falls on July 31st, 2024 and we hope everyone is ready to celebrate.

Every year, WayUp and Yello publish both The Top 100 Intern Program list and the Top 100 Intern List, selecting 100 interns, with one honored as the #1 Top Intern of 2024. You might be thinking, “there’s no chance I’m making it” but believe it or not, any intern can be named the “TOP” intern of the year or make the Top 100 Intern List. It’s true, you don’t have to be a superstar, a superhero, or a celebrity. You just have to be yourself -a hard working, dedicated individual. Don’t believe us? Just check out our previous winners here. The 2024 nomination form is CLOSED.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Have been an intern between September 2023 and August 2024
2. Submit your nomination by August 8th, 2024 at 11:59pm EST

Tips & Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Who is eligible for nomination of 2024 Top Intern?
   1. Anyone who has been an intern between September 2023 and August 2024
2. How are winners determined?
   1. The 100 interns who make the list are chosen by a panel of judges who consider the strength of nominations, voting totals, and social media promotion.
3. How do I nominate myself?
   1. Follow the steps below: 
   2. To start a nomination, select “I am an Intern” 
   3. Complete the form fields; progress can be saved and returned to later.
   4. Submit the completed form.
   5. Share your nomination with your network to increase your vote totals and make sure to use #NationalInternDay.
4. When are applications due?
   1. Friday, August 8th, 2024 by 11:59 pm EST
5. When is the list announced?
   1. Middle of August

Now that you have the info, we’ll show you how your nomination can be a winner. We’ve curated some tips, tricks, and advice to help guide you.

How to have a “knock out” nomination and be named a TOP intern

We spoke with Yello/WayUp staff, past NID winners, and campus recruiting professionals about what it takes to be a top intern. Here’s what they had to say:

Show, don’t tell. 

Similar to writing a standout resume, quantify some of your accomplishments thus far in your internship. On your National Intern Day nomination, you will be asked a series of questions that have to do with what you do in your internship, what you’ve learned, and how it has shaped your career goals. What impact have you made on your team? What processes have you improved or implemented? Brag on yourself and use quantifiable data to back it up. 

It’s okay to over-explain

Some of the NID nominations that have been the most impressive were able to give a lot of detail about the complexities of their projects. This doesn’t mean writing a one-page report when explaining the projects or day-to-day responsibilities of your internships. Instead, make sure it is crystal clear not only what you worked on, but the impact this had on you, the organization, and the team you worked with. 

Spread the word.

Tap into your network: get your connections to vote for you and get the word out there. We’ve even created a template for you to share your nomination with your network. Engage with your friends, family, and connections by marketing yourself. Make sure you’re using the hashtag #NationalInternDay in your social media posts. 

Apply Early

Lastly, the worst thing you can do if you’re trying to make it on the “Top 100 Interns” list for 2024 is wait to apply. The sooner you get your application in, the better, so fill out an application and see if you have what it takes to make the cut!

Walk the walk

Be the top intern you believe you can be and want to be recognized as. In your day to day internship, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to speak up. Be on time and act professional. Go out of your way to get to know people and make connections. Keep track of your tasks and accomplishments. Learn as much as you can and be a sponge. By actually “being” a top intern, you’re going to have people wanting to vote for your nomination and see you succeed. 

You’re now one step closer to TOP 100 and being a future leader. You’ve got the tips, tricks, and expert advice to be one of 2024’s top interns. We’re looking forward to your nomination so make sure to submit one before it’s too late.

The post National Intern Day: How You Can Be 2024’s Top Intern appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Welcome to the ideal destination for professional transformation and growth—KPMG Lakehouse. Are you an early career professional looking to elevate your skills, ignite your potential, and fast-track your journey to success in the world of business and accounting? Look no further. KPMG Lakehouse, nestled in the vibrant hub of Lake Nona, Orlando, stands as a beacon of opportunity, offering an immersive learning experience that propels early-career candidates towards a realm of unlimited possibilities.

To gain more insight into the intricacies of KPMG Lakehouse, we spoke with a few KPMG insiders whose careers have been profoundly influenced by their experiences there.

Through our conversations, we discovered that Lakehouse offers attendees a unique ecosystem that merges immersive networking opportunities, cutting-edge technology, and hands-on learning methodologies all under one roof. Whether you’re aspiring to pursue a career in accounting, seeking to fortify your business acumen, or aiming to harness the power of technology in the corporate world, KPMG Lakehouse invites you to unlock your potential and chart an extraordinary career path within the esteemed KPMG network.

Breaking The Ice With Future Collaborators

Lakehouse isn’t just a space for learning; it’s KPMG’s cultural home where future leaders converge, collaborate, and cultivate professional relationships.

Here, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals while fostering friendships and professional relationships that could last your entire career. Through interactive workshops, team-building exercises, and social events, early career candidates at Lakehouse have the chance to break the ice and establish meaningful connections with their future colleagues.

As depicted by Kyle and Jen’s experiences, building these connections during your time at Lakehouse not only opens doors to diverse perspectives and shared experiences but also lays the foundation for collaborative opportunities and mentorship, all things that are essential for a flourishing career at KPMG.

A Technologically Advanced Immersion

KPMG Lakehouse is more than just a haven for networking, it’s a technological marvel boasting a diverse array of cutting-edge tools and platforms designed to immerse early career candidates in the digital landscape.

Equipped with state-of-the-art tech infrastructure this facility serves as a sandbox for emerging talents to familiarize themselves with the latest innovations in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and other disruptive technologies. One of the most unique pieces of technology at Lakehouse is the app which powers each attendees’ experience.

According to Karissa Cornell, the app comes with “all sorts of features that are akin to a 5-star resort.” Whether it’s preordering coffee, scheduling a fitness activity, finding out about social outings, or building and maintaining connections, the app is one of the ways that KPMG really “individualizes the experience for all guests.”

By delving into these technologies, early career candidates acquire a competitive edge, fostering a deep-seated familiarity with the tools and platforms crucial for professional development. Whether it’s learning to harness the power of data analytics or understanding the impact of AI on business strategies, Lakehouse provides a hands-on approach that equips individuals with the expertise and confidence needed to thrive in their future roles at KPMG.

Laying Down a Foundation of Experience for Future Success

In addition to being a cutting-edge facility where technology intersects with immersive networking opportunities, Lakehouse also offers new hires the opportunity to get comfortable and more familiar with the day-to-day work they will be doing as an intern or associate.

Offering immersive simulations that mirror real-life audit, tax, and advisory projects, these experiences expose employees to the complexities and nuances of actual client work. This approach not only deepens their understanding of the intricacies within practice areas but also cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for success in their future roles at KPMG.

By engaging in these exercises, individuals gain invaluable experience learning to work collaboratively, make informed decisions, and navigate complex scenarios within a supportive learning environment. This hands-on approach not only builds confidence but also ensures that future interns and employees are well-prepared to hit the ground running and excel in the dynamic landscape of Audit, Tax, or Advisory at KPMG.

A Place to Begin Your Career

From interactive networking sessions that foster enduring connections to hands-on experiences with state-of-the-art tools, Lakehouse ensures participants are not just learning, but evolving into adaptable, skilled, and well-connected professionals prepared to excel at KPMG and beyond.

To find out more about KPMG, their innovative training ground, and open positions, check out their WayUp profile or www.kpmguscareers.com/early-career.

Some or all of the services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates or related entities.

The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

© 2023 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.

The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. 

The post Discover the Future of Professional Development: KPMG Lakehouse Propels Early Career Success appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Early career programs are designed to empower students with the invaluable skills and resources needed to succeed in the workplace. These programs enable participants to develop the professional know-how they don’t always receive in a classroom setting, while also providing exposure to various job and networking opportunities.

Bloomberg, a financial technology company, offers a range of career-readiness programs for underrepresented college students and recent graduates who are interested in business and finance. The content is targeted to all years, with the ultimate goal of providing participants with career coaching, insight into Bloomberg’s workplace and culture, and access to company leadership.

One example is the First-Year Insights Series, a career workshop aimed at diverse first-year and/or first-generation college students. In this program, students are introduced to professional skills they can use to gain a headstart when launching their careers. By attending a session, students become eligible for tailored developmental opportunities including one-on-one coaching and resume reviews with a Bloomberg recruiter. 

The company also offers hands-on professional learning experiences for students further along in their college journeys. Sophomores can apply for business externships, short-term programs that provide firsthand exposure to the daily demands of a role with the company. In addition to gaining insight into a potential career, externs also receive early access to apply and secure an internship for the following summer.

Bloomberg internships are generally available to juniors and offer more in-depth project work, skills training, and networking opportunities. Unlike the First-Year Insights and externship programs, which occur over a few days, most internships last ten weeks, thereby giving students more time to develop their skills and knowledge, forge a professional network, and make a positive impression that could lead to a full-time job offer after graduation.

Bloomberg has further demonstrated its commitment to nurturing diverse talent through its flagship Discover Bloomberg: Accelerate and <GO> program. An all-expense-paid, three-day immersion event at the company’s New York City headquarters, Discover Bloomberg allows upper-level students and recent graduates to learn more about company culture and gain deeper insight into the day-in-the-life of their desired roles. The event concludes with participants interviewing for either a business internship or an entry-level position.

We interviewed a few Bloomberg employees who participated in these early career programs to better understand how those experiences have impacted their careers. During these conversations, we learned that the mentorship and skills training received during these programs has positively contributed to their professional development and success.

Reliable Support Networks

Finding a supportive network of mentors is a critical part of growing a successful career, especially for young professionals who often lack extensive professional experience and a network. Underrepresented talent doesn’t have as many opportunities to build those valuable connections that could be a source of encouragement, career planning, and perspective. Bloomberg’s early career programs help close that gap.
During his externship, Robert Ashamole, an Account Manager, formed an important relationship with a Bloomberg executive who encouraged him to accept a full-time role at the company.

Robert’s experience is just one example of the peer-to-peer support that exists at Bloomberg. Daniela Arias, an Account Manager, participated in both Bloomberg’s externship and internship programs, through which she also received strong professional support.

Daniela stated that, at Bloomberg, she would always have someone who she can count on for support. When it comes to advancing your career, this type of network is invaluable.

Opening Doors to Careers in Finance

Bloomberg employees work with some of the most innovative technologies used in the financial markets. Participants in these early career programs receive early exposure to these tools, like the Bloomberg Terminal, which gives them a leg up on transitioning more smoothly into full-time roles at Bloomberg or across the finance industry.

Laneika Lyons, a Data Engineer and Analyst, credits her participation in these programs as part of her seamless transition into Bloomberg.

Start Your Journey

There’s no doubt that Rob, Daniela, and Laneika all gained incredible insight and experience during their participation in Bloomberg’s early-career programs. From skills development to networking, these programs have formed the foundation of their successful tenures at Bloomberg. 

If you’re curious about what Bloomberg does and what business career opportunities are available with the company, explore its Discovery and Diversity programs for underrepresented talent.

Your road of accomplishments is right ahead of you. You just need to start walking.

Check out all of Bloomberg’s current opportunities on its profile and get your journey started.

The post How Bloomberg’s Early Career Programs Prepare You for Success in Business appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.