It’s sophomore year of college and you’re loving life. You’ve got this ‘college thing’ down pat and you have your schedule set – class, class, homework, class, Saturday football game, repeat. Then, out of nowhere, you start getting the question.
“So what do you want to do with your life?“
[crickets]
Don’t worry, Gen Z, we’ve all been there! As a generation who values working in communities and groups to obtain goals, wants to make an impact and provide value, and looks for diversity and variety in work engagements, consulting may just be the career path for you. With so many opportunities and companies vying for your talents, externship programs have become quite popular. For just a small investment of your time, you are sure to be provided with valuable resources and learning that can help to guide you towards your future.
Protiviti piloted our Summer Leadership Conference (SLC) in 2014 as a one-day program to provide insight and bring value to sophomore level students who are curious about career opportunities. Our program is aimed at helping students to develop professional skills while partaking in team building and development activities that allow for a deep understanding of the consulting career path. “Through the activities at the Summer Leadership Conference, I was able to both enhance my ability to effectively communicate and collaborate,” says Jon (SLC attendee) who went on to intern and join us full-time in Chicago. “Additionally, the conference was a great chance to learn more about Protiviti’s culture and professional development opportunities, which ultimately helped me to make my decision of accepting an internship and then starting my career with Protiviti.” In addition, the program will highlight entry-level project work and experience. “As a sophomore, it’s hard to get a taste of what consulting is like from a typical university course curriculum.
This one day gave me such great insight, not only to the industry, but to the people and culture in a setting that didn’t feel like a high-pressure formality,” mentioned Vanessa (SLC, Atlanta), “I remember feeling really comfortable with Protiviti.” Of course, that is one of our main goals! Similarly, incoming St. Louis Consultant, Whitney, mentioned “As a college student, it can be difficult to get an honest view into the atmosphere of a company from simply meeting at networking events. Being able to come in to the office for a day was a fun, interactive way to educate myself and better understand the culture and gain valuable insights” (SLC, St. Louis). On behalf of Protiviti employees, please know that we are here to help you learn more about yourself as part of this experience as we understand it can feel overwhelming at the beginning of your career journey.
Choosing the right place to start your career is similar to the decision you made about which college to attend. Much like finding the ‘right’ college, you’ll learn that not every
company will suit every individual. Some individuals will thrive in smaller companies; others in larger companies. Some individuals might not see the direct impact of the size of a company, but are more inclined to be drawn to a certain culture or to the people they meet. “As I sought out a career, I knew I wanted to learn more about consulting but I was exactly sure what my professional niche would be,” said current Boston Consultant, Emily (SLC, New York City). “The Summer Leadership Conference offered a wonderful glimpse in to the opportunities that a consultant has working for this firm and how Protiviti works hard to foster career growth early by offering a customized set of experiences.”
Not only is the SLC program built to provide value to you as you grow in your academic career, but it is also a chance to have a first look and opportunity to interview for our intern program for the following summer! The day of the program, all participants complete interviews for the internship on-site. If you haven’t heard about our Intern Program, you will definitely want to (see the hashtag #ProtivitiIntern on social). We also suggest checking in with our employees to learn from their experiences, which they share here in the #MyProtivitiStory library.
We are so thrilled to be continuing to grow our Summer Leadership Conference program in several cities across the U.S. and to share our special culture and work with all of you. The future is bright with you, Gen Z! I think Kimberly (SLC, Bay Area) wraps it up the best. “If I could sum up Protiviti culture in one word, it would be ‘supportive’. The continued nurturing I received in keeping in-contact with Protiviti from the time of the SLC until now, as a full-time employee, has been incredible. The culture I experienced at the conference became a benchmark. I’m so excited to be a part of Protiviti and its growth!”
The upcoming program focuses on sophomore-level students graduating between December 2021 and August 2022.
Apply to the SLC!
If you’re interested in applying to a Summer Leadership Conference, please submit your resume and transcript here and a member of our recruitment team will follow up with you.
