Students at the Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business learn early in their college career the added value of having an internship before graduation.
Over the summer, Ivy students engaged in a wide range of internships to add real-world experience to their resumes before they graduate. Meet Kristina Goth, a senior who shared why a summer internship added value to her education.
Goth, a senior from Marcus, Iowa, studying accounting and agriculture business, spent her summer as an accounting and finance intern with John Deere in Ankeny, Iowa.
Each month, Goth was responsible for creating and updating various reports after preparing and closing overhead budgets for the upcoming month. She was also able to work on various projects that added value to the company, such as a fixed asset audit, updating the accounting team’s website, and working on automating tasks in Power Automate.
Growing up in a farming family, John Deere has always been a highly recognized and respected brand to Goth.
“My job has really come full circle this summer when my dad had the opportunity to try out See and Spray Ultimate, an innovative application solution John Deere manufactures at the Des Moines Works factory,” said Goth. “I was able to see first-hand the value that Deere’s products bring to customers.”
At the Des Moines Works factory in Ankeny, John Deere manufactures tillage equipment, sprayers, and cotton pickers/strippers. Working in this location gave Goth the opportunity to meet the people and see the accounting and finance behind the equipment she grew up with on her family’s farm.
Goth also had many opportunities to try new things, network, develop her skills, learn more about the company, and give back to the community. One of the benefits Deere offers is the Power for Good Tool, which gives employees the chance to volunteer in the community and earn rewards. Employees can then give these rewards back to charities and nonprofits of their choice. Goth was able to volunteer with her team at the Food Bank of Iowa and donate her rewards to help flood victims in Northwest Iowa, near her hometown.
Goth first connected with John Deere representatives during her freshman year through Beta Alpha Psi, Iowa State University’s co-ed accounting fraternity. From the connections she built, Goth was able to job shadow at John Deere that summer, and was encouraged to apply for this position.
With the help of Business Career Services, Goth was able to build her resume, prepare for events like the career fair, and learn how to network. Her involvement with Beta Alpha Psi also gave her many opportunities to listen to employers speak about their companies, benefits, and careers. Through this, she was able to learn things like the difference between public and private accounting and the pros and cons of each, to help her determine her career path.
To connect with Kristina Goth or follow her collegiate and professional journey, visit her LinkedIn profile.
