Student Spotlight: Dawn Johns
Before my first semester started, I received an email from Professor O'Shaughnessy about Accounting Bootcamp. At bootcamp, students refreshed their basic accounting concepts, listened to speakers from accounting firms, spent a day dressed in business professional attire, and participated in an etiquette lesson for dinner. We were also taught about preparing resumes, dressing strategically for interviews, successfully taking advantage of accounting job fairs, understanding what companies look for, and so much more. After bootcamp, there was so much I felt I needed to get done before the fall semester started. I have been in the Navy since I was 18 years-old, and would now be starting a new career. I had to translate my military experience into the civilian world in order to redo my resume.
Once the semester started, I joined Management Accounting and Auditing Club (MAAC), ended up being the Secretary, and became a candidate for Beta Alpha Psi (BAP). This all tied into how I got my internship after attending the accounting career fair. I had a few companies I wanted to intern with in mind. I got dressed in my "Business Sunday's Best", with my hair in its curly natural state because I like to make sure companies see who I really am. I walked around the career fair with a plan of action and started by reconnecting with a few companies I liked from our interaction at "Meet the Firms Night", hosted by Beta Alpha Psi at Nauticus. This event was exciting and allowed me to network in a more relaxed social atmosphere and feel ready to make the most out of attending the career fair. While networking at the accounting career fair, Susie Baisey, Senior Associate, Campus Recruiting at KPMG was one of the people I gave my resume to. KPMG set up last minute interviews during winter break, and thankfully I was able to be flexible. I brought extra printed copies of my resume and transcripts with me just in case. This came in handy because my interviewer's copy was distorted from the printer. We talked about my classes, my time at ODU, the student organizations I participated in and my military experience.
It was a great first interview that got me invited to KPMG specific meet and greets, and my last round of interviews at the office with other candidates. They called me the same day and offered me the internship. I was overjoyed. It was my first semester at ODU and I had successfully secured an internship for the following summer. Little did I know that this internship would lead to a full-time position. I am blessed to say that I graduated May 2020 and will start my career with KPMG as an Audit Associate.
My advice to other students is always to be yourself because you want to find a company that fits you. Throughout my journey, I stayed true to what I wanted and who I was. At the beginning of your journey, you need to know focus on what you want to achieve, and don't settle. Internships give you experience, so an opportunity to learn is better than no opportunity. Start early and build and edit your resume regularly. Seek out leadership opportunities. It is not as scary as it seems. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK. If you don't know how, just start a conversation. If you are shy, ask someone you trust to go with you. If you aren't shy, pull a shy person along with you. Helping others does not cause you to lose an opportunity, it helps everyone to gain one. What is meant for you is meant for you. Keep working hard because at the end of the day you know you did everything in your power. Also, build a relationship with your professors, relationships with faculty are wonderful resources and open up opportunities.
Did you make any mistakes in the process? I don't know if I made any mistakes, but I always use them as a learning lesson. If you mistakenly shared incorrect information, you should definitely let them know as soon as you realize. Have someone look over your resume, the school has the CDS - utilize them.
What was your biggest challenge? I am married with two children. My biggest challenge was finding/making time to attend some of the events. I had to make sacrifices. Maintaining school, work, and life balance was an ongoing challenge. After being in the Navy for almost 10 years, I wasn't willing to miss or sacrifice certain things regarding my children.
What would you do differently in your time at ODU? I would focus more time on my class selection. I should have spread out my schedule to have a mixture of intensive and less intensive classes. I would have attended a football and basketball game. I came with a strictly professional focus but looking back I wish that I had allowed myself to enjoy more of the fun experiences on campus.
What are you most proud of throughout this process and time at ODU? I am most proud that I have helped shy students come out of their shell. I try to be a mentor to the younger students- being 30, I have some life experience. There are a lot of things you stress about that looking back you wish you hadn't and could have been more in the moment.
In addition to classes, what helped you be successful in your internship? I find being myself and keeping an adaptable mindset helped me to be successful. Also, my military experience prepared me in ways that I couldn't explain. MAAC, NABA, BAP, and Finance Club helped as well through a combination of the topics of the meetings, excellent speakers they had, and the networking opportunities.
Anything else we should know about you and your story? Before I came to ODU, I had just switched my major to accounting, after talking with my accounting professor at TCC. I did not know all the information that ODU students had access to, yet I was able to be successful as a transfer student and choosing a direction. It goes to show you that it is possible and that anyone can truly do it. If you don't know or need help, just ask.
