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“Ryan has been an indispensable member of the recruiting team this summer, quickly taking on responsibility for opening and closing jobs, sponsoring postings on job boards, and assisting behind the scenes entering candidates into our database. He also provided valuable reporting and analytics support as well as reminding candidates about upcoming interviews. The recruiting team has had a very busy summer and I don’t know what we would have done without Ryan; we’re so grateful for his help and willingness to pitch in wherever needed!”

Kate Rogers – KMA Recruitment Operations Specialist

Ryan, tell us a little bit about yourself and your college career so far.

My Name is Ryan McDonnell and I am a rising junior at Bentley University, majoring in Finance and minoring in Computer Information Systems. Other than doing schoolwork, I am the treasurer for the Bentley Ski and Snowboard Club, and I am on the executive board for my fraternity. Since Bentley is located in the suburbs of Boston, I have been able to take advantage of the city while also making friends with people around the world which has given me a great experience thus far.

How have you managed through the pandemic and finishing your year online?

Finishing this past school year online was a very strange experience. The professors were learning how to run online classes at the same time we were. It was very difficult having to adjust to doing group projects, club meetings, and finals all online. This experience really challenged my ability to adapt to immense changes and I can say that I have grown as a student and a person through this experience, but it is not something that I would like to do again. My internship for the spring semester was cut short and I, like many other students, missed some of the best events of the year at school. Once I was home I had online classes to keep me busy during the pandemic, once classes were over I did anything to keep busy, such as surfing and golfing, until I was fortunate enough to start my internship at KMA, which has been a great experience during this uncertain time.

What has your summer internship experience been like?

This internship has been amazing. I never considered consulting or HR as a career but this opportunity has been extremely helpful for my future job search. I will not be changing my major, but I do know what environment to look for in a future employer and I have learned crucial information on how the industries of consulting and recruiting operate. I learned that I really like working with multiple clients and switching back and forth through different tasks, always doing something different and meaningful.

What have you been working on, and what projects have you enjoyed most?

Throughout the summer I have been working on everything from uploading candidates, posting jobs, calling applicants, and speaking with HR teams at different companies. The Puritan project has been my favorite task for this summer. In a very small way it feels like I am helping one of the most important companies in the country at the moment, and hearing people talk about getting tested for COVID-19, I think about the hiring that we have been doing for the people that are making the swabs for the tests.

What advice would you give a college student wanting to get the most out of an internship?

My advice would be to go in with an open mind. Even if the internship is not the one you planned on, there is always something to learn. An internship is a great opportunity to learn what you do and do not like about a company or an industry, and that can lead you to knowing more about what you do like and where you will be able to find the culture and work you enjoy.

What are your plans for the future?

I am going back to school in the fall to do a mix of online and in-person classes, while doing a semester-long internship that is related to my major. Clubs and other on campus events will not be occurring, so I will have more free time than I had in the past and will be adjusting to the new schedule and finding a positive way to spend that time.