Full Name: Nicholas Matthews
Internship Company: LUMA Partners
Internship Position: Investment Banking Summer Analyst
Internship Location: New York, NY
While looking for your internship, what services did you use at the Center for Career Development?
During my search I utilized a wide range of services offered by the Center for Career Development. After my admittance to SIP, I frequented the drop in hours to have my resume and cover letter reviewed. In addition, I made several special appointments to talk about networking and interview advice. Once I landed an interview for various positions, I schedule a mock interview, something I would highly recommend, to help me prepare present my skills and experience in a favorable way to employers.
Are you involved in any of the COES clubs and/or programs? If yes, how did they help prepare you for your internship?
I have been involved in a number of COES clubs and programs. My freshman year I joined the Finance Club, which provided me exposure to financial markets and concepts, and served as the basis for my knowledge going forward. I also participated in the Summer Business Program, Excel Workshop, and Future steps workshop, all of which were instrumental in my securing an internship and granted me useful skills once I had begun my internship.
What skills did you gain from your internship experience and how have they added to your professionalism?
As my first true foray into the finance industry, LUMA Partners was incredibly beneficial and very instructive. Firstly, I gained experience with valuation techniques and financial modeling that is widely applicable in the industry, and can be leveraged into many different positions. Furthermore, LUMA Partners afforded me a unique perspective into the digital media industry, and through various analytical research projects, I learned how to evaluate business trends and forecast potential events that might occur in the future. In addition to these technical skills, working in a fast paced and complex environment helped me put into practice the learning skills Holy Cross teaches its students so well, and from this environment I learned the various skills necessary to perform at a professional level.
How did this experience influence or connect to your future career plans / goals?
One very beneficial aspect of my experience was my proximity to New York City, and the opportunity that gave me to network with the many Holy Cross alumni in the area. I was fortunate that I was able to meet with several of them, and learn from their own experiences after Holy Cross. The process of building my network both at LUMA Partners and outside it really helped me to determine which direction I would want to explore next in my career. No matter where you end up as an intern, I would highly recommend networking, as I consider it the best way to determine your next career move.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to the future intern?
To a future intern at LUMA Partners, I would have two pieces of advice. Number one, come in with a curious mind, and be ready to absorb a lot of new information. The alumni and staff at LUMA are extremely knowledgeable in their field, and if you constantly ask questions and work hard to learn the information they teach you, you will certainly get a lot out of the experience. Secondly, there undoubtedly be a learning curve, but don’t be intimidated if you start your experience and don’t really understand what’s going on. There is a lot of new jargon, related to both finance and digital media, but Holy Cross has prepared you well for dealing with large amounts of new information. As long as you reach out for help as you need it, and remember the skills learned in school, you will become acclimated to the language.
Overall, what was your most exciting experience at your internship?
The most exciting part of the internship for me was the ability to sit in on business meetings. Getting up close and personal to the interactions with the clients, or watching a presentation or sales pitch was intriguing for me and gave me a sense not only for LUMA’s business, but how business was conducted in general. This unique experience exposed me to a lot of interesting people and stories.
