Katie Saxman, a BHP/Finance sophomore, was a finance intern at Coastal Energy this summer. Coastal Energy is an oil and gas exploration and production company with assets in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
How did you find out about your internship?
In the summer of 2011, I was a shadow at an investment bank. This spring I sent my resume back to the bank and they shared my resume with some of their contacts. Coastal Energy then emailed me to set up an interview.
What do you think set you apart from other candidates and led to you getting the position over other candidates?
Since there was not a formal recruiting process and I was the only new intern, I cannot speak for other candidates. However, I felt that I connected with all three Coastal employees I interviewed with. Furthermore, I think my involvement in McCombs and other UT activities mixed with my academics showed that I am hardworking and personable, not just focused on classes. I believe my enthusiasm about the internship set me apart the most.
What were you doing for your internship?
My internship was in the Finance Department of Coastal Energy. A majority of my work was in the investor relations field. This field always has new and exciting projects that kept me on my toes and made me feel that I was constantly learning and being challenged. I was also given the opportunity to work with accountants and geoscientists, which fascinates me. Being from Houston, I understand how dependent our economy is on oil and natural gas, and I got the opportunity to learn so much about this field. It reaffirmed my choice to take the Energy Track for my Finance major.
What did you enjoy most from the experience?
My favorite was projecting future costs based on analyzing data of the amount of money Coastal paid their contractors. This involved working with a variety of people and enabled Coastal to better predict their expenses. As my first experience in the working world, I also liked experiencing what it was like working 40 hour work weeks. You can’t learn in a classroom some of the things you learn on the job. Commuting, relationships with coworkers, and time management at work were all new to me and added to the experience.
What were the key takeaways for you?
My key takeaway was learning more about finance and energy. After completing my freshman year and choosing a second business major, I wanted to make sure I really loved the field. I got to experience my first job in the working world and actually apply what I had learned in school.
How do you think this internship will help you with your future career goals?
This internship helped me narrow down my choices in what I eventually want to do full time. It will help set me apart in the future because I will be able to talk about actual work experience and show my enthusiasm. I think showing a prospective employer that you are passionate about the job you are applying for can go a long way. I also appreciate my classes more and will try to take away as much as I can from my courses and professors.