Natalie McLean: My Career Progression Throughout College

Throughout my time at Santa Clara University, I gained knowledge and gradually built up my skill set into what it is today. However, there were a few key actions I took that significantly accelerated my career progression.

The first pivotal step in my journey was joining a professional business fraternity. During my freshman year, in the winter quarter, I reached a point where I understood how college worked and had made some friends, but I didn’t feel academically challenged enough and hadn’t decided on a major. That quarter, I decided to rush and join Alpha Kappa Psi (AKPsi), which immediately inspired and motivated me to focus on my career goals.

Being surrounded by hard working, ambitious individuals—most of whom either had summer internships/jobs lined up or were actively seeking them—was incredibly motivating. This environment pushed me to adopt a similar mindset. As a result, I secured an internship during the summer after my freshman year, which gave me valuable experience for future job interviews.

Additionally, being part of AKPsi helped me decide on a major. I spoke to many older accounting and finance majors who shared their insights and advice. Ultimately, I chose accounting, considering several key factors. Accounting stood out to me because of the clear, structured career path it offered and the future job opportunities that it led to in the future. Although many emphasized that it was the most challenging major in the business school, I felt it was worth pursuing because it was also the school’s most highly ranked program.

The next significant decision I made was joining the Santa Clara Investment Fund (SCIF) during my sophomore year. While I had chosen accounting as my major, I also had a passion for forward-thinking and finance-related topics. Joining SCIF allowed me to explore these interests and develop a more well-rounded understanding of the finance world. It also gave me the opportunity to connect with incredibly talented individuals who have since gone on to work at prestigious companies.

The recruiting processes for both AKPsi and SCIF were instrumental in preparing me for interviews with Deloitte and other Big 4 firms. By the time I interviewed as a sophomore in the winter quarter, I was comfortable speaking in front of groups and confident in my ability to think on my feet. When asked behavioral questions, I could share meaningful stories about my personal growth, often tied to my involvement in these organizations.

Ultimately, I accepted an offer with Deloitte as an audit intern for the summer after my junior year. Reflecting on that internship experience, what helped me feel most prepared was advice I received from people who had interned at accounting firms before. They emphasized that, beyond doing good work, the most important thing as an intern is to build connections and focus on networking. I made an effort to prioritize these aspects and ultimately received a full-time return offer after college.

If there’s one takeaway from my story, it’s this: It doesn’t matter which clubs you join or when you join them—what matters is that you pursue something you’re genuinely interested in and take on leadership roles to build your professional skills. Additionally, prioritize building connections in your field of interest, and use those relationships to gain advice or expand your network.