Author: Claire Hinkle

It seems like this program has flown by. It does not seem long ago when we were starting the SMF program with the two week pre-term class in August. And now, here we are, getting ready to graduate. The seven week classes makes this go by so quickly, but I have learned so much during my experience.  Whether it be from professors, my classmates, alumni, or guest speakers, I know that I have learned so much since August. I now feel ready to head out into the workforce and thrive in whatever challenges I might need to face.

Navigating the networking process and job search can be intimidating and stressful at times. Figuring out what you are going to do after graduating from the SMF program can be exciting as well as daunting. However, it is extremely worth it, in the end, to help you figure out your career goals and how to best present yourself to potential employers. As someone who has participated on several career readiness panels at Ohio State, here are a few tips that I think are helpful: 1. Add Breadth and Depth to your Network Not every connection that you make will be one that leads to a job.

One of my favorite things about the SMF program is the exposure that you get to action-based learning. Last Thursday, as a part of my Real Estate Finance class with Professor Stuckwisch, I had the opportunity to present an investment opportunity to an investment committee that included one Ohio State professor and four industry professionals. After presenting for 25 minutes, we then had 10 minutes of Q&A. This is something that you cannot replicate very often, and it provides exposure to what industry professionals would actually ask you on the job.

As someone who has had the joy of experiencing an Ohio winter before, I have no problem finding things to do. However, I realize that not everyone enjoys the cold as much as I do, so here are some fun activities for those who prefer the indoors! I am always a major sports fan, and this year, there is no shortage of really good athletic programs to support. The Ohio State Women’s Basketball team has had an incredible season being ranked number 2 in the nation. So, watching them and the mens team compete in the Schottenstein Center has been a staple for me and my friends.

Depending on the track that you take (either corporate finance or investment management), the Core Capstone project can look a little bit different. For the corporate track, you go through a valuation of a company through a corporate perspective. For the investment management track, the end deliverable is also a valuation but also a Buy/Sell/Hold rating. Each student forms teams of five people and they get to choose one company in the S&P 500 to value.