Bennett Johnson is currently a senior with a double major in accounting and finance. He initially chose to major in finance because he knew it was a broad major and would prove useful no matter what career path he decided to pursue. Bennett added the double major in accounting after taking Accounting 101 with Professor Joanna Dabrowska during the winter quarter of his freshman year. During Bennett’s time at DePaul, he has taken the opportunity to get the most out of the student experience and prepare for his future career. Students looking for a blueprint on how to secure internships should look no further than Bennett Johnson.
Accounting and Finance student, Bennett Johnson.
During his time at DePaul, Bennett has worked three internships and recently secured a fourth. From the fall of 2016 to spring of 2017, Bennett worked at Thomas J. Dwyer and Associates, where he assisted in preparing income tax returns. Next, Bennett moved to Guggenheim Asset Management, where he remained until the winter of 2018. This past summer Bennett interned with Deloitte in their audit department. And finally, Bennett currently interns with Berkley Research Group, working with their consulting staff. When it comes to interning, Bennett advises students to not be afraid of taking the odd internship. Although you must pay your dues when interning as a freshmen and sophomore, this will pay off during your years as an upperclassmen.
When interviewing for internships, Bennett recommends that students treat the interview like a conversation. This allows students to simplify the process and encourages them to look at the interview as an opportunity to demonstrate problem solving and solution-oriented skills. Whatever position the organization is trying to fill, you must be able to prove you are the right candidate.
Bennett also encourages younger students to get involved with student organizations. By serving as the Vice President of Finance for Delta Sigma Pi and the president of DePaul’s Consulting Club, Bennett says he has developed his leadership skills immensely. In addition, his involvement has led him to meet many of his closest friends.
Bennett is set to graduate in June 2019 and has secured a full-time position as a Business Analyst at A.T. Kearney in Chicago, where he will be developing models and conducting research analysis. After getting a few years of professional experience under his belt, Bennett intends to return to school to get his MBA. In the more distant future Bennett also hopes to return to a university in a teaching capacity stating, “I love interacting with other students and view teaching as a way I can hopefully give back and help the next generation.”