TAMPA – Deeya Patel’s appointment calendar as a student speaker is booked solid these
days.
The ßŮßÇÂţ» Muma College of Business senior started October as
the featured student speaker at USF’s 2024 Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Symposium.
Her speech was about realizing her dream of attending college as a first-generation
Indian student.
Weeks later, she was slated to share her story again — before other first-in-their-families
college students at the Corporate Mentor Breakfast. Due to Hurricane Milton, she will
have to wait until 2025 to recount how she charted her professional path with support
from corporate mentors.
The 20-year-old is on track to graduate in December and hopes her achievement story
inspires others.
“When I first considered USF, I was drawn to its diverse, vibrant community and the
endless opportunities for students from all backgrounds and financial situations,”
she told the crowd of community leaders and philanthropists. “My experiences at USF
have been transformative.”
In less than two months, she graduates with two bachelor’s degrees — one in global
business and one in business management. She’s already working full-time as a new
business assistant at White & Case, after serving as a summer intern at the multinational
law firm. Her next step: attending law school.
Bellini Center coaching
The groundwork for that success was laid more than a year ago, when she attended resume
workshops, did mock interviews, and met with career coaches at the Bellini Center
for Talent Development.
Her goal: to land a summer internship by attending the Bellini Center’s 2023 Fall
Internship Showcase.
Students talk with recruiters at the 2024 Internship Showcase.
With the help of coaches at the Bellini Center, she refined her resume and cover letter. She rehearsed her elevator pitch at mock interviews. She practiced conversing with people in a professional setting and even honed her body language skills in front of a mirror.
“When the Internship Showcase came around, I was ready, because I took the time to
meet with all these different coaches to get their opinions and feedback,” Patel said.
“I feel like I was actually very prepared because I knew how bad I wanted this internship,
so I just went for it.”
She credits the intense prep work from the Bellini Center for helping her secure the
summer internship.
Next up: the follow up. She was confident she had made a good impression with recruiters,
but she still had work to do. After the recruiting event, she followed up with the
firm’s hiring manager and continued to stay in touch, mentioning some of the talking
points from the ßŮßÇÂţ» event.
“Even when I wouldn’t hear back, I would reach out,” she said, explaining how her
persistence paid off. “You have to be proactive in your own self. You cannot wait
for opportunities to come to you. You must seek them out yourself.”
"Confidence is key. While we don’t expect interns to know everything on their first day, we do look for candidates who are eager to ask questions, are willing to learn, and are not afraid to take on challenges" — David Musser
Patel did land the summer internship at White & Case. And after the internship, the
firm asked her to stay on and work full-time as a new business assistant.
“I just love the environment here,” she said. “Ever since I came here, they've all
been so welcoming. And, it's just a great place to really grow.”
A resource for employers
From the employer side, the Bellini Center has been an invaluable resource over the
past two years for White & Case as its Tampa office has restructured and relaunched
its local internship program.
Before working with Bellini, the firm’s Tampa office struggled with effectively connecting
with the broader student population. Also, many of the applications came from students
who were not in the relevant fields or majors.
But the firm’s 2024 summer internship program in Tampa was a resounding success, from
the pool of talented students who attended the Internship Showcase and from other
ßŮßÇÂţ» students recommended by the Bellini staff, said David Musser, director of Tampa
Global Operations at White & Case.
Musser, who is a USF business alum, said Patel had the qualities that the hiring managers
look for.
“Deeya has been an incredible addition to our team since the start of her internship.
Her enthusiasm and proactive attitude allowed her to make a significant impact right
away,” he said.
Students talk with recruiters at the 2024 Internship Showcase.
Musser said some of the key power skills that employers are seeking can be difficult
to find.
“Confidence is key. While we don’t expect interns to know everything on their first
day, we do look for candidates who are eager to ask questions, are willing to learn,
and are not afraid to take on challenges. Often, success comes down to a candidate’s
confidence in their skills, which allows them to get involved early and make an impact,”
he said.
Overall, Musser said partnering with the Bellini Center has been a great way to connect
with and recruit top-tier students like Patel.
Patel was one of the first three interns in their restructured program.
“We were hoping to find individuals who could help showcase the value of a strong
internship program and the caliber of the students graduating from USF to our hiring
managers in Tampa,” Musser said. “Deeya accomplished that goal and exceeded our expectations.
Thanks to her contributions, our internship program continues to grow.”