Cary Kordas consolidated costs and improved efficiency across 30+ locations by analyzing operations and vendor data at Burton Foods.
How did you obtain your internship?
I interned with Burton Foods last summer, so I already knew the workflow and the people, and the staff already knew I could be relied on. This summer, when I called the company and requested the opportunity to return, the company agreed. It wasn’t a traditional application process, but I did take the initiative to call the company personally and they were pleased to have me back. Knowing the company also meant I could handle more complex projects this second time around.
What did you do while you were in the experience of the Internship?
I spent time getting the operations to function better and figuring out where the company could cut unnecessary costs. I trudged through Excel numbers on sales, labor, and vendor data from more than 30 locations. I assisted in getting service discontinued that no one utilized and getting accounts combined wherever possible. The biggest thing I uncovered was the company still had the waste service active at a location where the company had shut down operations for more than a year. Identifying that issue saved them a lot of money. I also assisted in the smaller administrative-type tasks like writing emails and calling service providers. The days were all slightly different but all about making things function better.
What new skills did you develop in this internship?
I learned to use advanced functions Excel, which I had no experience with previously. By the completion of the internship, I was running reports, crunching numbers, and employing formulas to sort information. I also learned a great deal in the area of communicating professionally by phone and email. I had previously feared calling vendors or negotiating back and forth with the customer service representative, but this helped me become more confident with the process. I also learned problem-solving skills because there were some occasions where I had no guidelines and had to problem-solve in the moment. These are skills I can apply in any position I have after this experience, even one in a completely different field.
What has most challenged you in the internship? What have you learned about yourself in the experience?
The most challenging part was making phone company calls to shut down lines or tracking down vendor bills. You wouldn’t think it would be that hard, but trust me, it is. It's not the most fun work, but I learned how to work with people over the phone. You can potentially save a company a huge amount of dollars by taking care of the small details. I had to wait patiently every time I would call customer support for various things and sometimes I couldn’t speak to anyone who could offer any help. It taught me first hand that being diligent and following up on things can definitely make all the difference in the world.
What was a highlight of your internship experience?
My summer standout moment was learning the company still had waste service payments due on a facility where they had shut down operations. I told my boss, and he was really shocked and impressed. It's one of those things where you get to realize that all those little daily, run of the mill things you've done really did pay off in the end. It helped me realize internships are not the stereotypical experiences like making coffee runs, but doing work that can actually help the company. It helped me feel a bigger sense of pride and feel part of the team.
What effect has the experience of the internship had on future plans?
This made me understand I like business operations more than initially believed. I like problem-solving and discovering strategies for maximizing efficiency. I’m still not entirely sure where I’m going in life, but I can see myself transitioning into business management or something requiring similar skills. It reminded me of the importance of enjoying the company of the people you work with. The individuals at Burton made the work so much better. That is certainly one thing I will remember when I search for employment in the future.
What can you tell prospective students looking for or beginning their internship?
Don't worry so much about getting the perfect internship. It's best just to go for it and see if you like something or not. You'll learn more than you think, even on stuff that seems boring or completely unrelated to your topic initially. Ask lots of questions and stay curious. And when you get answers, take notes because you never know when some little thing you're learning now will become relevant later. Also, do your best to get along with your coworkers because enjoying your team is everything.