Thunderbird at ASU students use career services to launch success
Thunderbird's Career Management Center hosts a myriad of events, including a professional conference, for students to network with employers and hone their interviewing skills. Photo courtesy of Thunderbird School of Global Management
Three weeks into the spring of her Master of Global Management (MGM) program, Vioni Dwi Sartika had an application ready for an internship at Dell headquarters in Austin, Texas. After a successful summer at the company, she was offered a job at Dell’s office in Singapore.
Students like Sartika are achieving dream positions, and Thundebird School of Global Management’s internal Career Management Center (CMC) provides this launchpad to thrive. Integral to the Thunderbird ecosystem, the CMC offers a host of opportunities for students to prepare for post-graduation, providing guidance, resources and events to enhance each student’s career development.
During the 2023 academic year, over 72% of MGM-seeking students secured summer internships, and 91% of MGM graduates secured a job within six months of completing their degree.
“The CMC equips Thunderbird students with tools to hone their talents,” said Travis Leybeck, senior director of student engagement and professional services at Thunderbird. “We have an entire team committed to empowering our T-birds to navigate life-changing, global careers.”
Every MGM student is paired with a career coach, who helps tailor their resumes and cover letters, and coach them through mock interviews. They also offer self-assessment tools for students seeking to clarify and explore their career goals. Vanessa O’Neal, an accelerated MGM student, utilized these tools to advocate for her internship at Siemens Digital Industries Software.
“The resources from our coaches helped me determine how I wanted to approach my next professional steps, and how to inform my outreach to Siemens,” said O’Neal, who will graduate this December with an MGM.
For her success with Dell, Sartika credits Senior Career Coach Glen Loveland for helping her remain proactive and prepared.
“From the beginning, Glen ensured I was set for success, helping tailor my CV to match my goals. We prepped possible questions for my interview, and I felt prepared for anything they may have asked,” Sartika said.
During her internship, Loveland was only a phone call away. When questions arose about specific corporate communications and new approaches she experienced on the job, they talked through it together.
“When Vioni reached out, I knew she was facing a unique set of challenges,” Loveland said. “We strategized on how she could leverage her global perspective to stand out in Dell's fast-paced environment.”
For students like Ngoni Kanjere, a spring 2024 MGM graduate, integrating with the CMC proved an effective way to land a dream job. After graduating, Kanjere secured a data analyst position at DEPCOM Power Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona.
At Thunderbird, he was a student worker in the CMC office, where he analyzed data from previous CMC events to better optimize future ones.
“Ngoni was an excellent asset for the CMC team, bringing positivity to every interaction,” said Amari Bowen, senior specialist of career services. “His data visualization skills also helped us analyze metrics so we could improve outreach strategies and increase overall impact.”
“The CMC helped me understand my competitive advantage and speak to that in interviews and job opportunities,” Kanjere said. “I can now package myself better.”
The CMC works with local and international organizations to recruit Thunderbird students, including: Amazon, Shamrock Foods Company, Tata Consultancy Services, Stellantis, Bank of America, Leslie’s Pools and the U.S. Department of State. Last semester, the CMC hosted nearly 30 employers.
Often, the more students explore opportunities, the more they learn about themselves. As a search marketing intern, O’Neal optimizes search engine marketing campaigns through Google Ads — much different from her previous aspiration of working in fashion.
“I thought I wanted to be in the fashion business, since I had a background in retail. But Siemens changed my perspective. You never know where your education will take you,” she said.
Thunderbird’s CMC team stays dedicated to helping students achieve their goals of finding their dream careers across the globe.
“Working at Thunderbird isn't just a job — it's a passion,” Loveland said. “Thunderbird isn't just preparing students for the global marketplace — we're shaping the leaders who will define it. And being part of that journey? It's exhilarating.”
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