Fresh Prints to Big Four: How Lexi Went From Being a Campus Manager to Working Full-Time at EY
Meet Lexi Lonsdale, a senior at Penn State University majoring in Supply Chains and Information Systems. She's practically grown up surrounded by the university her entire life, making it an obvious choice for her to attend. Living in an off-campus apartment, Lexi is enjoying her college experience to the fullest.
How do we know Lexi? She’s been a part of the Fresh Prints team for the past 2.5 years. She joined us right after COVID-19 hit in her sophomore year. Yes, the plague that stopped our world didn’t stop her. She also managed to snag two internships - one with Amazon as an Operations Intern, and another with EY doing Supply Chain Consulting.
Now, she's heading to EY full-time after graduation and will be moving to the DC area. Yes, Ernst & Young! How cool is that?
She is an absolute superstar and we exclusively interviewed her to learn how she landed her many internships + her job at EY!
Let’s jump right into it, shall we? Skip ahead if you like:
What helped you secure the Amazon and EY Internships?
I think my involvement in my professional fraternity was definitely a plus point during my interviews. I was even the president of the fraternity at one point, which showcased my leadership abilities.
Additionally, I practiced a lot of case studies, especially for the EY interview. Aside I'm also a bit of a perfectionist and keep updating my résumé and LinkedIn profile with every new experience. It was actually through LinkedIn that I got my Amazon internship as someone reached out to me on the platform.
How did you go from being an Apparel Campus Manager to an EY Consultant?
Back in college, I was the apparel chair for my organization, Omega Chi Sigma. We're a professional fraternity that focuses on STEM in business. While working with Millennia from Fresh Prints, who was a Campus Manager at the time, I became intrigued by her role. As a Campus Manager at Fresh Prints, Millennia was responsible for managing the apparel needs of various college organizations, such as fraternities and sororities. So I applied and got in!
Working at Fresh Prints helped me gain an understanding of the apparel industry and the inner workings of a business. Fresh Prints was like a friend that was both fun and inspiring. The company pushed me to be responsible, hold myself accountable, and strive for excellence -- all while having a good time. I also gained insights into how to manage a whole business and that pushed me to think about what part of a business I wanted to build a career in.
When I did my Amazon internship, I worked in a warehouse and confirmed my intuitions - I really liked supply chain consulting. Interacting with managers who were in charge of figuring out different ways to improve Amazon's tech and processes - all of that was so fun. I just knew I wanted to work on projects that would allow me to use my analytical and problem-solving abilities like those managers.
I'm an EY Consultant right now, and I intend to stick around for a while to gain additional experience. Honestly, consulting is great because I get to use my skills in all sorts of projects. We'll see what the future holds!
How did you manage to secure a full-time offer at EY as an intern?
They have a pretty thorough evaluation process for interns. Basically, your career counselor, managers, and senior managers all give feedback on your performance, which is then taken into account when they're deciding whether or not to offer you a full-time position.
I believe they appreciated my ability to work well with a team and my willingness to step up and work on any aspect that was needed. Even though I wasn't on the supply chain-specific team as I wanted, I remained optimistic and willing to learn new things. This attitude of being a self-starter who puts in the work to be successful was something they valued, and it helped me secure the position.
At the end of my EY summer internship, I was informed that I had been offered a full-time role. And to top it off, the company took us all to Disney World for a conference where we got to meet other interns from all over the world, attend workshops, and have a great time!
Congrats on going full-time at EY! What will you be working on there?
I'll be working in the government and public sector, doing supply chain and operations consulting. During my summer internship, I analyzed their current supply chain systems, and the technology they used to power the supply chain, and learned different ways we can improve all of it. I am doing something similar but at a higher-level as a full-time team member.
What advice do you have for college students looking for consulting internships and career-building opportunities in 2023?
Before you start thinking about a career in consulting, you gotta ask yourself if you're really into it and if you have the right personality for the job. Like, if you're someone who's a bit narrow-minded, and always set in your ways, then maybe consulting isn't your thing! To be a good consultant, you have to be open to new ideas and ready to offer your clients a bunch of different options that you've spent the time to fully think through. I feel that the consulting industry might be the perfect place for you if you enjoy problem-solving, and critical thinking, and don't easily back down from a challenge.
If you decide that you’re into consulting, then you're in luck because it's blowing up right now. Seriously, there are more consulting opportunities than ever before - especially in 2023. So, my advice to you would be to jump on any chances that come your way.
Also, becoming a consultant is a pretty cool career choice! Businesses are always in need of problem-solvers and are prepared to pay significant amounts for them - so one of its biggest advantages is that it is a relatively secure field.
Aside from taking on challenging opportunities and experiences on your campus, you want to begin building expertise in consulting specifically. For instance, you can take part in case competitions and join campus consulting clubs. That way, you can learn all about case studies and use club members as resources for advice and tips - all of that will help you ace job interviews. Studying consulting frameworks and tactics is another way to develop your talents. There are a number of books and online videos available that can help you.
Interviewing soon? Here are 7 questions you should ask in an internship interview.
How can you effectively prepare for job interviews or internship interviews at consulting firms like EY?
There are a few things to consider while preparing for an interview with a consulting firm like EY.
First, be prepared to answer behavioral questions. You'll be asked to describe how you've previously solved difficulties or collaborated with individuals who had different viewpoints - things like that. They also ask about your shortcomings and what initially piqued your interest in consulting. All of that is to gauge how sound and logical your conclusions are. So you want to really sit down and draft good - and honest - answers to those typical questions.
It's also crucial that you tie your responses to particular experiences you've had. If they inquire about a challenge you've encountered, give them a specific instance from your experience and elaborate on how you overcame it. Be honest and genuine with all of your answers - especially when talking about your strengths and weaknesses. And definitely frame weaknesses as opportunities for growth - things you're ready to work through.
Another important part of the interview is the case studies. They'll give you a scenario with some data or pictures and you'll need to figure out a solution. To prep for this, it's good to practice with some mock case studies beforehand. When they present yours to you, make sure you ask lots of questions to clarify the problem in your head. When you work on a solution, make sure it makes sense and is actionable before you present it.
Oh, and heads up: sustainability is a big deal for these companies, especially when it comes to supply chain stuff. They're all about reducing environmental impact, so keep that in mind! It's likely to either show up as a question or as a part of your case study.
Overall, I recommend breaking down complex ideas and researching basic math questions related to your field to help you prepare. And remember, persistence and not giving up on yourself can go a long way in achieving success in the consulting world!
Looking back, what do you think helped you get where you are today?
One of the most significant lessons I learned was how important it is to never quit. From my experience as a Campus Manager - that was a major soft skill I took away.
At FP, we call that irrational persistence - you must be willing to work hard and strategically if you want to succeed. In my early days as a Campus Manager, I remember approaching 5 different strangers to only get 1 to convert as my client and order merch with me. While it was difficult, I was confident that if I persisted, I would finally succeed. I did eventually build a strong client base, so I was right!
My whole career, especially whenever I looked for a new job or internship, has been shaped by that lesson. I refuse to accept anything less than what I know I am capable of. I want to be the greatest, and that requires hard work and perseverance. Now that I have that discipline - I know I can apply it anywhere I go.
I also learned the true value of time management. There are no defined hours when you work a job like a Fresh Prints Campus Manager. You set your own hours so that means you are responsible for balancing your social life, work, and education. It was tough at first but with time I was able to figure it out. Again - all of that still applies to my life!
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We hope that all these powerful insights from Lexi will help you ace your next interview. And if you want to take your application to the next level, click here for some solid cover letter advice. Let's help you stand out from the crowd and nail down that dream internship.
Thank you, Lexi, for sitting down and sharing insights from your career path so far! We're happy to have helped you in your journey. EY is one lucky company to have someone like you.
Interested in campus management? Hop on a 20-min call with us to figure out if it's for you, like it was for Lexi!
PS. If you are facing this dilemma, “I have so many internship offers on hand but don’t know which one to go ahead with.” First of all, what a cool problem to have. Second of all, don’t worry, we will walk you through 5 factors that will help you choose!