Sofiia Vavrynkevych ‘24 will be entering The Hartford’s Finance Leadership Development Program (FLDP) after graduation. As a finance major and risk management and insurance minor in the Barney School of Business, Sofiia’s experiences at UHart have helped her land a position just after graduation.
“The Career Ready curriculum offers a lot of career preparation for students,” she explains. “This includes internship opportunities, résumé revision, and mentorship programs. This helped me strengthen my résumé and led to a lot of interviews, which is how I got my internships.”
Sofiia chose to study finance because it can open the door to a diverse set of industries. She has had two internships, one in her first year and one in her junior year. At the first internship, Sofiia worked one year as an international tax intern for Raytheon Technologies, full time during the summer and part time during the school year. The second one internship was in the FLDP at The Hartford, as part of a Strategic Sourcing and Real Estate team. Barney gave her the chance to participate in an externship with The Harford, which eventually led to her internship and a full-time job offer.
The education Sofiia received as a finance major gave her important knowledge to utilize at The Hartford. “Understanding accounting concepts is crucial in finance,” Sofiia emphasizes. “UHart's finance program overs financial statements, accounting principles, and financial ratio analysis. This knowledge is essential for tasks like financial statement analysis, investment research, and credit risk assessment. Strong communication and critical thinking skills are valuable assets in any career. UHart courses, both within the finance program and general education requirements, emphasized these skills.”
Sofiia says her experience at UHart has been great and that she has met many people that she will stay in touch with after graduation, even students from vastly different backgrounds. She also met a lot of great professors whom she has built meaningful connections with. Specifically, she worked very closely with Kenneth Goroshko and Ken Goldstein, who offered her a chance to participate in The Hartford externship, which she says she is very grateful for. “That externship led me to where I am now, past the internship and almost at my full-time job. These professors have helped me build the knowledge that I have now. They were always there whenever I had any questions and were happy to help.”
Sofiia’s favorite thing about UHart is the small class sizes. She says this helps students interact with their professors and get to know other students personally. Furthermore, she says the community of international students at the University creates a welcoming atmosphere for students from all backgrounds.
On campus, Sofiia has been involved in the Finance and Economics Club. As a member, she has helped organize career fairs and raise awareness for the club. Her advice to incoming students is not to be afraid, but to ask questions! “Professors are there to help you learn and clarify doubts in class or during office hours. Utilize resources like office hours, tutoring centers, and study groups. Learn to manage your time efficiently, focusing on important tasks first. Join clubs, attend events, and explore extracurricular activities that align with your interests. This is a great way to meet new people and discover passions outside of academics.”
Sofiia Vavrynkevych ‘24, Barney School of BusinessMake friends, connect with professors, and develop a network of people who can support you throughout your college journey. It will also help with building connections. Challenge yourself to try new things, even if they seem intimidating. College is a time for personal growth and exploration.