Nick Moeder

Changed my major probably twice but changed my mind about five times.

I came into college not really sure what I wanted to go into. I really liked math classes in high school, so I entered initially in engineering. After taking a few freshmen classes, I discovered I wasn’t all that interested in engineering. I switched to Open Option, where an advisor helped me think about different major and career options. I ultimately decided on Business Administration, specifically Accounting; I thought it was a great choice of something that I was both good at and enjoyed doing. After benefiting from an internship my junior year, I added Finance as a second major.

• Blue Key Senior Honorary
• Student Foundation
• Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity
• School of Leadership Studies

Yes, I had two internships with Koch Industries in Wichita, Kansas. The first summer, I worked in Koch Supply & Trading as a Trade Accounting Analyst, specifically in the derivatives trading group. The second summer I worked in Koch Fertilizer, in the mid-west plant accounting group. I’d recommend doing at least one internship for all business students. It’s a great opportunity to network with professionals in your field, get a good glimpse of what a job would look like with a company, and often can lead to a full-time job offer.

During the Spring of 2012, I interviewed for Ernst and Young’s summer leadership program – a two day event where students come on site and are able to learn about the firm, and interview for open positions. Through that opportunity, I was offered a full time position, and accepted with the firm before my final year at K-State even began. The College of Business provides so many opportunities for students to get connected and network with professionals from various companies through different on-campus programs and events.

My role is a great mix of analytical thinking, problem solving and teamwork. I enjoy the challenge of working with both my “hard” and “soft” skills at work every day, as I work with our clients and other members of our EY teams. As I have the opportunity to work on many different clients and across all aspects of accounting, I’ve found that no day is the same and enjoy the unique challenges that come each day. Additionally, I’ve found a lot of value in working and learning with some outstanding professionals who have taught and mentored me along the way.

There are a lot of great roles and companies in the world of business and accounting. I would recommend to any student at K-State looking into a major in this field to seek a mentor or someone in the “real” world who can offer you’re his or her perspective on their career path and experience. I’ve been able to learn a ton from those who have had business experiences before me, and it’s been an incredibly rewarding learning experience to help shape my path. Additionally, take advantage of all of the opportunities there are on campus to network and develop both personally and professionally. There are great programs on campus from the professional advantage program to getting involved in leadership roles and organizations that can build your professional development and make you a better person and student.

One of the things that was tough for me in the beginning was the difference in constant feedback. As students in college, we are constantly being evaluated and told how our performance is doing by receiving grades and feedback from professors and peers. In the profession, there is still feedback, but it comes less often and is more informal in nature on a normal basis. It’s much more important to take an active role in seeking feedback and ways to improve and continue to grow.