The Business and Economics Internship with SJS Strategy

I came across an internship opportunity with SJS Strategy as part of the Business and Economics Internship subject offered by Melbourne Business School. I was uncertain about completing an internship online, but I wanted professional experience in an organisation. My hesitations vanished once I commenced in the position, and I knew I was at the right place. My three-month internship was with two other students who worked with me as a team.  It was a highly immersive experience and I was able to work closely with the directors. Their mentoring and guidance helped shape my consulting skills and enlighten my career goals.

I was directly involved in their client engagements and felt as though I was a valid and impactful member of the SJS Strategy team. This opportunity gave me the experience and knowledge I was looking for. SJS Strategy is a ‘Scenario Planning’ consulting firm. Scenario planning was new to me and I was eager to learn more. Scenario Planning is a powerful tool which organisations use as a pre-strategy method to build structure in uncertainty to realise strategic goals. Going through the scenario planning cycle while working on the project gave me a better understanding of the product. The work involved extensive research and analysis on trends, survey outputs clustering, workshop facilitation, and documentation, which gave me a well-rounded experience. This experience changed my perception that the key skills required for a consultant are limited to research and problem-solving. I learnt that writing, communication, and facilitation are equally important skills for consultants. Besides these skills, my teamwork and leadership skills were also tested as I worked in teams and led our projects.