#PointParkWorks: SAEM Major Gaining Professional Experience Through Co-op With Global Banking Company BNY Mellon Student Profile
Meet Taylor DeLay
- Job Title & Employer
- Contract Administrator, The Bank of New York Mellon
- Major/Program
- Sports, Arts & Entertainment Management
- Graduation
- April 2019
- Scholarships
- Trustee and Steven Stein
- Hometown
- Oakmont, Pa.
- High School
- Riverview High School
- Now Living In
- Oakmont, Pa.
- Dream Job
- My dream job is not specific yet, but if I had the choice I would love to plan events that have a purpose like raising money, bringing awareness and helping people. Ultimately, I would love to work for the American Lung Association.
- Hobbies & Interests
- I am highly interested in volunteering and spending time with my friends and family. Also – when I have the time – I love to find good novels to read.
"Taylor came highly recommended. When interviewing with me directly, her interaction and poise were leading factors. Given the number of people I deal with in a day, her ability to get noticed were key factors in my decision. Taylor's ability to find the right pieces of information and ask the right questions leads me to believe the courses she is taking are preparing her. She is here every day early and prepared and regularly ensures her actions are in line with the larger scope of our projects."
"My classes at Point Park prepared me for this experience tremendously. There were many SAEM professors who continually emphasized the importance of communication, how we present ourselves and professionalism. I have previously and continue to instill those qualities into myself every day in the workplace. How I carry myself is huge — and I never want to make the wrong impression."
How did you land a co-op position with the global banking company BNY Mellon?
A recruiter from a contracting company contacted me in November about the contract administrator position I now have with BNY Mellon. After talking with Jessica Hobson, Point Park’s cooperative education specialist, she informed me that since this position involved hands-on learning experience related to my sports, arts and entertainment management degree program, I was able to turn this full-time job into a co-op experience.
Tell us about the work you do for your co-op.
I am currently working alongside seven other contractors to remediate and upload over 20,000 contracts into BNY’s internal database. Every day is different and I've learned so much about what makes a specific contract fully executed, as well as the different components needed.
How have your Point Park classes prepared you for this co-op experience?
My classes at Point Park prepared me for this experience tremendously. There were many SAEM professors who continually emphasized the importance of communication, how we present ourselves and professionalism. I have previously and continue to instill those qualities into myself every day in the workplace. How I carry myself is huge — and I never want to make the wrong impression.
What other career-related experiences have you had as a Point Park student?
I was a work study in the Alumni Relations office which started off my knowledge of working in a database. I also helped with events during my year and a half there. I believe my experience in that office helped me to start realizing what I love to do.
Eventually, I made my way to intern at the American Lung Association in the fall of 2017 and continued my internship experience into July of 2018. That experience — although unpaid — was one of the best experiences I have had to date. I was able to take charge and I learned an abundance of information about the organization, how to plan and what all goes into an event including leadership, logistics and so on. That experience was one that will always live with me and truly molded me into the professional I am becoming.
As a senior, what are your career goals for after graduation?
My goal after graduation is to work somewhere where I am making a difference in some way, shape or form. As much as we all want to make a lot of money, I care a lot more about how happy I will be in the job and the impact I am having on an organization. I truly just want to be happy and hopefully one day work in events in the nonprofit world.