How to Make Connections Through Tallo Opportunities

This summer, I have been a Tallo Account Support Intern at Tallo. Tallo is an online platform that connects talent with opportunities, and this is the path I took to my internship.

In my sophomore year of high school, I joined Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates (iJAG). iJAG is a nonprofit organization that works towards creating graduate-ready individuals by familiarizing them with the many different career paths available, most of which they weren’t aware of. Not only does iJAG broaden the field of careers for their students, but they also help prepare them for it. They offer resume and cover letter lessons, how to dress to impress, how to be interview ready and even offer internships, job shadowing and volunteer opportunities to help students practice and expand upon what they've learned.

Being in this class taught me so much about the professional world and who I wanted to be in it. As a first-generation student, these lessons made a huge impact on my confidence and the plans I had for my future. During my junior year, I decided to use my new confidence to try for one of the internships iJAG was offering, an internship with Principal®. When I got accepted for the position, I truly felt my future was in full swing.

As a high school student, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. And as a junior, it felt like the time to decide was readily approaching. But once I started my internship, it truly felt as if a world of opportunities had opened for me. I was in a business setting, surrounded by people with different life paths, different upbringings and in many different roles. I learned so much about what you could do with what you have and how you can build it into so much more. Skills I would have never learned, let alone experienced, without iJAG.

The Benefits of Tallo

After leaving high school, I was accepted to Iowa State University (ISU), where I have been pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics. Having had such a positive experience with iJAG, I continued to seek opportunities they offered for students who have already graduated, one of them being a scholarship. To apply for this scholarship, you needed to create a profile with Tallo. It asked questions about my career interest, location preferences, skills and more. I quickly learned it was a space that truly allowed me to showcase myself and connect me to many opportunities, ranging from internships, jobs, volunteer work and scholarships catering to my interests, preferences and skill sets.

After creating my profile on Tallo, I began to receive emails and Tallo notifications for opportunities that matched my qualifications and interests. This connection tool made it easier to explore ways to reach my aspirations. One of the emails I received was an opportunity to be a Tallo Account Support Intern. When I looked at the position description, I found myself being able to cross off all the boxes needed to qualify for the role. This made the process of applying easy.

Now, two months into my internship, I've had the experience of meeting and working with an awesome team doing incredible work. Everyone at Tallo has made my internship one of growth, knowledge and a lot of laughs. This summer, I have been able to do various levels of research, working with our partners, such as the Greater Des Moines Partnership and clients which span from an International Automotive Manufacturing company to a National Aerospace company. My assigned projects included showcasing targeted opportunities to thousands of Tallo users, as well as researching South Carolina Tech Schools and national four-year universities for student opportunities.

My internship with Tallo has been a wonderful experience so far, and I am incredibly grateful for all that I've learned and for everyone I've had the chance to work with. I look forward to taking on many new projects and working with new clients as I extend my internship into the fall while continuing my education at ISU. I am so thankful for iJAG, Iowa State University and Tallo for helping provide the professional and educational backing to make my goals more achievable. With the tools I continue to gain through these opportunities, I am very confident they will lead me to a fulfilling career in Iowa, and for that I will forever be grateful.

Tallo offers a way for students across Greater Des Moines (DSM) to connect with opportunities available across the region and the state of Iowa while giving employers a chance to find the right talent for internships, apprenticeships, scholarships and careers within their organizations. Students can start a profile, find scholarships, search for jobs or get advice through Tallo's virtual community. To create an account, register here.

Job opportunities and career resources are abundant in Greater Des Moines (DSM). Whether you're looking to find an internship, a job, develop professionally or grow as a student, we have the resources to help you thrive.