Cornell Retail Services is an omnichannel retailer that offers a variety of products and services, so managing their trends, inventory, and transactions across multiple store locations and ecommerce platforms is a complex process. Cornell Retail Services hired summer intern Matthew Mentis-Cort to assist in optimizing their cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

“Over the summer, I identified and implemented features in the platform to meet Cornell Retail Services’ business needs,” said Mentis-Cort. “As a newcomer to their ERP system, I watched instructional videos and practiced using the software. It seemed straightforward, but my first project revealed complexities requiring specialized expertise.”

Translating desired outcomes into results that could be achieved with the systems’ existing configuration proved difficult and required creative problem-solving. Mentis-Cort began trying ideas and eliminating those that proved insufficient. He learned to be unsurprised when steps that seemed intuitive did not work and he focused on finding and testing the next approach rather than pausing and brainstorming how to perfect a previous attempt.

He said, “Frequent meetings with the Cornell Retail Services teams, people who had more experience with the software, provided valuable insights and resources. They made an effort to learn my name and include me in their business processes, and their enthusiasm when I mentioned working with their ERP system was particularly encouraging.”

These conversations helped him realize other team members were also frustrated in their interactions with the system. “It surprised me how difficult it was to accomplish my tasks in the system. A lot of my assigned projects ended up being more time consuming than I expected because I needed to do things that were simply not possible with our current implementation,” said Mentis-Cort.

A senior Computer and Information Sciences major at Cornell, Mentis-Cort discovered his summer job through the Alliance for Diversity and Inclusion Student Intern Program. The experience helped him develop both career and life skills.

“My advice for future interns is to use your free time to explore and find yourself. It’s easy to get lost in the monotony of work and isolate yourself. Clear your mind of work after hours, try new activities, and reach out to other interns. Building connections can provide valuable support and make the experience more enjoyable,” he said.

Regarding the application process, Mentis-Cort recommends viewing interviews as conversations rather than tests. “Imagine you are chatting about your professional experiences rather than sitting down for a skill examination. Practice discussing your past projects and future goals, as these responses are similar to those you’ll give in interviews. This approach helped me navigate the interview process with confidence.”