Ranya Salvant

In addition to her position as tax auditor, Ranya is an event and wedding planner and worked to earn her certificate through the Lovegevity Institute. Heavily involved in her Tallahassee community, Ranya assists Girls on the Run of the Big Bend as SoleMates Coordinator and serves on several of their committees. She also volunteers with the John G. Riley Museum and is active in her sorority, Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Incorporada. As a member of Women for FSU Foundation, the Tallahassee Chapter of the National Organization for Women, and the Business and Professional Woman Tallahassee, Ranya loves to engage with the community in efforts to support its residents.

What were some Career Center services you used or events you attended?

I utilized the mock interview program and gained recognition for my internship through the Experiential Certificate program. I also had one of the career advisors help with my resume.

How did these help you in landing a full-time position?

Learning to be confident in myself and knowing what strengths to mention in an interview has made it easier for me to land amazing interview opportunities, while also impressing the senior executives and management. It’s not just with interviews, but also with my resume. I must have been in The Career Center so many times trying to revamp my resume, and now I work for the State and am co-president of an accounting business – I must say, it has helped plenty. I was gained recognition for my internship through the Experiential Certificate program, and that was remarkable because it taught me how to work as a professional for a local business in Tallahassee.

Have you participated in any experiential learning opportunities?

Like I mentioned earlier, I participated in an internship in 2011. In addition, I studied abroad in London and got to open up, experience many different cultures, and relive so much history. I came back and took an international course that plunged me deeper into global relations and awareness. I joined a sorority and was on the Executive Board as treasurer and fundraising chair, where I got take a hands-on approach to managing finances for an organization and overseeing those funds. I currently hold a leadership position with the community organization, Girls on the Run of the Big Bend, as their SoleMates Coordinator. Through this, I’m learning the importance of team organization, logistical planning, event coordination, and budgeting.

I volunteer with the John G. Riley Museum because I believe in the culture and history of Tallahassee, and educating youth through these stories and legends is one of many ways to empower them towards excellence. Also, I recently co-hosted a workshop for the Women’s Leadership Conference held by the Women Student Union and was able to discuss with a group of 40 young women and men the importance of building your personal brand to achieve goals within your community. At the end of the day, my goal is to help other individuals realize their full potential.

How have these prepared you for moving into a full-time role?

The thing I’ve learned about working in your career is that you have to communicate and be confident but also accept criticism very well. While participating in so many events, internships, and leadership opportunities, there was definitely a moment where I thought “This is the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do.” I couldn’t let that stop me. I had to ask questions when I didn’t know the answer and learn from the mistakes I had made to make sure the next time would be more fantastic than the last. The confidence is definitely a life-long journey. You will always have moments of self-doubt, but it’s learning to cope with it that matters. Learn to overcome it. It’s okay to feel the insecurity – it’s human – but the real growth and experience comes from taking that negative feeling and making sure you do better.

Describe your job search process. What were some challenges you faced or things you learned from the experience?

When I graduated, I had to move back home to help my mother and sister, and I needed a job as soon as I could find one. It took me a month to find something, and it definitely wasn’t in the field I graduated in. I was a transcriber in a little office. It wasn’t a lot of fun, but I definitely learned valuable lessons from it. During that time, I was still applying for jobs – anything finance or accounting related. By April of that year, I found a job for the Florida Department of Revenue as a Revenue Specialist in Child Support that was salaried and had amazing benefits. I knew this was my chance. As soon as I saw an opening for Tax Auditor in the department, I pounced on it and got hired in two weeks. I’m now doing what I love, in line with my career goals. I’m on the path to my own success.

I learned one magnificent thing through the job search: Sometimes it’s the little things that matter. I got chosen to work as a transcriber because I had put in my WPM speed and had passed their test. As a transcriber, I had to work with confidential information, which was one of the factors that got me chosen to be the Revenue Specialist in Child Support. And when I became a Tax Auditor, they mentioned that my prior experience in the department and my accounting background put me on the top amongst the other 75 applicants. It is the sometimes the smallest of things, so never give up searching. Never think that what you did was irrelevant. You will be surprised as to why you were chosen.

What excites you about your role?

I love investigative work. I like discovering any hidden fraudulent activities and helping the little guy who might be suffering because of it. Auditing is a beautiful system that works through tax evasions, corruption, and illegal financial activities. Sometimes auditing can be a basic run-through of a company’s financial statements to finding out whether or not a company is performing their operations efficiently or not. It’s definitely exciting, and it does require a lot of hard work and patience.

What advice do you have for current students?

Take into account your values. Matching your values with what you do is a big step in figuring out what you want to do for the rest of your life. Remember that values can change. Reevaluate your values whenever you can.

Ranya Salvant

Ranya Salvant

"You will always have moments of self-doubt, but it’s learning to cope with it that matters. The real growth and experience comes from taking that negative feeling and making sure you do better."


Major: Finance with a Minor in English; currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Public Financial Management
Current Position: Tax Auditor, Florida Department of Revenue

 

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