Kostadinov used the Center for Career Development to find jobs in accounting both on and off campus.
Traveling to the United States for college with limited English proficiency is a bold move. For Tomislav Kostadinov ’10, it was the first of many. Now he makes important, calculated decisions every day as a senior associate in the finance division at Goldman Sachs.
Hailing from Bulgaria, Kostadinov always knew he wanted to study finance abroad. What attracted him to Adelphi University was the school’s close proximity to New York City, its affordability and the small class sizes it offered.
As a student in Adelphi’s Honors College, Kostadinov was able to immerse himself in the arts, literature and culture, all while pursuing his B.S. in Finance and B.B.A. in Accounting.
“Being part of the Honors College taught me how to think outside the box and exposed me to new ideas,” Kostadinov said.
Unconventional thinking proved to be a useful skill as Kostadinov moved forward in his college career. As a senior, he took Seminar in Finance, which gave him and his classmates the opportunity to manage part of Adelphi’s endowment fund.
“It was a great way to apply the skills I had learned in class before I began working full time,” Kostadinov said.
In addition to pursuing two majors in a rigorous academic program, Kostadinov was a member of the Accounting Society, the Finance Society and the volleyball club. He also held numerous student jobs– including a junior accountant in the Adelphi University Controller’s Office, a position he found with help from the Center for Career and Professional Development.
“The Career Center staff is an incredibly loving and supportive group of people who took a personal interest in me and shared so much wisdom,” Kostadinov said.
Kostadinov’s education, extracurricular involvement and connection to the Center for Career and Professional Development helped him to develop the solid network, strong communication skills and smart business sense needed to succeed in the finance industry.
After graduation in 2010, he went on to earn his CPA license, obtain his first full-time job at Schwartz & Company, LLP, and marry his college sweetheart, dance major Raquel Valiente ’09.
Kostadinov credits his professors, the Center for Career and Professional Development and Brian Rothschild, former assistant dean of the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, for getting him to where he is today.
After three years in public accounting, Kostadinov moved on to work at the Fortune 500 company Goldman Sachs, where he now spends his days doing derivatives analysis and regulatory reporting.
Given all of the success Kostadinov has achieved in his career so far, it’s safe to say that Adelphi was a worthwhile investment.
This article appeared in the Career Compass Fall 2016 Newsletter.For further information, please contact:
Center for Career and Professional Development
Nexus Building, Room 225
p – 516.877.3130
Students and Alumni: careercounselor@adelphi.edu
Employers: employerservices@adelphi.edu