Name: Alyson Brown
Year Graduated: 2017
Degree from Clemson: BS in Industrial Engineering, Minor: Spanish
What are you doing now?
I recently graduated from UT Austin’s MS in Business Analytics program and am now a Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company.
How did your experience at Clemson University help you find your first position after graduation?
The engineering principles and problem-solving skills obtained at Clemson have been the foundation of my professional and academic development. Additionally, the internships I completed during my time at Clemson have proven vital in both my graduate school applications and in securing full-time employment. I found all of my internships at Clemson through the career fair and Michelin Career Center job portal.
If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I had a lot of free time in college that I did not utilize well. If I had to do it all over again, I would have picked up a second major and joined a wider range of student organizations. I also would have considered graduate school options a lot sooner and explored employment positions outside of traditional engineering roles.
What would you look for if you were in the position to hire new graduates from Clemson?
In my experience, the main purpose of an interview is to evaluate your soft skills and cultural fit. By securing an interview, you have already passed the resume screen, so be prepared to showcase your teamwork, leadership, and communication abilities. You’ll stand out if you can give unique and interesting examples of how you exemplify those qualities.
What advice would you give to current IE students?
1. Get to know your professors. They are extremely interesting people, and they can be a valuable resource both now and in the future.
2. Do Creative Inquiries!
3. Do multiple internships/co-ops for the opportunity to gain real-world experience, to try new things, and to figure out what you’re interested in. Start early and don’t wait until your junior year to begin building your resume. I cannot stress this one enough.
4. Network. Like internships, networking allows you to see examples of opportunities that exist for people with IE degrees. Take advantage of campus events, conferences, and speakers. Reach out to strangers on LinkedIn. People in the industry are very inclined to talk to college students and help them figure out their career path, but this advantage disappears as soon as you start working.
What was your favorite part about your time at Clemson?
Other than the incredible football seasons I got to experience as a student, the best parts of my Clemson experience were the friendships that I formed there.
Get in touch with Alyson!
LinkedIn: Alyson Brown
Instagram: @alysunbrown
Email: alysonb@g.clemson.edu
