Students who aren鈥檛 afraid to be inquisitive are the ones who will stand out in the interview process.
鈥淎delphi鈥檚 liberal arts program is very conducive to this program, because we鈥檙e looking for well-rounded folks.鈥� – Bill Fuessler 鈥�79
by Jordan Chapman
For two consecutive years, Bill Fuessler 鈥�79, partner with IBM Global Business Services, has brought recruitment opportunities back to his alma mater in the form of IBM鈥檚 Consulting by Degrees, a two-year training program for entry-level consultants.
The two-day recruitment process introduces students to the positions they鈥檙e applying for via an information session, followed by a day of interviews. The event has given countless students the opportunity to train, prepare and experience the actual interview process, while still others have been offered the chance to begin their careers in a world-class company, working for world-class clients.
“I had interviewed with a bunch of different companies, but IBM鈥擝ig Blue鈥攚as coming to campus. I always saw myself in a big corporate environment.鈥BM is a great company.” – Steven Lander 鈥�14
In April 2014, Steven Lander 鈥�14 was sitting at a desk studying business management with a specialization in finance. Before the end of May, he received his job offer from IBM and, less than four months after graduation, he was working with Morgan Stanley, an IBM client, as a strategy and analytics consultant in the financial risk and fraud sector.
It was a game changer鈥攁nd a well-deserved one鈥攂ut his success didn鈥檛 come without hard work, preparation and a healthy dose of nerves.
鈥淚 had interviewed with a bunch of different companies, but IBM鈥擝ig Blue鈥攚as coming to campus,鈥� Lander said, speaking of his preparation. 鈥淚t was a little intimidating,鈥� he said, which was a cue that he needed more prep time to better leverage his chances. He dug in and began conducting research on the company, and after learning of the recruitment format鈥� four back-to-back 30-minute interviews, including one casestudy interview鈥攈e read books on that specific kind of interview. 鈥淭his way I was able to express interest in the company and know what they look for,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 went in well prepared鈥he Center for Career Development really sat me down. They made time for me.鈥�
It鈥檚 the kind of one-on-one preparation and hands-on education that Lander received at Adelphi that mirrored Fuessler鈥檚 own education while he was here. 鈥淭he connection is still there,鈥� Fuessler said. 鈥淚 want to give the students who, like me back then, don鈥檛 have these kinds of opportunities all the time. It鈥檚 a way of giving back,鈥� he said. Plus, 鈥淎delphi鈥檚 liberal arts program is very conducive to this program, because we鈥檙e looking for well-rounded folks,鈥� he said.
Students who can think from the left side of the brain and who aren鈥檛 afraid to be inquisitive and front and center are the ones who will stand out in the interview process. 鈥淲e need people who are outgoing,鈥� Fuessler said. 鈥淭he thing with consulting is, you can鈥檛 be one who sits back and is too introverted. 鈥 think the key thing is that you have to be comfortable moving outside your comfort zone.鈥�
Lander continues to fit this model. Throughout his first year on the job, he鈥檚 maintained a dialogue with Fuessler, which is a quality potential Adelphi hires should see as a great benefit to their continued education after graduation; the connection between alumni and recent graduates is one that can be cultivated.
鈥淪teven has reached out to me a number of times,鈥� Fuessler said, noting that first starting out at IBM can be a daunting experience because it鈥檚 no small company. 鈥淚 was impressed by him doing that. 鈥e felt confident enough and he wasn鈥檛 intimidated,鈥� he said.
Not only will an out-of-thebox outlook help the chances for interviewees in the IBM recruitment process, it鈥檚 a skill Fuessler and Lander both endorse because it means a person can think quickly and adapt.
鈥淓very day is a different challenge. Every day is a different solution,鈥� Fuessler said. 鈥淭here is no easy path. I can鈥檛 tell you in five years what the market will bring and what it will take to be successful. You have to always be on the lookout and always open to change. 鈥hose who don鈥檛 adapt are the ones who quickly get swept aside.鈥�
This article appeared in the .For further information, please contact:
Todd Wilson
Strategic Communications Director听
p 鈥� 516.237.8634
e 鈥� twilson@adelphi.edu