 |
|
What he does:
- Brian is currently employed as a Business Analyst at Deloitte Consulting LLP, and is based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Most of Brian’s time is spent researching industries and companies, as well as interacting with clients and performing financial analysis. Also, many of the problems Brian encounters are solved in a team atmosphere, so Brian must be able to communicate efficently with coworkers and clients.
Math on the Job:
- As a business analyst, Brian does not spend a lot of his time “crunching numbers” or performing tedious calculations; however, a background in math is very helpful in Brian’s field. As Brian says, “On a daily basis I tend not to use a great deal of college taught math. Instead the math that I learned was fundamental in shaping my logical thought process and problem solving abilities.” Thus, the skills needed for success in undergraduate mathematics courses apply to virtually every career in some way.
Brian’s background:
- Brian graduated from St Olaf College in 2005, majoring in mathematics and economics. The summer before his senior year at St Olaf, Brian worked in New York, where he talked to as many professionals as possible to try to determine his career path. Following that summer, Brian decided to apply for a consulting position at a number of different firms, even attending an interview while abroad in Bangkok, Thailand. This helped Brain solidify his current position in Febuary of his senior year in college.
Advice for students:
- A major in mathematics is applicable to any field students may pursue after graduation. As Brian says, “A math major is a great way to challenge yourself academically and can prepare you for a wide variety of post graduation opportunities. A math major teaches one how to logically structure a thought process, look at problems from many different perspectives and at St. Olaf the major is supported by a tightly knit community of professors and other students.”