Analytics: Careers

/ A Day in the Life of an Analyst /

As graduation looms nearer, you're probably pummeled with questions about the future. Or, you may be one year into your first job and wondering if there is something else out there more challenging - a better fit for your skills and interests. What next? Job? Grad school? Something technical or something in the business world? A job that opens the door to all of those opportunities is worth exploring!

As an Analyst at Analytics Operations Engineering, you will have hands-on experience across several dimensions. Think of it as a two to three year introduction to consulting, the real world, business and more. Analytics is an Operations Research (OR) consulting firm located in downtown Boston, a great place to be for work and play. We use sharp technical skills to solve difficult problems, finding smart solutions for businesses to run at their best, whether by minimizing costs, finding the core group of customers to target for a direct marketing campaign, or completely overhauling a flight scheduling system for a fractional jet company. Sound exciting? You'll find real and challenging projects with creative techniques here.

You don't need to have an OR background to work here; a bright mind, some programming experience, a strong work ethic, and great people skills will take you far. A technical academic background, like math or computer science, from a well-respected and rigorous program, is preferred, since we solve our problems quantitatively. But, you'll learn a ton on the job. The consultants love to teach, so feel free to ask them any questions, whether it's a VBA error that Google can't answer, or what recipe they're using for delicious sourdough bread. Some will even pass on their skills in Analyst Boot Camp, two weeks of training (interspersed with a few good games and prizes) that will give you an overview of the skills and industries we work with. You'll come out with the tools you need to jump into your first project without feeling like you're being fed to the wolves.

Intrigued? Want to learn more? Click on the links below to learn more about life behind the scenes as an Analyst.

Analyst 1: A Day in the Life of an Analyst

Both work and life are extremely enjoyable at Analytics. One day I might be searching for a pattern within 30 million lines of customer transactions, the next could be spent building an inventory simulation for a global materials manufacturer. I'm fully involved in each project, at times communicating directly with the client or a client team member, making a real impact on business performance. Some travel, about a few days a month, will be involved. The travel is mostly project dependent without unnecessary face time. And of course, at the Boston office, there's a really relaxed and friendly culture. Jeans and sneakers are welcome. I'll usually catch up with a coworker over some coffee and a snack. The massage chair is available while code is running (or not). And on Friday afternoon, there might be a company happy hour or an LL Cool J YouTube fest to kick off the weekend. (Fridays are the best!)

Analyst 2: Why I chose Analytics/why I'll be glad I chose Analytics in a few years...

Coming out of college I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to do something quantitative, but I also wanted to make an impact with my work, not just hide in a back corner cubical crunching numbers. The projects at Analytics were right up my alley, but what made me decide to work here were the people. I loved that it's a small company with quirky people and happy hours. When you spend the majority of your day at the office, having well-rounded, pleasant people to work with makes all the difference in the world.

Analytics has given me exposure to many different industries and project types. Having this many opportunities, especially in your first job, is really valuable. I've been able to dabble in both consulting and more technical tasks, sometimes even hard-core programming. Having this much client interaction is great. There will be options after Analytics, too- I have the foundation to apply to grad school (our consultants have connections in different fields, not just OR), apply for a next job, or get an MBA. Because as much as I'll help out in my years here, the favor will be reciprocated and Analytics will send me off strongly onto the next step in my career.