When Lubi Kutua needed to start thinking seriously about a career, he did some research the old-fashioned way. "I really didn't know what I could do with a double major in math and physics, so I got in touch with some alumni to find out," he said. When one recent graduate told him that the financial world had "plenty of room for math majors," Lubi went to Hamilton's Career Center to find out more.
The Career Center staff directed Lubi to Hamilton alumni working at the international financial management firm Goldman Sachs, who directed him to Goldman's competitive internship program. "An internship seemed like a great way to 'test-drive a financial job'," said Lubi. "Although I didn't have any accounting experience, I thought that my math background and communication skills would give me a good shot at the position."
He was right. After two rounds of interviews, Lubi was offered a summer internship at a Goldman Sachs subsidiary called William Street Commitment Corporation.
Throughout the summer, the company arranged regular information sessions during which its interns met with employees from other branches of the company. "Although the job at William Street wasn't something I wanted to do for the rest of my life, I really liked the culture and the people at Goldman," said Lubi. At one such session, he learned about job opportunities in the controller's division, which seemed like a better fit.
"What I liked best about the controller's division was the variety," he said. "They work with all the different branches of the organization to make sure that financial figures balance and each branch of the company meets SEC regulations." The controller's division was beginning to interview candidates for its financial analyst training program, so Lubi applied. A few months -- and a few more rounds of interviews -- later, Lubi had a job offer.
"For me, the most valuable factor in the career search has been Hamilton's alumni network," Lubi said. "Hamilton has a lot of people in high places, and the College's reputation can open doors for you." Sometimes, getting your foot in the door really is the most important step.
