Posted August, 2023
BU Connects, the online platform connecting Boston University students and alumni, continues to foster success stories of professionals thriving in their respective fields. One such success is Max Lesieur (CAS’22), a recent Statistics and Computer Science grad who leveraged relationships he created on BU Connects to become a Research Software Engineer at BlueHalo. Max’s journey provides valuable insights for students and alumni looking to make the most out of their internships and career transitions.
Connecting with the right mentor via BU Connects
Searching the Directory on BU Connects, Max found the profile for BU alum Onur Savas (ENG’07,’09), Senior Principal Scientist, AI/ML & Cloud at BlueHalo. Max messaged Onur, hoping to gain insights into the data science field and refine his career goals. Onur was happy to share career advice, and the conversation led Onur to refer Max to an internship opportunity at BlueHalo, which Max was later offered and excited to accept.
Making the most of an internship: Advice and connections
To maximize the internship experience, Max suggests exploring various tasks and projects to determine your personal preferences and interests. He emphasizes the value of connecting with co-workers and maintaining those connections beyond the internship, as they can potentially lead to future opportunities.
The search for a full-time job
Once the internship at BlueHalo began, Max gained visibility within the company by speaking up with ideas, engaging in informational interviews, and showcasing his hard work. He acquired crucial professional skills while in the position, but full-time employment in the company was not guaranteed.
Despite encountering various obstacles during his job search, Max took a strategic approach and learned to handle rejection without taking it personally. Max kept in touch with Onur and his internship managers after the internship ended, emphasizing his professionalism, effective communication, adaptability to the company’s tech stack, and willingness to share work with colleagues and online communities. Ultimately, Max leveraged those relationships to get hired into a full-time position at BlueHalo. Because of his internship success, he was able to integrate seamlessly into the company and ensure his long-term growth within the organization.
The impact on career goals and aspirations
By highlighting the rewarding nature of conducting research in tandem with software engineering and data science, Max’s experience at BlueHalo has enabled him to delve deep into new topics, identify his preferences, and explore potential pathways for his future career. Furthermore, he encourages students to embrace the role of mentors and actively seek ways to assist others, as the process can be mutually rewarding.
From his early fascination with computers to a successful career in data science and research, Max’s story inspires those navigating the internship and job search process. By taking advantage of the networking opportunities on BU Connects, Max was able to easily identify and reach out to a supportive alum who advised him, eventually leading to an internship and full-time employment. By combining one’s natural ambition with the technological capacity of BU Connects, Terriers of all ages have a powerful new tool to achieve their own career success.