From a young age, Alison Davis enjoyed problem-solving. A career in STEM was a clear fit, but she didn’t consider data science until ORTEC, a leading partner in data-driven decision support, introduced her to the field.
“I feel like data science found me,” Alison says with a smile, “but it stuck because of my passion for mathematics and solving challenges.”
With ORTEC to thank, Alison was committed to building a career at the intersection of data science and mathematical principles. The next challenge? Landing the role.
We sat down with Alison to hear how she progressed from an industrial engineering college graduate to a full-time data scientist at ORTEC, including the top four skills that helped her stand out as the right candidate.
Paving her way as an intern
Alison first discovered ORTEC during the fall semester of her sophomore year at the University of Louisville. The college hosted a career fair to help engineering students pick a co-op program for the spring.
“ORTEC’s passion to improve the world using mathematics really struck me,” she says. “And when I dug even deeper, I saw that the focus on mathematics was in supply chain activities like routing and loading. The fit for me could not have been better!”
Moving forward meant standing out in the interview process — and with education and passion, she did.
“I believe I got the job because I had a solid foundation in coding as an industrial engineering student, I showed strong interest in the mission of ORTEC, and I demonstrated my eagerness to learn,” she says.
Alison returned the following summer for a second internship and then again as a master’s student.
“I reached back out to ORTEC about potential opportunities to collaborate on my thesis,” she recalls. “By the time my master’s came to an end, I was hooked on data science at ORTEC and all of the endless questions we could answer using it as a tool.”
Positioning herself for a full-time offer
ORTEC had won over Alison, but she knew she needed to prove her value to the company in order to land a full-time data science position. Throughout each of her internships, she set herself apart by developing four habits:
- Dedicating energy and passion to her work. “I always felt very invested in my projects which set me up to perform at my best,” she says.
- Speaking up with ideas. Alison admits that she struggled with imposter syndrome from time to time, especially at the start of her first internship. “I challenged myself to speak up and trust myself enough to share my ideas,” she says.
- Asking questions. Alison shares, “Since I was invested in my projects, I took every opportunity to ask questions, gain clarity, and learn from others.”
- Seeking out opportunities. Throughout each internship, Alison proactively volunteered to help with projects and find more ways to get involved. “If I heard about something going on in passing and it interested me, I would speak up about my interest,” she shares.
The effort paid off. After graduating with her master's in industrial engineering, Alison was offered a full-time data science position at ORTEC.
And she’s continually reminded that she’s in the right place.
“I really appreciate how I’ve been allowed to grow into a path that fits me. I do a bit of coding, a bit of designing, a bit of talking to customers, and a bit of leading others on my team. My role has been adapted to what I enjoy, and I feel like that’s because ORTEC cares about my success and happiness at work,” she says.
3 tips to stand out in an internship
For Alison, landing her dream role required time, care, and a bit of strategy, stemming all the way back to her performance in that first spring internship.
If you find yourself in a similar position, Alison offers these three tips to help you stand out as a strong candidate for a full-time position:
- Take ownership of your projects. Alison clarifies that ownership involves advocating for yourself and your work. “Make sure that the goal, stakeholders, and details of your project are clear. If they’re not, get answers and make things clear.”
- Build connections. “When you make connections during an internship, you’ll learn more about all of the possibilities at the company,” Alison says, adding that this helps make your role more visible to company leaders.
- Embrace a growth mindset. “As an intern, searching for learning opportunities will help you stand out. If you focus on your growth, including listening to others and applying the learnings, the quality of your work will also benefit,” Alison explains.
