Tiernan O'Connor: Business Operations Analyst at LinkedIn

Tell us about yourself.  Where did you go to college and what did you study?

I’m from Wexford and graduated from Trinity College Dublin in May 2020 where I studied Management Science and Information System Studies (MSISS). Since August I have been working full-time in Dublin. 

What have you been doing since you finished college? 

I recently joined LinkedIn in Dublin as part of the Strategy and Analytics Program. This is a two year program in which analysts can rotate across different functions and teams at LinkedIn to develop an array of business skills and work across many different areas/products of the business. I am currently on my first rotation within Business Operations (BizOps), where I’m focusing on growth across Linkedn’s international markets.

Why did you join ISCG?

My main motivation for joining the ISCG was my interest in pursuing a career in consulting. I knew the ISCG would provide me with the opportunity to learn more about consulting while enabling me to work in a team of students, solving real-life client problems. I was particularly drawn to the ISCG as I was fascinated by my project’s problem statement and client whose business mission was to provide working opportunities for people interested in careers within the non-profit sector.

Did ISCG come up in any of your interviews, how did the employer react?

Yes, I’ve talked about the ISCG in numerous interviews. The ISCG always leads to an interesting discussion with employers as they like to know how as a student, you applied the skills developed in school and university and worked with a real-world client. I feel discussing the time you dedicated to the ISCG really illustrates your interest in consulting and shows employers that you are willing to invest time and effort into things outside of your college work or part-time job.

What’s the most beneficial thing you learned/experienced during your time with ISCG? Have these learnings been useful since you started your career?

I really enjoyed the experience of working with like-minded students and coming together to deliver a solution to a client. One of the best learnings from my time with the ISCG was how to present and deliver findings. As part of my project, we had to compile a report of our findings which was then delivered to the client. This involved many iterations of report-writing to ensure our client was being given the most important information, in a format that was easily digestible. Presenting information, whether it be in a document or in a zoom full of people, is a key competency of my role at LinkedIn and something which I am still actively working on. The ISCG helped me to develop the foundations for these skills, which in my opinion, can always be improved upon.

How do you see the future of ISCG?  Where do you think the group is headed?

The work the ISCG does is truly impactful as it provides clients who may not have the means or time to invest in costly consulting services to get really great solutions for their business problems while enabling students to gain invaluable consulting experience. I would love to hear more about how the group has tackled the shift to remote working and if this is something they believe they can leverage to scale and expand their future operations!

Would you recommend current students signing up for ISCG, why would you recommend it?

I would definitely encourage any students with an interest in consulting or non-profit work to get involved with the ISCG. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, learn lots and deliver a ton of impact!