Alla Burshteyn

Success Stories

The strength of my professional network, which includes my ongoing relationship with career center advisers, past and current professors, and the Director of Student Services and Corporate Relations prevailed to be some of my most valuable assets.

Considering the current economic environment, receiving a job offer from Suntrust Robinson Humphrey as an Investment Banking Analyst seven months prior to graduation is quite a gratifying feat. After evaluating my recent experiences, it is evident that my success was achieved through atypical channels. Undoubtedly, pursuing a degree from the Terry College of Business was a prominent contributor, and being able to answer challenging questions throughout interviews is a necessity, but I learned that sometimes the most powerful attribute a job candidate possesses is the strength of their professional network.

The summer internship with Merrill Lynch the summer prior to my senior year helped facilitate where I am today. The impressions I left and the relationships I made sure to solidify opened the door to a breadth of opportunities. I was immediately exposed to how expansive the University of Georgia’s alumni network is when I was connected with numerous contacts in different areas within my field. I leveraged their expertise and willingness to expand my knowledge. They helped realize the career path I wanted to pursue. Their recommendations to employers were the primary facilitators to why I was presented various interview opportunities. The strength of my professional network, which includes my ongoing relationship with career center advisers, past and current professors, and the Director of Student Services and Corporate Relations prevailed to be some of my most valuable assets.

I am fortunate to have built a strong network that I am confident would go to great measures to ensure my success. As someone who has successfully endured one of the toughest job markets in years, I can confidently say that a strong professional network can take a student anywhere. I look forward to the day that I can serve as a resource and be the reason a student realizes their passions, gets an interview, or signs a contract for their dream job.