Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
How this Auburn student landed a job with a Fortune 500 company
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For Auburn student Carmen Tuten, what started as a summer internship has turned into a full-time job offer from a Fortune 500 company. We caught up with Carmen to learn more about her internship and job offer from national defense company Leidos + what advice she has for future students at Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business.
Meet Carmen Tuten + why she chose Auburn University
Like many other students in the Loveliest Village on the Plains, Carmen Tuten chose Auburn because of the university’s close-knit community and small-town feel. Born and raised in another small Alabama town—Athens—Carmen arrived at Auburn with an interest in Information Systems Management, but didn’t know exactly what career path she would end up on.
“My courses at Auburn helped me realize that I wanted to be on the people side of business rather than the technical side—so I landed in project management, and that’s what I love to do now.”
Carmen Tuten
While at Auburn, Carmen interned at the McCrary Institute, a university research center focused on national and economic security by securing critical infrastructure from cyber threats. During her internship at the McCrary Institute, Carmen learned about Software-defined radio (SDR), Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) research and other cybersecurity concepts—critical skills that would help in her post-college job search.
Landing an offer from a Fortune 500 company
Throughout her time at Auburn, Carmen applied to a wide variety of internship opportunities. While perusing LinkedIn for openings, Carmen saw and applied for an internship at Leidos, a national security company with a presence in Huntsville.
“I talked a lot about the Harbert College of Business during the interview, and I think that really made me stand out among other canidates. Although I was in Information Systrems Management, the pre-business requisites gave me a background in Accounting and Finance that set me up to be a well-rounded employee.”
Carmen Tuten
After completing her internship with Leidos over the summer, Carmen was offered a full-time gig at the Fortune 500 company.
“What most excites me about the offer from Leidos is being able to continue working in project management, which is a career path I have grown to love. I’m very excited to go back and rejoin my team in Huntsville—I start at the end of May!”
Carmen Tuten
How an education at the Harbert College of Business can help jumpstart your career
Whether you’re currently enrolled at or considering a business degree from Auburn University, the Harbert College of Business can help you make the most of your college career.
“My advice would be to apply early and apply often. Apply to as many jobs as you can find and use your connections. My internships have all come from connections with people!
The Harbert College of Business is fantastic about providing students with the tools for success, so make sure to utilize those resources while you’re on campus.”
Carmen Tuten
To learn more, follow the Harbert College of Business on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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