Brandon Barnes (BA '22, Political Science, International Law and Institutions) started searching for post-graduation opportunities in spring semester of his senior year, and accepted a job as a Data Product Consultant at Kubrick before graduation. Kubrick will be attending the College of Arts and Sciences Career + Internship Fair on January 26.
Q: Tell us about yourself! What did you major in and what did you learn about while at IU?
A: I double majored in International Law and Institutions and Political Science, and minored in Informatics and Intelligent Studies.
My studies gave me a solid foundation, a small amount of coding, and understanding of the fundamentals of data science. Also, I was part of the Indiana Political Analysis Workshop through the Political Science department, which allowed me to step out of my comfort zone a little bit and try analytical programming.
It was that opportunity that fully introduced me to the world of data, and it helped build the interest that led me to what I’m doing now. From then, I knew going forward with studies in political science that I was more interested in working in the research and data aspects of the field.
I balanced this new interest in data and technology with my focus on the legal sector, since my other major was international law. I did want to be a lawyer, and I still think one day I might consider it again, but I was determined to find a path that would allow me to explore these multiple interests of mine in the first few years of my career. Ultimately, by incorporating data science into my degree, I realized that it was something I wanted to keep learning.
Q: How did you discover Kubrick?
A: Kubrick’s talent acquisition team identified me as a potential candidate on Handshake and reached out directly. It was the spring of my senior year and with only a few months left before graduation. They came to me at the perfect time.
Previously, I had an interest in consulting and had applied to those sorts of roles before, but Kubrick’s training made them stand out to me. They offer four months of paid training in a variety of key data and technology skills, including SQL, Python, cloud technologies, as well as business practices like agile and project management, which is the main reason as to why I decided to apply.
While at IU, I worked as a Peer Coach for the Walter Center for Career Achievement. I had told many of my peers about other companies I applied to or would recommend because of familiarity or name recognition. So, it was also a surprise that I ended up joining an organization that I hadn’t heard of before!
I received lots of messages from companies large and small, but nothing grabbed me until Kubrick. I saw the opportunity to join a company new to the US, but had the backing of a large UK headquarters. They are looking to expand more into the US, and I wanted to be there early, to be a part of something special from the beginning. I really liked the whole idea of startup since they're still in that rapid growth phase. There’s a lot to learn and I will hopefully be able reap a lot of benefits from it in the future.
With my interest in international relations, I’ve always wanted to be part of a global company, so that was another exciting aspect of Kubrick. With a lot of interaction from our London headquarters and all the staff that moved over from the UK, it simultaneously feels part British, part American, and part global.
Q: What does your day-to-day work look like?
A: Most days have been pretty different! I just completed my training period, which ranged from learning business analysis to stakeholder presentations. I also had a lot of training in Python and SQL, where we would spend intensive weeks focused on building our programming skills. I'm now working on tech-related projects before beginning client engagement, so I’m putting my business and tech skills into practice.I’m part of our US DataTeam, which has allowed me to gain experience through internal projects with the company, as well as being able to advance skills I learned in training.
Q: What advice would you give to students looking for full-time jobs or internships? What are skills that could help a candidate stand out at Kubrick? What helped you stand out?
A: You’ve got to be persistent. I threw out a ton of applications my senior year and got really tired and discouraged because I got plenty of rejections or simply never heard back. But the key is being patient; as long as you keep trying, it will pay off eventually. Make sure to use the incredible resources around you at IU and see how you can improve, and search for opportunities on how to better yourself.
You should also keep your eyes (and mind) open to places you haven't seen or heard of yet, which was my experience with Kubrick. I never thought of doing something like this but found myself here and feel very fortunate for it.
For those interested in applying to Kubrick, you should know it's okay to not have a technical background. It can actually be a strength in the recruitment process not to, because it can help demonstrate your desire to grow and expand your knowledge. That’s really a core trait we value, just being willing to take on new challenges. That dedication to learning, coupled with a recognition of the importance of data and technology in today’s world, will get you far.
Connect with Kubrick Group on LinkedIn
To stand out in the application process, one of the most important things you can do is show you can think analytically and outside of the box — I believe that is what helped me get here. Besides highlighting my interest in data, I also felt comfortable in my academic background and how it applies to this field. I was able to show I had valuable transferable skills from my liberal arts degree, like communication, public speaking, and critical thinking, which can and should be applied to a tech role.
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from IU?
A: I would say my favorite memory from IU would probably be 2022's Little 500 bike race. I was part of the IU Student Foundation, so I helped put the event on. This was the first traditional race that we had in two years and it’s a longstanding tradition of over 70 years, so it was amazing to be right in the heart of it. I was responsible for organizing all the press and the logistics of the stadium, which was a big learning curve but a ton of fun. We had a huge audience for the return of the event — it was definitely a highlight of my college career!
Q: How can a student connect with the Kubrick Group?
A: First, connect with us at the upcoming virtual College of Arts and Sciences Career + Internship Fair on January 26, 3-7 p.m. After registering, make sure to sign up for 1:1 conversation.
Second, go ahead and apply to an open position!
Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn