Protiviti

Name: Bridget O’Malley
Position: U.S. Campus Recruiting Lead
Education: Loyola College in Maryland, English
Location: Chicago, IL

How did you get your start at Protiviti?
I came to Protiviti as an employee referral. One of my friends from high school was a Protiviti consultant. She was hired through our campus recruitment program. When she heard about the open position in the recruiting department, she referred me. I started in 2005. Back then, I focused mainly on local recruiting efforts, but now my position has grown to take on a national role.

What do you look for in entry-level employees?
Our people need to enjoy working collaboratively to solve clients’ complex business problems. We want energetic students who are motivated and quick thinkers. We also need them to be creative and able to bring fresh perspectives to their work.

Can you give an example of something a student or other applicant has done that really impressed you?
I always like when a student shows they have made a personal connection. For example, after I’ve interviewed candidates I’ve gotten things via email like a recipe for tomato soup, pictures from a mutual travel location, or pictures of their dog because we happened to talk about that as part of our conversation. These are extreme examples, but, when they remember details of our conversation, it shows me they were engaged in the discussion and that they’re interested in getting to know our company.

What “insider tips” do you have for anyone applying to Protiviti?
Students should be themselves. There is a lot of pressure to put on a certain selling face and only showcase your strong suits, almost like a glossy version of yourself. Recruiters see through that, and it’s a turn off. We want to get to know the actual student and learn what drives him or her—outside of high grades and accolades.

How should a candidate follow up after an interview at your organization?
Sending a follow up email with a detail about the conversation you had or making a connection via LinkedIn are good ways to follow up. It’s important to be visible after the interview.

What is the office culture like?
“Culture” is something that interests most students, and it’s very important when you’re making a decision about a job offer. At Protiviti, we almost always work in teams; it’s a very collaborative environment. Many Protiviti employees become friends and play sports together after work or go to happy hour together. Some even attend each other’s birthday parties or weddings. Each office community is a tight-knit group, but, there is also the larger network of Protiviti employees to interact with—our consultants from all our U.S. locations attend training together, travel to our clients, and form connections with people from all over our organization.

What is the biggest misconception people have about working at Protiviti?
Some students think that working at a smaller company can be limiting, but my experience says otherwise. Entry-level employees at a medium-sized company like Protiviti have more opportunity, more responsibility earlier in their careers, more variety in their work, and closer relationships with people. Your career develops quicker because of all these elements, and it can be a lot more fun along the way.