Christine King

As a math major in college, Christine King was often asked what she planned to do with her degree. Christine wasn’t sure – and she’s still not – but she knows that at Booz Allen Hamilton, she’s in the right place to find out.

“There are so many different clients and so many different kinds of work, there’s always going to be something different I can move to,” says Christine, a consultant who is part of a Booz Allen financial analysis team. “There are so many different avenues to explore, and discover what I’m best at.”

Christine, who joined Booz Allen in July 2008 shortly after graduation, learned about the firm at a career fair for Thurgood Marshall Scholars like herself. What attracted her to the firm, and what she saw during the interview process and beyond, was that Booz Allen is a place to grown and learn.

“Once I started my interviews, I saw that they really want the employees to succeed, no matter what,” she says. And since she’s been on board, her managers have helped her to think about her career.

“I really believe they will help me find out what I’m good at,” she says. “There’s some give-and-take, and if you’re in a situation you’re not comfortable with, and it’s not a really good fit, the manager will help find something that’s good for you.”

All this is important to Christine, who has had a passion for math since she was young, but less of a clear picture of how to apply that passion. And she also appreciates Booz Allen’s “friendly, welcoming environment,” which has helped her to overcome her natural shyness.

“The company is very diverse, and they hire people who are friendly and will talk to you,” she says. “They have a lot of the same values I so, so it’s easy to find common ground with someone else.” For example, a co-worker told her of an AIDS walk, and they decided to take part together.

Christine says there’s an openness at Booz Allen that makes her feel comfortable asking co-workers for help – whether to review documents or help resolve a problem with email.

“I like to get to know people, and if I have a problem, I like to be able to sit and talk about it,” she says. “It’s important to me to be able to work together with people, and you can do that at Booz Allen.”

profile posted November 5, 2008