Campus Spotlight: Megan Niermeyer
Be a Sponge: An Associate’s Advice to Young Professionals for
Absorbing as Much Knowledge as Possible in the Early Stages
Megan Niermeyer is an Associate in Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) Tax practice in New York, New York. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
In this Q&A, Megan shares her journey from Texas to New York City (NYC) through the "UTNY" program, her seamless transition from an A&M internship to a full-time role and the invaluable mentorship she received. She also discusses the importance of organizational skills and networking and her love for thrifting in NYC and hiking in national parks.
How Getting Involved in College Can Impact Your Career Trajectory
Reflecting on your college experience, what unexpected lessons or insights have you gained that have significantly impacted your career?
One experience that I had in college that significantly impacted my career was a program called “UTNY.” Essentially, this allowed me to take classes at my college’s New York City campus and participate in an internship program in NYC. This program not only helped me kickstart my career, but it also showed me how much I enjoyed living in New York. I am a born and raised Texan and had never lived anywhere besides Texas, so this was a big change for me, but in the best way. I would encourage everyone to join different organizations or apply for various programs your university offers because they are invaluable resources. Take advantage of them because you never know where they will lead you.
Why did you choose to intern at A&M?
Throughout the interview process at A&M in NYC, I felt very supported by the campus recruitment heads and the people with whom I got to interview. It was cool that I could speak with people on the team I would be a part of during my interviews, which gave me a sense of the people I would work with and the team's overall energy. All my interviews were so insightful, and it was clear that the team was very knowledgeable in the field and had a strong desire to teach and mentor, which was very important to me.
What motivated your decision to join A&M full-time?
My decision to join A&M full-time was motivated by the positive and transformative experience that my internship brought me. It allowed me to move from Texas to New York City, which I was looking for after graduating college. I was also confident that, based on my internship experience, I would continue to be intellectually challenged by the work in which my team engaged. I felt like I had only skimmed the surface of transfer pricing and felt there was so much more that I could learn.
Which office are you based in, and how would you describe the office culture?
I am based in the New York City office. The culture is the right mix of having fun and working hard. When working in the office for community days, my colleagues are hard at work, tending to various exciting projects. The intelligence and drive of the people around me motivate me to be fully engaged in my work and strive for success. We also have a lot of fun together. At the same time, in the office, happy hours or holiday parties, I genuinely enjoy spending time with the people on my team and everyone I have met at A&M, making working here even better.
Essential Tips to Navigate Early Career Challenges and Achieve Success in Consulting
Reflecting on your career's early stages, what unexpected challenges did you encounter, and how did you navigate them to emerge stronger?
Transitioning from an academic mindset to a professional mindset is challenging for most people in their first job out of college. I found mentorship in the Associates/Senior Associates, who are a few years older than me. They offered great advice on navigating the transition and forming strong work habits. This mentorship made the big transition seamless and allowed me to jump-start my career. They had also given me priceless advice on things they wish they had known when they were first starting their career and offered a judgment-free zone for me to ask any questions, no matter how small or large.
What crucial skills or qualities do you believe students should prioritize developing to thrive in the consulting industry, and how can they best prepare themselves?
Organization! This is a skill that I got extremely good at when I was in college. In college, I learned the tools I needed to stay organized (a planner that is my lifeline) to ensure I was completing all assignments and always prepared for exams. I still use my planner every day and could not survive without it. This small organization tool allows me to excel in my work by giving me a unique ability to juggle multiple projects with different clients and deadlines. I have received feedback from various managers stating that I am on top of project deadlines and have the unique ability to manage projects. I attributed most of this success to the organizational skills that I was able to perfect in college.
Looking back, what advice would you offer recent graduates about effectively transitioning from academia to the professional world?
I would advise recent graduates to be very patient with themselves! The transition from academia to the professional world can be challenging. You shouldn’t expect perfection or to know all the answers on your first day on the job—I would say not even in your first year on the job, based on my experience. Your first year is for learning the “gears” of the professional world—ask as many questions as possible, get your managers' feedback and seek out mentors. All these things will teach you so much more than you would ever expect and set you up for success in your career. A&M fosters a teaching atmosphere, so take advantage of this and soak up as much as possible from your colleagues who have worked in the field for years.
What are your career aspirations for the next few years?
It is universal for most people to be unsure of long-term career aspirations after college. This is for sure the case with me. My aspirations for the next few years are to continue to challenge myself professionally to learn as much as possible. There is still so much more I want to learn from my team about transfer pricing, different industries and how to work well and effectively manage others. I want to continue to be a sponge and soak up as much as possible to implement the best practices in my daily work.
Why Leveraging Mentors Is Crucial for Professional Development
What personal attributes or traits are essential for success in your field, and how do you continually nurture and develop these qualities within yourself?
Curiosity is especially important when entering a field such as transfer pricing. I was taught very little on this subject in my college courses, so being intellectually curious to work in a field you know little about/have little experience with before starting is huge. I have learned so much about different transfer pricing regulations, industries and various analyses necessary to implement transfer pricing policies appropriately. My team comprises people with varying backgrounds, such as law, accounting, finance or economics, fostering an environment of learning from my peers. Transfer pricing is also extremely international-focused. I have always been curious to learn about different countries, cultures and languages. Because transfer pricing has a global footprint, I work with clients worldwide daily, which is so cool and unique!
How do you approach networking and building professional relationships, and what tips would you offer to others just starting?
Based on my experience, everyone at A&M is friendly and desires to mentor. This has made networking throughout the firm and building professional relationships easy and stress-free! My biggest tip would be to put yourself out there; don’t be afraid to reach out to someone (even if they are a stranger) and ask them questions about their profession and what they enjoy about their work. Most of the time, I have found that people desire to help others navigate the professional world, especially recent graduates, because everyone has been there! Having a bit of a different perspective on it now that I have graduated college and am working full time, I find it so cool when college students, most of who I have never met, message me on LinkedIn and ask to set up a call with me to discuss what I do.
What's your favorite hobby or activity outside of work, and how did you get into it?
Outside of work, I love to thrift and browse vintage shops! My friends and I especially love doing this in NYC because there are endless stores and special events to go to. I initially got into thrifting when I interned with A&M during the summer in NYC. There were so many thrift stores around me, and I constantly popped into them to see what new pieces I could find. It is so much fun and allows you to find the most unique treasures if you have the patience to look!
What's something on your bucket list that you hope to accomplish in the next five years?
My best friends and I have made it a goal to travel to all the national parks in the US. While I doubt this will be accomplished in full in the next five years, I want to have visited and hiked in as many parks as possible in the next five years—Olympic National Park is at the top of my list right now!
