With her parents’ guidance and support, she decided to pursue a career that blended all her unique passions. Eduarda knew that she wanted to be a scientist—one who studied human behavior and the elements that influence it. So she decided to pursue the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences. Not only did the program align perfectly with her goals, but it also covered all the subjects she loved while allowing her to work in a field she is passionate about.
Eduarda recently joined us to talk about her experience in the program and life after IE University.
Why did you choose to study the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences at IE University?
I chose to study the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences at IE University because it offered the most innovative program in my area for my undergraduate degree. It’s also a renowned university, with a very international and business focus—something that I value a lot. After visiting the campuses and learning more about student life here, I knew that IE University was the right choice for me.
How did your experience at IE University prepare you for your professional career?
IE University went beyond my expectations in preparing me for my professional career. Since the first year, we’ve had career-related workshops teaching us various things such as preparing our résumés, learning how to effectively use our LinkedIn profiles and preparing for job applications and interviews. We’ve also had learning programs solely focused on developing our careers and one-on-one sessions with our career advisor for a more personalized approach. Besides that, multiple career fairs, recruiting events and networking events helped us to prepare for the job and expand our networks.
My professors and classmates were also of great value in this process. The projects we’d work on in classes—both in groups and individually—were focused on the application of our learnings in the professional environment. Also, our professors have worked in similar areas, so they could offer invaluable guidance.
Could you tell us more about the application process for your current role?
I am currently working as a behavioral economics consultant at BeWay, the largest behavioral science consultancy in Spain and Latin America. For this job, I was contacted on LinkedIn by the recruiter, who first invited me to have a chat with them. I went through three interview stages before they invited me to join the company. IE Talent & Careers helped me shape my résumé and prepare for all three stages of the job interviews.
What skills do you feel are necessary to succeed in your field?
Some of the most important soft skills would be networking, reliability, attention to detail, adaptability, public speaking and work ethic, especially if the job is in consultancy. When it comes to technical knowledge, you must be able to apply different types of behavioral methodologies and models while understanding and applying scientific knowledge. Having strong presentation skills and appropriate certification in the area is a must.
What competitive edge has studying at IE University provided you?
One of the main competitive advantages of studying at IE University relates to career guidance and opportunities. It helped me prepare for the job market, where you not only must have the relevant knowledge and expertise but also know how to show this value in applications and interviews.
On the other hand, there was a very rich rota of events organized by both the university and its students, which put me constantly in contact with some of the best industry experts. I was also one of the co-founders of the IE Behavioral Economics Club and later become president. Because of the activities that I organized there, I was able to meet hundreds of professionals in my area and learn constantly from them. Going the extra mile helped me stand out and get competitive job opportunities. Moreover, the diversity in the classrooms enriched my perspective: having students from different countries and cultures, bringing in different ideas, helped me become more adaptable and receptive.
Do you have any advice for students and alumni looking to pursue a career in your field?
Networking is extremely important in behavioral sciences, so I advise you to take every opportunity to create those connections. Many job opportunities are not published to the public—especially when we are talking about smaller companies. Also, try to get as many valuable experiences applying behavioral sciences beforehand: coordinating clubs, internships, or other types of collaborations can help to enhance your profile. Even if your first internships are not directly related to behavioral sciences, I would still advise you to try and apply your classroom learnings in your projects.
Get out of your comfort zone, take the opportunities that come your way and excel in them.
Eduarda´s my mantra.