College Experiences That Helped a Program Manager at Minds Matter Southern California Succeed
Alex's undergraduate experience, encompassing diverse campus roles like mentoring, admissions work, event planning, and tutoring, unexpectedly shaped their career trajectory. These experiences, even those seemingly unrelated to their current path, instilled valuable skills like "communication," "leadership," and "being a good employee," which proved invaluable in securing their first post-graduate position and throughout their career.
Networking, Communication Skills, Leadership Skills, Campus Involvement, Career Exploration
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Alex Moses
Program Manager
Minds Matter Southern California
Reed College, 2018
n/a
English
Education, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Education
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Seek diverse on-campus opportunities: Alex's experience with mentoring, admissions work, event planning, and tutoring demonstrates the value of varied roles in developing crucial skills like communication and leadership.
2. Network actively: Building relationships with staff members, even informally, can create unexpected career connections, as seen in Alex's first job after college.
3. Focus on foundational skills: While specific roles may not seem directly career-related, developing strong work habits such as punctuality and effective communication are valuable assets in any profession.
Transcript
What did you do in your undergraduate studies to set yourself up for success in your career?
Sometimes it doesn't always feel like the decisions I made as an undergrad were intentional or purposeful to lead me to my career. But when I look back, I see they were helpful.
For instance, I volunteered for a mentoring program my freshman year of college. I also worked in the admissions office and did campus event planning jobs. These experiences taught me important skills, like communication and leadership.
I was a tutor and had many other jobs, mostly on campus. I actively sought out opportunities and networked with staff members. I wasn't necessarily doing it to advance my career; I just enjoyed talking to people. Of course, I also needed to earn money.
Looking back, these experiences were beneficial. My first job out of college involved a connection at the school where I worked. A former employee of my alma mater was working there, and I reached out to him about a role.
He provided information and answered my questions. That connection was a direct link between my college years and my first job after graduation.
Beyond specific connections, learning to be a good employee – showing up on time and communicating effectively – are skills that will always be valuable. These are skills that will serve you well, no matter what job you have in college or what experiences you gain. Even if a role doesn't seem like a career move, learning these fundamental skills will take you far.