College Experiences That Helped An Operations Supervisor At ServiceNow Succeed
To succeed in college and beyond, Allison recommends keeping options open by exploring different academic areas, even if it means starting "undecided," and utilizing college resources like professors and study groups. Networking and developing good time management skills are equally crucial, as the transition to college requires building "good practice of your time management and your study habits."
Career Exploration, Time Management, Networking, Openness to Change, Academic Engagement
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Allison Kulp
Global ISV Operations Supervisor
ServiceNow, Inc.
Loyola University Maryland , 2009
University of California Los Angeles -Executive MBA anticipated 2024
Business Management & Admin
Technology
Operations and Project Management
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Be open to exploring different areas of study during undergrad. Don't limit yourself to a specific path too early.
2. Build relationships with professors; attending office hours and engaging with them can open doors to new opportunities and insights.
3. Develop strong time management and study habits early on, as these skills are crucial for success in college and beyond. Find study partners or create a structured study schedule to stay accountable.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad that sets you up for success in your career?
Be laser-focused on one area you want to pursue. For undergrad, don't just apply to a certain school unless it makes sense for your goals. For example, if you want to study political science, apply to a school with a strong political science program.
Typically, depending on the school, you just need to get in, and then you can start progressing. You might want to get into the business school or the public health school, but you just need to get into the school first. Applying as undecided is always a good way to start your undergraduate journey.
Keep your options open. Most big undergraduate business degrees require you to take accounting and economics. Even if you think you want to be an accountant, you might discover you like communications better. Don't fixate on a specific career path just because someone else did it or it's what you've always thought you wanted.
Be open to the possibility of switching. I initially was on the accounting track and liked it, but I found myself enjoying my finance and marketing classes more. Don't limit yourself to a single category.
Get to know your professors. Some of my undergraduate professors really helped me enjoy their classes. Even with professors who are difficult, go to their office hours. Sometimes, you just need to go talk to them.
We had to take philosophy classes because it was a liberal arts school, in addition to business courses. I wanted to focus on finance, but I had to take philosophy. I would get coffee with my philosophy professor, and it helped me write a really good paper. It wasn't something I necessarily wanted to do, but I had a better connection with that professor, and I started getting into the class.
Study groups are huge. Just keep your options open. I don't necessarily do marketing; I focus more on finance. You really don't know where your path will lead after graduation. Most people adapt and switch things up.
Of course, you might have to take certain introductory classes to get your degree, so you need to focus on those. But keep your options open and take other courses that might help you decide. It's rare that people use the specific classes they took in undergrad after graduating, unless they become a doctor or a lawyer.
Keep your options open with what you're learning. Meet new professors and go to different events. If there's a guest speaker about an industry, go to their talk and be that eager person who wants to learn more about how they got where they are. Ask good questions.
Undergrad is hard because it's often the first time away from family. You have to manage your own time outside of high school. High school is more structured than undergrad. You really need to find people who can hold you accountable, like study partners.
Establish a good routine for time management and study habits. It's easy to get lost, especially if you're taking multiple classes.