College Experiences That Helped A Finance Manager At Microsoft Succeed
To prepare for a successful career, Andrew suggests actively engaging in college life by joining clubs and meeting new people, as the interpersonal skills developed are directly transferable to the professional world where "relationships are a huge part of any business job." Moreover, Andrew highlights the importance of cultivating curiosity and a willingness to learn new things, even if it means stepping outside one's comfort zone, as this mindset is crucial for navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the technology industry.
Extracurricular Activities, Networking, Adaptability, Continuous Learning, Curiosity
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Andrew Sullivan
Finance Manager
Microsoft
Wake Forest University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Finance
Technology
Finance
Honors Student, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Joining clubs and learning different things are directly applicable to career success.
2. Relationships are a huge part of any business job.
3. Being curious and learning new, challenging concepts are valuable in the tech world.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
I would say, just join a lot of clubs. Definitely meet a lot of different new people. The same skills you learn in college, a lot of them translate right over to the real world.
You'll be friends with a lot of your coworkers, similar to making friends in college. As I mentioned before, relationships are a huge part of any business job.
So, joining clubs and learning different things are directly applicable. Do something outside your comfort zone, like joining a club you're not great at. For example, join the chess club even if you're not really good at chess.
It just opens you up to a new skill. This is exactly how it works, especially in technology companies. You go in and you don't know the majority of things that are going on.
So you're just learning and being curious. Being curious to join a different club or try a different class is the same as what you'll see in the tech world.
People who are curious will learn the most and will probably go the farthest at the company. They're curious, they ask questions, and they're able to dive in and learn a lot of new, challenging concepts.
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