College Experiences That Helped a HR Professional for Startups at TriNet Succeed
Anthony credits being active in college as a key to setting up for later career success, particularly participating in the rugby club as an officer: "it was like just a little taste of like, oh, we're, you know, we're playing adults". He highlights that the soft skills gained, such as conflict management, and interacting with others, are more important than any particular job because these are things that will make or break a career when one can't just run to the teacher or parents to complain.
Leadership, Teamwork, Conflict Resolution, Communication, Real-World Experience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Anthony M. Gonzales
HR - Start-ups
TriNet Inc.
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey, MBA - Supply Chain
Entrepreneurship
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Insurance
Sales and Client Management
Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Participating in extracurricular activities and taking on leadership roles, such as being an officer in a club, provides valuable experience in managing responsibilities and interacting with others.
2. Simulating real-world job scenarios, even if fictitious, can help build essential skills like managing individuals, conflict resolution, and dealing with different types of people.
3. Developing the ability to handle conflicts and manage relationships with individuals at all levels (above, lateral, and below) is crucial for career growth, as it prepares you for the realities of the workplace where you can't always rely on authority figures or external support to resolve issues.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success?
I was pretty active in the rugby club. I played rugby at Arizona State University, but I was also an officer and the club secretary.
I thought that was a formal and responsible enough position. It allowed me to pretend we had club meetings, take notes, and send out the agenda. It was a little taste of being an adult, having a rugby club and being the club secretary.
It felt like getting real-world experience, even if it was fictitious. If it helps build habits, maybe there's an investment collaborative where you all get $1 million to invest and pretend to put it into the stock market. It doesn't have to be a real job, but pretending it's a real job builds skills.
It teaches you how to manage other individuals and deal with other people, which is the most important part of growing a career. It's conflict management and resolutions in all directions: conflict above you, laterally, and below you. You're going to interact with all of them.
When you're in a university environment, knowing that and having that opportunity will place you better in the real world. There won't be a teacher to complain to, or parents you can call. You can't say you don't like a classmate who isn't doing their work.
You have to deal with people you don't like, and they aren't going anywhere, and neither are you. You have to mature a bit as a professional and compartmentalize how your emotions come across. Don't let them bleed or affect you, cause you to lose face, or lead to other negative outcomes.