How Identity Has Influenced a Hardware Engineer's Career at a Fortune 10 Tech Company
Bob, a first-generation college student, attributes their career path to "dumb luck," highlighting a lack of awareness regarding career planning and educational options like graduate school, even as a junior. This led to a reactive approach of "sign up for classes, try to get good grades," rather than proactive career exploration, underscoring the importance of early career planning.
First-Generation College Student, Career Luck and Planning, Graduate School, Proactive Career Exploration, Mentorship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Bob Buckley
Hardware Engineer
Fortune 10 Tech Co.
UNL
UCSB
Engineering - Mechanical
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Highlight 1: Bob emphasizes the role of luck in his career path, highlighting the importance of proactive career planning and exploration. He wishes he had been more intentional in his career choices from a younger age.
2. Highlight 2: Bob's lack of awareness about graduate school as a junior in college underscores the value of seeking out mentors and networking within your field of interest. He encourages students to actively explore options and learn about various career paths.
3. Highlight 3: Bob's experience as a first-generation college student highlights the unique challenges and opportunities faced by students without prior family experience in higher education. His story emphasizes the importance of seeking guidance and mentorship to navigate career decisions effectively.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as a first-generation college student, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
Essentially, I didn't know better. As a first-generation student, I didn't put much stock in needing college. I cared and tried hard, but it wasn't something I expected I would need for a career.
I was really just lucky in how I fell into various places and found mentors. I ended up in graduate school, and feel my education and career just sort of fell into place out of dumb luck.
I wish I had thought more about my future when I was younger, and what kind of schooling that might look like. I would have made different choices.
I wish I had taken more initiative to think about my career and make steps toward pursuing one I wanted. Instead, I just signed up for classes, tried to get good grades, and then didn't know what to do.
I wish I had thought more long-term about what I wanted to do after school. Should I do an internship? Should I talk to professors about their lives or reach out to people in the industry to understand where things are going?
I wish I had been more proactive in understanding career options. I remember being in the middle of undergraduate and someone mentioned graduate school, and I asked, "What's graduate school?" I was a junior in college and had no idea about the opportunities and paths people take for successful careers that needed extra education.
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