College Experiences That Helped A Master Principal Solution Engineer At Oracle Succeed
Brandon, a Master Principal Solution Engineer at Oracle, credits a computer science and communication double major as foundational to career success, emphasizing how computer science informs technology understanding while communication develops crucial client-facing skills, yet asserts that "internships were probably some of the most valuable experiences" because of the exposure to real-world application and the sales cycle at a big tech company, reinforcing how classroom lessons need real world applications for lessons to be learned.
Computer Science, Communication Skills, Internships, Sales Cycle, Big Tech
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Brandon Ray
Master Principal Solution Engineer
Oracle
Wake Forest University
N/A
Communications, Computer Science
Technology
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient
Video Highlights
1. Double majoring in Computer Science and Communications provided a strong foundation for a career as a Solution Engineer, blending technical knowledge with client-facing communication skills.
2. Internships at a large tech company (IBM) offered invaluable real-world experience, exposing the interviewee to the sales cycle and customer interactions.
3. Applying classroom learning to real business scenarios through internships is crucial, as practical experience often provides more profound learning opportunities than theoretical knowledge alone.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
Absolutely. I was a computer science and communication double major. Both of those fields have a lot of applicability to my current role.
I'm learning about the technology through computer science and developing client-facing skills through communication. My internships were probably some of the most valuable experiences I had in college.
They really got me in front of customers and exposed me to the sales cycle. My internships at IBM also exposed me to working in a big tech company.
I credit Wake Forest and my education with a huge part of my career. However, I would say the internships were almost equally invaluable.
Without applying classroom lessons to real business scenarios, learning is just theoretical. I always say you learn so much more on the job than in a classroom.