College Experiences That Helped a GTM Enablement Director at a Software Company Succeed
While in college, Caitlin worked full-time at a winery tasting room which, beyond the financial benefits, taught invaluable time management skills and helped discover a love for connecting with people from all walks of life, making it "easily the best thing" from undergrad. This experience allowed Caitlin to hit the ground running post-graduation, with time management skills, the knowledge that Caitlin "liked people," and a clearer idea of career aspirations, which ultimately aided the career professional to excel as a Director, GTM Enablement & Productivity at Software Company.
Time Management, Interpersonal Skills, Career Exploration, Professional Development, Real-World Experience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Caitlin Bercha
Director, GTM Enablement & Productivity
Software Company
Cal Poly SLO
MBA - University of San Diego
English, Writing & Education
Technology
Business Strategy
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Time Management: Balancing a full-time school load with a 30-40 hour work week at a winery tasting room taught Caitlin valuable time management skills.
2. Interpersonal Skills: Working in the tasting room exposed Caitlin to people from all over the world and various walks of life, helping her develop strong interpersonal and connection-building skills.
3. Career Exposure: Interacting with diverse customers at the winery provided Caitlin with exposure to different career paths and valuable advice from experienced professionals.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
In college, I had a full-time job working at a winery tasting room in Paso Robles, California. It was as fun as you might imagine.
That job taught me a lot of things, but first and foremost, it taught me time management. I had to balance a full-time school load with about 30 to 40 hours a week at the winery.
It also really set me up for success. Before that role, I wouldn't have said I was much of a people person. I was social, but working in the tasting room, I met people from all over the world, from all walks of life.
My favorite part was making connections and learning about people. I also got exposure to different career paths. People would often impart their wisdom on me, knowing I was a college student.
That was easily the best thing I did in college. Of course, the money was helpful and very nice, but that job allowed me to hit the ground running after graduation. I knew how to manage my time, I knew I liked people, and I had an idea of what I wanted to do.
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