College Experiences That Helped A Business Intelligence Analyst At SAP Succeed
Chalamar emphasized that college is "really, really bigger than" just getting a degree, highlighting networking as the key to their success. By actively meeting people, utilizing resources like mentorship programs, and exploring different analytics roles, Chalamar learned how to take initiative in their career, a skill that continues to be valuable as they navigate their professional development within SAP.
Networking, Mentorship, Career Guidance, Opportunity Exploration, Self-Advocacy
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Chalamar Elkridge
Business Intelligence Analyst
SAP
University of San Diego, Sacramento City College
N/A
Mathematics, Data Science, Statistics
Technology
Data and Analytics
Honors Student, Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, Student Athlete, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Networking in college is crucial for career success, providing access to mentors and diverse opportunities within the industry.
2. Take advantage of college resources like mentorship programs, as mentors can provide valuable career advice and guidance.
3. Proactively reach out to people in your desired field to learn about projects, required skills, and how to get involved, as this initiative is essential both in college and in a professional role.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
I used college for more than what it was. Many people see college as just a place to learn or get a degree, but it's much bigger than that. The biggest thing I took away from college was my networking experience and meeting many cool people.
I feel that this really set me up for success in my career. It allowed me to take advantage of different resources. Through USD, we have a mentorship program, and I got a mentor there. I still talk to him to this day; he gives me career advice and has guided me to the role I have now.
Even in day-to-day interactions at USD, I met people who opened my eyes to different opportunities within the industry. When I first came to USD, I wanted to be a quantitative analyst, but I didn't realize how many different analytics positions there were or how broad the field really was.
Networking and talking to different people, rather than just focusing on education, was something that really set me up for success. I've continued to do this in my current role. Even in your company, it will be harder to talk to people because not everyone is your age or here for the same reason.
Not everyone is trying to accomplish the same goal, so you have to put yourself out there and want to meet new people. You need to make yourself known to new faces. For example, within my role, I want to transition to the data science team after July.
It was up to me to reach out to the data science team, see what projects they were working on, and how I could help. I also needed to find out what skills would be good and how to apply. This was all on me to reach out and do. I feel like in college, you have a bit more guidance than you will in the industry. If you can get that down in college, then you'll be great in the industry.