Career Path of a New Graduate at an Insurance Company
Chihiro's early career began with an undergraduate job doing "data entry and general administrative work," which, while not directly career-related, led to proactive networking with alumni, ultimately resulting in a post-graduation role in the insurance industry despite initial interest in environmental consulting. This highlights the value of early career exploration and proactive networking in shaping career trajectory.
Networking, Career Exploration, Job Search, Entry-Level, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Chihiro Kurokawa
Private Equity Director
ZT Corporate
UC Berkeley
UCLA; MBA
Business Management & Admin
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing), Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Finance
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. Chihiro's early career involved data entry and administrative work, which, while not directly related to her current role, provided valuable work experience.
2. She proactively reached out to alumni in various industries to network and explore potential career paths, demonstrating initiative and career exploration.
3. Despite initial interest in environmental consulting, she transitioned into the insurance industry through on-campus recruiting, showcasing adaptability and openness to different career opportunities.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
When I was an undergraduate, I worked in the Office of Environment Health and Science. I did data entry and general administrative work.
It wasn't necessarily a step toward a career for me. It was honestly a job to help pay the bills.
But one thing I did do as I approached graduation, in early senior year, was some outreach. I reached out to alumni in various industries or companies that I found interesting.
I remember talking to people in companies in the environmental consulting sphere. That was an area of interest at the time. I was trying to secure internships, or at least have informational interviews.
That outreach was valuable for me. I ultimately went in a completely different route through on-campus recruiting and ended up in the insurance industry immediately following graduation.
Advizer Personal Links
instagram.com/cgkurokawa, linkedin.com/in/cgkurokawa