College Experiences That Helped A Policy And Legislative Advocate At Health Access California Succeed
To prepare for a career as a Policy and Legislative Advocate at Health Access California, Christine focused on gaining practical experience and building a network in college, including "a lot of internships" and holding a leadership position in California College Democrats, which led to connections with people she "actually work[s] with right now" in state lobbying. The career professional emphasizes the importance of getting involved in activities one is passionate about and ensuring the resume "at least has something on it" to secure recommendations and have a plan after graduation.
Internships, Political Involvement, Networking, Resume Building, Extracurricular Activities
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Christine Smith
Policy & Legislative Advocate
Health Access California
UC Berkeley
University of San Francisco: Masters in Public Administration
Political Science, American Studies
Government & Public Sector, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Communication and Marketing
Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Internships: Christine emphasized the importance of doing internships in college to gain practical experience and build a resume.
2. Networking: Involvement with groups like the California College Democrats provided exposure to many people, some of whom she works with currently.
3. Building a Resume and Recommendations: Christine highlights the importance of participating in activities to build a resume and gain letters of recommendation from professors and other contacts.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
I did a lot of internships in college and worked with many young Democrats. I was the California College Democrats Vice President, which exposed me to a lot of different people.
Many of them I actually work with right now, as we all ended up doing state capital and lobbying work. I think trying to meet different people and get involved in clubs that you're passionate about is important.
It also helps ensure that when you leave college, your resume has something on it. You'll have someone willing to write a letter of recommendation, and you can connect with professors and other people.
There are people willing to talk to you if you reach out, and I think that's often the most challenging part. I was really lucky in college to have done some of those activities, so when I finished, I had a bit more of a plan.