College Experiences That Helped an Associate at King & Spalding Succeed
Christopher's undergraduate success stemmed from "substantive internships" and diverse coursework, allowing exploration of career paths and self-discovery; the most valuable lesson learned was the "time value of money," emphasizing the importance of a personal finance understanding for career trajectory and long-term positioning.
Career Exploration, Internships, Personal Finance, Time Management, Self-Awareness
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Christopher Jew
Associate (lawyer)
King & Spalding, LLP
University of California, Davis
USC Gould School of Law, J.D.; UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA
Economics
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness, Law
Legal
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Veteran
Video Highlights
1. Did substantive internships to explore career paths and figure out what works for you.
2. Took varied classes (diverse subjects) to confirm career path and learn about yourself.
3. Took a personal finance class to understand the time value of money and how to position yourself in your career.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
What set me up most for success in my career from undergraduate was doing substantive internships and taking classes that were broad enough and varied enough to confirm the career path I thought I wanted to embark on. Undergraduate is a time of exploration; you can do different internships, classes, and experiences to figure out what works for you.
I did an internship where I was running a painting business. I also took a Shakespeare class and a geology class that I did terribly in. I had no interest in geology. I should have dropped that class much faster, realizing I was taking eight classes that quarter and had no interest in that one. I was just doing Sudoku puzzles in class.
Ultimately, what sets you up for success is learning who you are. You need to know yourself before you can effectively engage with others. This can be an iterative process.
The other valuable thing I learned from undergrad was about the time value of money. A personal finance class is probably the most valuable thing you can take in undergraduate for yourself personally. This will also give you a sense of how things change over your career and how you might want to position yourself. There is truly a time and a season for everything.