College Experiences That Helped A Development And Communications Manager At Groundwork Southcoast Succeed
Gianna's success stemmed from accumulating "almost five years of experience" before even graduating, achieved through strategic internships and volunteer work at nonprofits, advising students to prioritize gaining relevant experience, even if unpaid, to boost their resumes and stand out in a competitive job market. This proactive approach allowed Gianna to enter the workforce with a significant advantage, highlighting the importance of hands-on experience in securing a strong career start.
Experiential Learning, Networking, Career Preparation, Nonprofit Sector, Volunteer Experience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Gianna Sollitto
Development & Communications Manager
Groundwork Southcoast
Bryant University
N/A
Communications
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
Disabled, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Gain practical experience through internships or volunteer work in your field of interest, even if unpaid.
2. Build a strong resume by showcasing your experience, making your application stand out.
3. Be strategic about unpaid work; focus on roles that provide relevant experience and skills for your desired career path, potentially in the specific sector you are targeting (e.g., environmental nonprofits).
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I entered the job market with almost five years of experience in my field. I always had an internship or I was doing volunteer work at nonprofits.
So, the more that you can be strategic if you're going to accept an unpaid internship. Coming out of college with that experience, and to be able to say in those quick LinkedIn questionnaires that I had four to five years of experience, and I had just graduated, really put my resume on top of the stack.
That really set me up for success. I think if you don't have at least one internship or something that you can point to for direct job experience, that's definitely a deficit.
So be selective in your unpaid labor. Especially if you don't land the job you want right out of college, maybe you're not in the sector you want to be in or working for the cause you want to be in.
Do volunteer work in that cause or sector that you want to be in. If it's nonprofits and the environmental space, volunteer and do marketing for an environmental organization. That's what I did; I just sort of got involved.
The biggest thing that I did in college to set me up for success was get involved and develop that experience one way or the other. That's the biggest advice I would give.
Advizer Personal Links
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/giannasollitto
Twitter: x.com/GiannaSollitto
Instagram: www.instagram.com/giannasollitto/