College Experiences That Helped a Senior Sourcing Analyst at NASCAR Succeed
Giovanni believes being involved in diverse activities during undergrad, despite a science-focused major, was key to career success, and suggests students "dip your toes in different areas" and explore various clubs and jobs to develop unique skills that set candidates apart and foster innovation. Having this diverse background, which included tutoring and teaching English, ultimately helped in applying for internships and jobs by showing experience outside of the cookie cutter mold.
Extracurricular Activities, Diverse Skillset, Interdisciplinary Learning, Innovation, Adaptability
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Giovanni Pieve
Senior Sourcing Analyst (former)
NASCAR
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey: MBA
Engineering - Aerospace
Sports & Fitness, Technology
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Being involved in a lot of different things, even outside of your major, can set you up for success.
2. A diverse background can help you stand out when applying for internships and jobs.
3. Companies are looking for innovators, not cookie-cutter employees, so try different things and explore various areas.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
In college, what set me up for success was being involved in a lot of different things. My degree was in the sciences, but I also minored in Italian. I was a writing tutor and an Italian and Spanish tutor, which led me to teaching English. So, while I was working in a lab, I was also an English teacher, which gave me a very diverse background.
In my MBA program, utilizing that diverse background really helped me. Having that background of all these different experiences is what set me apart when I applied for internships and eventually jobs.
It's important to dip your toes in different areas. Your major might be X, but that doesn't mean you can't explore Y and Z. Try it out, join a different club, or look at jobs that aren't directly related to your major but where the skills you picked up in your major could help you thrive.
Companies are looking for that. They're not necessarily looking for the cookie-cutter employee; they're looking for someone who can innovate and bring in new ideas. So, try different things. That doesn't mean try everything, as you don't want to overstretch yourself, but explore different areas and join different clubs. Don't pigeonhole yourself to just the specific part of your major.