College Experiences That Helped a Manager of Volunteer Programs at Adler Planetarium Succeed
To prepare for a career in managing volunteer programs, Grace explored diverse experiences during undergraduate studies, "expos[ing] myself to as many different things as possible," including various part-time jobs and service organizations. This broad approach helped Grace identify "my own strengths and weaknesses," ultimately informing their career path.
Career Exploration, Work Experience, Service Organizations, Self-discovery, Strengths and Weaknesses
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Grace Souza
Manager of Volunteer Programs
Adler Planetarium
Loyola Marymount University
N/A
English, Writing & Education
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Human Resources (HR)
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Explored diverse opportunities: Grace took various part-time jobs (tours, tutoring, administrative work) and engaged in service organizations/honor societies to discover her strengths and weaknesses.
2. Experimented with different work environments: She didn't limit herself to one type of work, gaining insights into various professional settings.
3. Self-discovery through exploration: By trying different things, Grace identified what she enjoyed and excelled at, informing her future career decisions.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I think I tried to expose myself to as many different opportunities as possible. Not even necessarily career opportunities.
I worked many part-time or temporary jobs in college just to get a feel for different work environments. I worked with people, gave tours, and tutored to see if I was interested in teaching.
I also had a couple of jobs in a pretty traditional office environment doing administrative work. I also joined service organizations and honor societies.
I really just tried to expose myself to as many different things as possible, without overcommitting or overextending, to gain insight into what I would actually like to do professionally. I think that really served me well.
It helped me discover my own strengths and weaknesses – things that I was good at and things that I was not. It just kind of helped inform my decisions going forward.
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