Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Product Managers and Engineers
Entry-level opportunities in the field include internships, co-ops, and new grad programs, but securing these roles requires proactive preparation "at least a year and a half in advance" through subscribing to mailing lists and networking on LinkedIn. Honorebel emphasizes taking advantage of resources like university clubs and career fairs tailored for students, as these opportunities are "carved out for you because you are the future," as well as new grad programs which are tailored for specific classes of graduating students which limits the competition from professionals from other companies.
Internships, New Grad Programs, Networking, Career Fairs, Professional Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Honorebel S. Walker
Product Manager - Engineer
Fintech Company
University of San Diego
Engineering - Electrical
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense, Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level opportunities include internships, co-ops, and new grad programs, but the application process often starts a year in advance.
2. Subscribing to mailing lists and messaging people on LinkedIn are effective strategies for finding opportunities and learning what works when communicating with recruiters.
3. Take advantage of new grad programs, clubs, and resources on campus, such as career fairs and organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), as they provide valuable opportunities for networking and job offers.
Transcript
What entry-level positions in this field might undergraduates and graduate students consider?
That's a good question. To clarify, you have interns, typically offered during the summer, and co-ops, offered during the summer or a semester. Then there are new grad programs.
Keep in mind that these opportunities often require applications to start a year in advance. The days of applying just two months before are long gone; you need to start this process at least a year and a half ahead of time.
If you're interested in new grad or internship positions, I recommend searching for them on Google. Subscribe to as many mailing lists as you can. When I was looking for opportunities, I subscribed to every mailing list I could find.
I also messaged people on LinkedIn and put in a lot of that effort, making sure to "get reps in." Through this process, you learn what approaches work with recruiters and what doesn't.
Secondly, take full advantage of these opportunities because they are designed for you. For example, I'm in a new grad program where everyone who graduated last year is part of it. This means I'm not competing with random applicants from other tech companies. Instead, it's a cohort of 15 people who are all recent graduates from the same class.
I also advise taking full advantage of campus clubs and resources. I was part of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), an organization focused on increasing the number of engineers and helping them excel professionally. They hold conferences twice a year with career fairs.
At these career fairs, you can submit your resume, interview on the spot, and even get job offers immediately. I hope people take full advantage of these events, especially between the ages of 18 and 24, or even older if you're in grad school.
Additionally, career fairs are actively looking for young, bright talent. It can be tough sometimes, as I feel I could pursue roles in larger companies. However, these specific roles are created for you because you represent the future and are part of the graduating class. Therefore, I strongly recommend taking full advantage of new grad opportunities and campus clubs.