How Identity Has Influenced A Senior UX Designer's Career Working In Property Management Software
Jeanmarie's successful career path stemmed from significant undergraduate involvement in extracurricular activities like being a resident advisor and participating in associated student organizations, building crucial relationships and providing diverse interview stories. This experience, coupled with self-reflection on academic interests—shifting from pre-med to political science—demonstrates the importance of exploration and honesty in identifying one's passions, allowing Jeanmarie to confidently state that "getting involved in the university space is so important."
Networking, Career Exploration, Communication, Self-Reflection, Extracurricular Involvement
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jeanmarie Levy
Senior UX Designer
Property Management Software Company
UC Santa Barbara
University of Southern California, Masters of Education in Higher Adminstration
Political Science, American Studies
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Get involved in university life: Join clubs, be a resident assistant—it builds relationships and provides interview stories.
2. Explore different academic areas: Don't be afraid to change your major if you find something more interesting. Reflect on what truly engages you.
3. Identify your flow state: Understand what activities keep you focused and engaged, it will help you find your career path and excel in it.
Transcript
Here's the cleaned transcript:
**Q12: College ideas for success**
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career? I feel I've had a successful career because I was deeply involved as an undergraduate student.
Both being a resident assistant and participating in associated students, along with involvement in various clubs and leadership roles in extracurricular activities, gave me the opportunity to have many stories to speak to during interviews, rather than just the academic side of the classroom.
I feel getting involved in the university space is so important, both for networking opportunities. Tons of people I work with to this day know me from, "Oh, you were my RA," or "You worked with me in college." That level of relationship building was crucial.
I was also able to try out a lot of things and be okay with not having it all figured out after year one or year two. I came in as pre-med, I think, and left as a political science major – a very different shift. I don't think I would have gotten there if I wasn't curious about other options, wondering what a different class would be like.
It's important to be reflective about what you could do for hours academically and professionally. Can you read about history for hours? Or science? What things keep you in that flow state? So involvement and being honest with yourself about your interests are key.