Significant Career Lesson From An Associate Project Manager At Adobe
Jessie's most significant career lesson, learned through experience, emphasizes the power of networking and building relationships: "having those people on your side is good," achieved by proactively connecting with others, not for personal gain but for genuine connection, transforming into invaluable support and even career advancement, as demonstrated by Jessie's mastery of a new billing system through collaboration.
Networking, Communication, Relationship Building, Problem-Solving, Mentorship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jessie Nigel
Associate project manager
Adobe
California State University, Chico
N/a
Business Management & Admin
Technology, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Operations and Project Management
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. The importance of networking and building relationships with professionals in your field. Jessie emphasizes the value of connecting with people on LinkedIn, setting up informational interviews, and building genuine relationships, not just for transactional purposes.
2. Proactive communication and asking questions are key to success. Jessie highlights how asking questions, even when facing challenges like a new billing system, can lead to solutions and recognition.
3. Mentorship and collaboration are crucial for career growth. Jessie demonstrates how having a network of supportive people to provide advice, feedback, and collaboration can greatly enhance your career journey
Transcript
What is one lesson that you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
One lesson I've learned is that it's good to ask questions and talk to people, having them on your side. This is something I learned even in fifth grade, when my teacher told my mom I asked too many questions and needed to figure things out on my own.
What got me to where I am now was through conversations with people. I networked on LinkedIn intensely, setting up calls all the time. I spoke with people who went to my school, those in interesting roles, and even individuals who weren't fresh out of college.
I also met past interns and chatted with them about their experiences, their lives, and how they got to where they are. I asked them how they knew they wanted to pursue certain paths and learned a lot from those discussions.
When it was time for interviews, I suddenly had three or four people helping me with my decks and interview prep. During my internship, I presented my final presentation to a whole list of people.
Now, I have people I can go to if something comes up, if I need to talk something through, bounce an idea off of, or seek advice in a difficult situation. Having those people in your corner is valuable.
We recently got a new system to manage our billing, and it's been challenging because nobody knows how to use it yet. I was the first person on my account to figure out parts of it by asking others. I then shared that knowledge, and suddenly I was seen as the superhero who figured out time cards, even though I just asked someone who showed me.
It can be that easy to have people in your corner to talk to, ask for guidance, and get support. I've learned that you need your people, and it's about building personal relationships, not just trying to get something from them.
It's about becoming friends with them. Then, they might ask for your ideas, and you have to be there for them just as much as they are for you. It's a relationship, creating a friendship, but also a professional work friendship. That's what I've learned.