College Experiences That Helped a Senior Consultant at Deloitte Succeed
Jorge's conscious prioritization of a high GPA to gain entry into a good graduate school significantly impacted their career trajectory, as "that was gonna be an important factor" in securing a strong job. Simultaneously, accidental leadership roles during undergraduate studies unexpectedly bolstered their resume, proving valuable for securing positions with Teach for America and Deloitte.
Leadership, High GPA, Networking, Career Planning, Graduate School
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jorge Galan
Senior Consultant
Deloitte
University of Texas at Austin - 2013
University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business - MBA
Spanish & Other Languages, Fine Arts, Music
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Consulting
LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Prioritized academics to achieve a high GPA, understanding its importance for competitive graduate school applications and future career prospects.
2. Actively sought and participated in leadership roles, gaining valuable experience and enhancing resume credentials.
3. Highlights the importance of both conscious academic pursuit and the value of accidental leadership opportunities in career development.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
There are two things I did in undergrad that set me up for success. One was very conscious, and the other was less so.
The first was realizing I wanted to go to grad school and understanding that a high GPA would be important for my applications. I made sure to prioritize getting the highest GPA possible in all my classes.
This meant making sacrifices, like staying up later, not going to parties, or skipping weekend trips home. I knew these efforts were crucial for my grad school applications.
Because of this focus, I was able to get into a good business school and secure a good job. At the very least, it didn't hold me back.
Something I did less consciously was taking on a few leadership positions at UT. It wasn't necessarily a desire to be a campus leader, but more about being in the right place at the right time and being interested.
For instance, people would ask if I wanted to be a VP for a club, and I'd say why not. Reflecting back, these accidental leadership experiences are a reason I was able to get into Teach for America or Deloitte.
I unintentionally built a resume with leadership experience, which is something many companies highly value. So, I believe those were the two key things: aiming for a high GPA and gaining leadership experience.