College Experiences That Helped a Partner Manager at Dell Technologies Succeed
Matthew's undergraduate degree in criminology and social policy proved unexpectedly irrelevant to their American career path, but "just having the piece of paper" was valuable for entry-level positions. The most transferable skills were a strong work ethic and effective writing, developed through consistent class attendance and outside employment.
Work Ethic, Communication, Problem-Solving, Resilience, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Matthew Ferguson
Partner Manager
Dell Technologies
Loughborough University, 2008
N/A
Criminal Justice
Technology
Business Strategy
Took Out Loans, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Having a degree, even if the skills don't directly translate, can help get your foot in the door for entry-level positions.
2. A strong work ethic, including consistent class attendance and part-time work, is valuable and transferable to many careers.
3. Effective writing and interpretation skills are useful in many professions, even outside of the specific field of study.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
In undergrad, I studied criminology and social policy. My goal was to work in forensics in England, but moving to America meant I couldn't pursue those roles because I wasn't American. Essentially, my entire undergrad experience became irrelevant.
However, having a degree, even just the basic piece of paper, did help me get some of the jobs I needed. It was valuable even if none of the specific skills translated directly. I was good at writing and interpreting information effectively, but those weren't applicable to forensic interpretation in America.
What did translate were the basic principles of having a strong work ethic. This included things like getting up and going to classes, or having a job on the side. That work ethic was probably the most significant thing I could say transferred directly from my undergraduate studies.
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