College Experiences That Helped An Account Executive At Asana Succeed
Sara attributes career success to involvement in a business fraternity, which fostered connections, provided interview practice, and ultimately led to the first job through a connection recommended by the fraternity president, highlighting that "it's obviously like a direct translation of a sales skill" which is very relevant as Sara works in sales. Having "a body of work to talk about when in interviews" through internships and even tracking coursework also proved invaluable, as being able to provide specific examples of past experiences is what employers are looking for.
Networking, Interviewing, Internships, Entry-Level, Communication
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sara Kramer
Account Executive
Asana
University of San Diego
n/a
Business Management & Admin
Manufacturing, Operations & Supply Chain, Technology
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Joining a business fraternity provided valuable connections and opportunities to practice interviewing skills, which significantly contributed to career readiness.
2. Internships offered a body of work to discuss during interviews, providing concrete examples of skills and experiences relevant to entry-level positions.
3. Leveraging coursework to create specific examples for interviews is a practical strategy to showcase skills and experiences, even without prior internships or office work.
Transcript
What did you do in college that set you up for success in your career?
One of the biggest things that made an impact for me personally was joining a business fraternity. This allowed me to create many amazing connections, both within the fraternity and outside of it.
The fraternity also helped me practice interviewing. We were a group who would constantly practice those types of skills. We talked about what was working for people in securing internships and what unique strategies they used to stand out when applying for jobs.
I think that made a really big difference. It's actually the reason I got my first job. The president of our fraternity at the time suggested I reach out to somebody I knew, or someone who had attended USD, at the organization where I wanted to work.
Because I sent that outbound message, the hiring manager was super impressed. It's a direct translation of a sales skill. That's how I ended up getting my first role, thanks to the advice from that business fraternity.
I also talked about my internships. It was really great to have a body of work to discuss during interviews. When interviewing for an entry-level position, people don't expect a plethora of experience, but having scenarios to talk about was really impactful.
Even if you don't end up getting internships or working in an office, keeping track of your coursework can be an easy way to ensure you have specific examples for interviews. At the end of the day, people are looking for examples of how you've done something before.