How Identity Has Influenced A Social Media Manager At Re's Career
Steph's undergraduate success stemmed not from high grades, but from diverse experiences: "leadership experiences were super helpful to building confidence," including student government, peer advising, and research, coupled with multiple internships to discover career interests and build a strong resume. The most important takeaway, however, was developing resilience: "being able to bounce back from failures is a much more important skill."
Leadership Experience, Internships, Resilience, Networking, Career Exploration
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Steph F.
Social Media Manager
Re
Californa Lutheran University
N/A
Communications
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Communication and Marketing
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Prioritize experiences over grades: While good grades are important for further education, employers are more interested in practical experience and leadership skills.
2. Actively seek internships: Internships provide valuable experience, allowing students to explore different career paths and determine what they enjoy and dislike.
3. Develop resilience: The ability to overcome failures and learn from mistakes is a crucial skill that employers value highly. College experiences, such as student government or research, help build this resilience
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
In undergrad, I originally wanted to major in biology. I remember going through the lab work, and it just wasn't for me.
Looking back now, what was truly successful wasn't necessarily top grades. No one in this industry has ever asked me about my GPA or a specific class grade. If someone is going for a master's or PhD, grades do matter, as they affect scholarships.
But if you're just jumping into industry, I don't suggest stressing about getting an "A" or being a top performer in every class. Looking back, it's the experiences that truly carried me to where I am today.
I was really involved in student government, served as an ambassador at Cal Lutheran, and was a peer advisor, welcoming new students to their first semester. These leadership experiences were super helpful in building my confidence and gave me something to lean on.
You don't want to graduate without any experience. Having something on your resume is crucial when applying for jobs. Internships were also important. I realized that without them, I wouldn't have had the experiences of working in entertainment and learning how that industry operates.
So, what really set me up for success, and my advice is to do as many internships as you can. Learn what you like and what you don't like. Internships don't have to be your dream job right away; they are about learning whether you enjoy the work.
Get involved in college as much as you can, especially in leadership positions. I remember I wasn't a McNair scholar, but I was doing research, which was really fun. Grades do matter for master's and PhD programs, but honestly, no one asks for your GPA when you're applying for a job.
Looking back, don't lose sleep if you didn't get the right score on an exam. Employers will care more about how you bounce back from setbacks in your career. I failed a lot in many things. A key skill is learning to bounce back from failures; resilience is much more important.
In my college career, that was something that truly filled in many gaps. It was really helpful in building my confidence.