College Experiences That Helped a Senior Consultant Digital Analytics and Insights at BlastX Consulting Succeed
Taylor's proactive approach to securing internships and freelance work by "cold calling or cold emailing" companies, even while still an undergraduate, significantly boosted their career trajectory. This initiative, coupled with the practical step of engaging a tax preparer to manage freelance income, provided invaluable experience and a smooth transition into a professional career, demonstrating the importance of self-starting and attention to financial details.
Networking, Job Search, Career Development, Freelancing, Tax Preparation
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Taylor Cruz
Senior Consultant - Digital Analytics and Insights
BlastX Consulting
California Lutheran University
N/A
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Technology
Data and Analytics
Honors Student, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Proactively seek opportunities: Don't wait for internships or jobs to find you; actively reach out to companies and network to create your own opportunities.
2. Develop professional skills beyond academics: Gain experience managing your finances, such as by working with a tax preparer, to prepare for the responsibilities of a professional career.
3. Embrace risk and step outside your comfort zone: Cold-calling and emailing potential employers can be daunting, but it can lead to valuable experiences and career advancement.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I made sure that I didn't just wait for an internship or a job to come to me. I went out and cold called or cold-emailed, which is really difficult. That was something that I had to come out of my shell to do, as I can be really shy at first, but it really helped me grow quickly.
One of my internships I got through the school, but all my other internships, jobs, and freelance work I got simply by emailing people. I knew I was going to be in Riverside for the summer and I started emailing companies around the area. Someone said, "Hey, I'd love to have you come on as an intern," and that turned into paid freelance work.
Coming out of my shell and taking those risks, you'll be surprised how many people are willing to help others and provide an opportunity for someone to learn and grow. That really set me up for success because if I hadn't done that, I wouldn't have had the freelance clients that I did.
When I moved to Connecticut, I didn't have any contacts on the East Coast, as I grew up on the West Coast. Having those freelance clients that I could bring with me really helped set me up to eventually have a more localized job. It got me through that transition period.
One of the other things I did in undergraduate, because I was doing freelance work, was get myself a tax preparer. That sounds like something nobody really thinks about. But when I was graduating, I was actually the only one in my capstone class that had an actual tax preparer that I used.
That really helped me through that transition period and helped me understand some basics, especially as a freelancer. I was managing my own finances; I was basically my own boss as a freelance contractor. I needed somebody to help me make sure I was doing the right things, just in case I got audited by the IRS or anything. That gave me a lot of experience, which also would have helped me had I decided to run my own company. It gave me that experience from the start. Getting a tax preparer and doing those things really helped set me up for success as I moved through my career.