College Experiences Helping A Production Coordinator At Girls Gotta Eat Succeed
Tessa's undergraduate experience, a journalism major, saw her actively pursuing "entertainment based stuff," diverging from the traditional news focus of the program; this proactive approach, driven by personal interest and a willingness to develop a diverse skillset, ultimately led to a fulfilling and adaptable career path. The decision to "do what makes you happy" and trust one's gut proved instrumental in navigating career choices and finding a job Tessa enjoys.
Career Exploration, Communication, Adaptability, Trusting Your Gut, Skill Set Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Tessa Hughes
Production Coordinator
Girls Gotta Eat
California Polytechnic University - San Luis Obispo
NA
Creative Writing, Journalism
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Follow your interests and passions to develop relevant skills.
2. Build a diverse skillset to increase adaptability and opportunities.
3. Trust your gut and don't be afraid to deviate from traditional career paths.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I did a lot of things that interested me. I think that was a big thing, especially coming as a journalism major. A lot of people want to do traditional news paths, but I always gravitated towards entertainment-based work.
I consistently pursued things that weren't necessarily traditional for a journalist. My program was very news-heavy, so I often had to fight against the grain.
I believe it's best to do what makes you happy. When you pursue what you enjoy, you'll develop skills in that area and eventually find a job you actually want to do.
I couldn't imagine doing a job I don't like or don't enjoy going to. I know many people do because they feel it's what they have to do or what they studied for.
It's important to build a skillset so you can be adaptable to different things, which opens up more opportunities. I approached college with this mindset.
I took classes and pursued minors that interested me, even if they didn't seem directly related. These diverse interests ended up helping me in my current role.
Ultimately, trusting your gut was a significant part of my college experience. The biggest lesson I learned was that I wouldn't just follow the linear path I was initially told to take.
This approach also guided my job search after college.
Advizer Personal Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa--hughes/, Instagram: @tessa.hughess