College Experiences That Helped a Senior Research Fellow at Clayton Christensen Institute Succeed
While hard work and good grades in undergraduate studies built a strong foundation of critical thinking and writing skills, Thomas's career success was significantly shaped by a passionate, focused approach – "what am I really passionate about and let me really go hard on that passion". This allowed them to stand out in job interviews by demonstrating genuine enthusiasm and commitment, rather than simply applying broadly.
Career Exploration, Passion, Hard work, Critical thinking, Communication skills
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Thomas Arnett
Senior Research Fellow
Clayton Christensen Institute
Brigham Young University, 2009
Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business, Master of Business Administration
Economics
Education
Research and Development (R&D)
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Hard work and good grades in undergraduate studies built a strong foundation in critical thinking and writing skills, essential for his current role.
2. Focusing on a specific passion rather than a broad approach to job searching helped him stand out to employers and showcase genuine enthusiasm.
3. He emphasizes the importance of aligning career choices with personal passions to foster deeper engagement and success.
Transcript
Taking you back to your time at BYU. What did you do in undergrad that set you up for success in your career?
Hindsight is always 20/20. I can see the path I followed that got me here now, but that picture wasn't clear when I was an undergrad.
Generally, as an undergrad, I just tried to work hard and do well in my classes. I think that did pay off by helping me develop the critical thinking and writing skills for the work I do now. Good grades also looked good on my resume.
I'll share something I figured out later, which might be controversial. Some people approach their careers like a numbers game. They'll apply to many places, pick a few cool ones, some backups, and then sort through their options.
I've approached my career differently. I focused on what I'm really passionate about and went all in on that passion. When you really dig into a passion, you have to be selective with your time and say no to other things.
In my experience, when I've been able to show up to a job interview and demonstrate genuine enthusiasm, it makes a huge difference. It's not just about applying because a job was listed or they wanted someone from my major. Instead, I can show them: "This is what I'm excited about. This is what I'm really eager to do."