Jenna Solis: A Class that Helped Me Realize My Potential
Coming into my Sophomore year, I was extremely nervous about securing an internship for the upcoming summer. Moreover, I didn’t know where to begin in learning about professional development. From choosing the format for my resume to networking with SCU alumni, I was completely lost. It wasn’t until I found the MGMT 50 class within LSB that I felt confident in my skills.
I had never attended a Career Fair until enrolling in MGMT 50. Every quarter I would ignore the event announcement due to intimidation. After being required to sign up for my first Career Fair, I learned it is critical to be comfortable being uncomfortable because it is the only way you will be able to grow in and out of your professional career. After that day, I realized I had nothing to be afraid of. These fairs are a way for you and employers to connect. Ever since this day, I have attended every Career Fair and used this opportunity to my advantage.
One thing I always dreaded was working on my resume. I knew that it was a crucial part of the job search process, but I could never seem to find the motivation to work on it. By having a professor who sets deadlines of when to submit a rough draft and final resume, it made the process more approachable. Additionally, I got comfortable with a program called “VMock”, which is offered to SCU students as a guide to revise their resumes. We submitted our resumes to this site and it explained ways to improve. Without this class, I would have never learned about this resource or known how to easily refine my resume.
Time and time again, I would be reminded of the importance of networking. Not surprisingly, my professor also shared the significance of this tool. One of our assignments was to reach out to an SCU alumni. We were required to hold an informational interview to learn more about them and their experience. This helped me understand how to use the alumni network on LinkedIn to meet past SCU students who are willing to support current students. During my conversation with an SCU alumni, I gained insight on how to achieve goals in my professional life. At the end of the brief 20 minute call, she asked for my resume and cover letter to pass over to her co-worker. All it took was a short 20 minute conversation for a possible career opportunity to arise.
Ultimately, MGMT 50 helped me step out of my comfort zone and learn that I had nothing to be afraid of. Whether it was attending a Career Fair, creating my resume, or reaching out to SCU alumni, I left this course understanding that, after the first hurdle, everything works itself out. Because of this lesson, I have now secured an internship for this upcoming summer. MGMT 50 has given many students the confidence to feel comfortable in reaching out and taking risks. I believe that this course can serve any student well, regardless of their experience in professional development. I highly recommend taking this class during your time at SCU! You may not even know you would benefit from the class until you take it.