On Wednesday, May 22, I facilitated a conversation during Industry Bites: Internships That Launch Careers with UO alum and assistant manager of global hardlines at The Walt Disney Company, Alexia Muller, and current student and upcoming graduate, Elliot Nichols for a special panel about their career paths, what they’ve done to succeed, and how they engaged with and nurtured relationships in their industries.
Here are my top insights from our conversation together:
1. Internships and jobs during your undergraduate years or right after graduation are about finding fulfillment and discovering your interests.
The panelists reminded us that we don’t need to be certain about our career path at this stage; it’s a time for exploration. Jobs that initially seem outside our interests may actually offer amazing opportunities.
2. Working for small and large companies each come with different benefits.
At smaller companies, you have the chance to tailor your role, explore additional opportunities, and connect closely with different people. By contrast, larger companies offer the advantage of name recognition and tend to have an extensive network.
3. Building relationships is crucial for setting up your future career.
I know we hear this one a lot, and it’s because it’s true. The panelists suggested that students keep in touch with those who have positively impacted us and to maintain those relationships over time. They also suggested doing informational interviews, despite seeming uncomfortable, as they are an excellent way to expand your network and build connections. People are often happy to talk with and assist students.
4. Surround yourself with people who support your growth and be open to moving on to opportunities that excite you.
One of the best pieces of advice from Alexia Muller was, “People who aren’t encouraging you to move on to bigger and better things weren’t good people to work with in the first place.” I loved that.
