Alumni Advantage Newsletter

April 2014 Articles:

• Trust Your Intuition. It's Gotten You This Far.

Alumni Advantage is a newsletter for current students written by members of the National Professional Advisory Board and their colleagues. It provides insider advice, insight and inspiration so that when our graduates enter the real world, they are ready to rock it.

Trust Your Intuition. It's Gotten You This Far.
by Kyla Applegate

Employers look for potential – not necessarily merit.

Companies are making an investment in your future-self when they send you that offer letter. Don't feel as if you need to know absolutely everything on the job description right off the bat, but make damn sure they know during the interview process that you're eager to learn.

Extra-curriculars indicate drive and passion.

All of those wonderful internships and part-time jobs you worked show dedication and willingness to learn outside of the bare minimum. I'll tell it to you straight: There will be numerous unfamiliar tasks thrown your way on the job, and a certain sense of adaptability and ingenuity is required that can't always be taught, but rather must be experienced.

Use your contacts.

Why on earth did you pay for such an expensive education, meet all of these fantastic professors and their subsequent contacts, or attend career fairs, if you're not going to reach out and use them?! I mean it! I can't tell you how crucial your network will be to your success. It worked for me and I jump at opportunities to pay it forward.

You should ALWAYS be learning and improving.

Even doctors are required to take continuing education courses to keep up with the ever-changing world of medicine. (Theoretically, good employers should work to help continue your education and experiences to strengthen your skills, as well.) Continuing to learn will make you a huge asset after you land that first job and as you be bring more and more to the table.

Ask for advice, but don't feel obligated to take it.

(Which is ironic, considering this is an advice article!) If there's one thing I've learned, it's that everyone is still trying to figure it all out; no one is perfect. All words of wisdom and opinions should absolutely be considered-- just not always taken. If I had agreed to every suggestion given to me by ‘advertising professionals,' I would be in a much different place. Trust your intuition; it's gotten you this far.

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After graduating from Texas Tech in 2010, Applegate pursued a career in social media at Mr. Youth in New York City. During her two years at MRY, she worked on a number of projects including Microsoft, PlayStation, HP/Intel and Visa. She currently works at VaynerMedia as a Senior Account Executive focusing on social strategy for various consumer packaged goods.

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