May 31, 2023
In my previous post, I shared, five skills you need to land a job after college. The timing of this topic syncs up quite nicely with graduation season but it also lines up to a really cool experience I had recently to visit my own college alma mater, Saint Leo University. I was invited to chat with the Assistant Director Career Services as a guest on their podcast! Being back on campus reminded me of when I was a student myself on the verge of graduating and searching for my first real "grownup job." I was enthusiastic, optimistic and had a great sense of humor - all positive traits to be sure, but not really the primary things that hiring managers are looking for. I figured things out as I progressed through my career, but I sure wish I could go back in time and impart some lessons learned to my younger self transitioning from college to the workforce and beyond!
Since I don't have a time machine on hand, my next best option is to continue to share my experiences with you, dear reader, and any others who may find this blog helpful!
Back On Campus
As I drove through the main entrance to Saint Leo University, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia and excitement. It had been over a decade since my last visit and over 20 years since I had graduated, but I could still clearly remember when I was a bright-eyed student, eager to soak up all that college had to offer. Now, as an established professional with years of experience under my belt, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and gratitude for the path that had brought me back here.
Walking into a studio to record a podcast was a bit nerve-racking, to say the least. But as I settled into the conversation with my host, I found myself reflecting on my journey since graduating from my alma mater over 20 years ago. The twists and turns of my career path were never something I had imagined during my days as a student, yet here I am now, looking back on the many lessons and experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today.
The Press Paws - Career Stories Podcast is a program put together by the Office of Career Services at Saint Leo University. It is made primarily for Saint Leo students who are trying to navigate their careers and grow their professional networks. Host, Clark Futch - Assistant Director Career Services at Saint Leo University, asks guests questions related to the university's six core values: Excellence, Community, Respect, Personal Development, Responsible Stewardship and Integrity.
If you want to hear the full podcast, click here:
Here are some of the highlights that Clark and I discussed during our time together:
What I Studied vs. What I Ended Up Doing
I majored in biology at Saint Leo, but I never ended up utilizing that specific field of knowledge that I gained from the classroom. That doesn't mean that my time in college was a waste. I was actually involved in many activities and organizations as a student at Saint Leo. When I reflect on the things I enjoyed doing on campus, the career path I ended up going down makes total sense. I was an Orientation Leader for incoming freshmen. I volunteered in the Admissions Office to give campus tours to prospective students and their families. I did those things because I liked being helpful and providing information to those that needed it. I joined a handful of different clubs and organizations because I enjoyed meeting and getting to know different people. It's no wonder that I work in Learning & Development and that I have such passion for onboarding new employees! Little did I know back then that those extracurricular activities were my starting point for growing and developing the skills I use each and every day in my career today.
Keys To Becoming A Responsible Leader
For me two important factors to being a leader are AUTHENTICITY and COACHING. For me, authenticity means having self awareness of your skillset and strengths and staying true to yourself - not trying to emulate or be someone that you are not. Leaders are not great because they know everything or have all the answers. Leaders are great because they understand that they don't know everything or have all the answers and they are able to inspire, influence and develop those around them to achieve the team's goals together. This is where coaching comes into play. Not to be confused with mentoring (where the focus is on the knowledge and skills coming from the mentor), coaching others is the key to unlocking their potential (where the focus is on the coach asking powerful questions to help the coachee discover the answers within themselves). A responsible leader builds up those around them so they can grow.
How Faith/Background Shape My Sense of Community
Community has been a common thread in my life on many different levels. It's an important means of connection, to meet and get to know people, and to build relationships. This wasn't mentioned on the podcast, but when I revisited Saint Leo, I found a drawing of our school's logo that I was asked to create so that the incoming freshman (class of 2003) could sign it. I was a senior at that time and the drawing was significant because it was the year Saint Leo transitioned from being a college to a university. Those students would be the first class to attend Saint Leo for all four years as a university. It was an honor to do this and I was proud to be able to give back to this community that had done so much for me in my own personal and academic development. Giving back has remained a big part of my life. All that I've been able to achieve in my career has not been without the support and encouragement from others. I can only hope that I can also provide the same for those coming up after me.
I found the original sketch I made to prepare for the drawing that would become the first official "freshman gift" that hangs in one of the campus buildings today.
Having the Courage to Speak Up
I shared a story from an experience I had years ago at a former company. A senior manager wanted me to put an employee on a performance improvement plan (PIP) for reasons I did not agree with. I asked questions to get clarification on the situation and advocated for an alternative plan that I believed was fair and the right thing to do in order to support the employee as well as uphold the company's business needs and expectations. It was challenging to navigate those conversations but I know I would have deeply regretted it if I had not found the courage to speak up in that moment.
The Importance of Personal Development
Clark and I talked about critical routines and I mentioned my family's evening practice of sitting down at the dinner table to share our meal and highlights of the day with each other. I also talked about the importance of continuous learning. I am a learning & development professional but that doesn't mean that I'm an expert and that I don't need to continue to learn and develop myself. I have most recently (in the last couple of years) started listening to podcasts. One in particular that I mentioned is Talent Development Think Tank with Andy Storch which is fantastic for those of us in L&D. Andy is also the author of the book, Own Your Career Own Your Life, which I highly recommend to learn practical steps to take control of your career, life and future.
Responsible Stewardship
At my current company, Wise, our mission is: Money without borders - moving it instantly, transparently, conveniently, and - eventually - for free. So a specific resource that we are especially responsible for is our customer's money. Every decision we make as a company is done through the lens of how it will impact our progress towards achieving our mission. As part of the L&D function at Wise, we take a holistic perspective of the employee experience. It is rewarding to have this responsibility to positively impact an organization's greatest source of strength - it's people!
Dealing With Failure
Failure is part of life and how we learn. I believe that if you are doing everything perfectly in life, then you are not challenging or pushing yourself enough. There is always a learning opportunity in "failure." It's really only failure if you fall down and just sit there. I also talked a little bit about "imposter syndrome" and my own struggles with it throughout a large portion of my career. In reality, everyone is dealing with their own challenges whether you see it or not. I wish I had figured out sooner, not to compare my progress to others and to just focus on being a better version of myself along my own path.
Final Thoughts...
Reflecting on my 23-year career journey since graduating from my alma mater was an experience that I will never forget. Being able to share my story on a podcast was both empowering and humbling. It allowed me the opportunity to connect with others who may be going through a similar journey and the chance to give back to a community that has given me so much.
If you are in the early stages of your own career path, rest assured that you don't have to know all the answers or know exactly where you are headed right away. Remember, no matter where you are on your journey, embrace it as an adventure and always stay curious! You never know what opportunities and experiences will come your way. Even in seemingly dead ends, you can learn and get better.
Thank you for joining me on this reflective journey. I hope that my story has inspired you to pursue your dreams and passions, no matter where they may lead (and even if it wasn't what you majored in at college 😉) .
Who Am I?
Jessica Rivera is the Founder and CEO of New Job Notebook LLC. She is a workplace Learning & Development professional with over 20 years of employee onboarding experience across multiple industries for companies including AdventHealth, Baylor Scott & White Health and Disney Cruise Line. She is currently the People & Organization Development Lead at Wise overseeing their global onboarding program. To learn more about Jessica, click here.