We asked W. P. Carey Alumni: How did student clubs impact your job search?
Here is what they shared:
- Leadership Roles Boosted Job Prospects
- AdWorks Connection Led to Internship Offer
- Gained Valuable Hands on Experience and Networking Opportunities
- Leveraged Opportunities to Build Impressive Portfolio
Leadership Roles Boosted Job Prospects
My participation with AdWorks was very beneficial in finding a job. I joined AdWorks during my freshman year of college, which allowed me to jump-start my professional experience. As a college student, I worked on high-level projects with clients like P.F. Chang’s, Circle K, The Phoenix Zoo, and many more well-respected companies/brands. I used my four years of leadership roles in AdWorks on my resume, and I believe that is what helped me stand out. After college, I received two job offers and accepted my current role with Pepsi. The hiring manager liked my two years of experience in leading teams as an Account Manager and that I had previously worked with Circle K, one of their biggest customers.
Nadxelly Andrew, Sales Management Associate, PepsiCo
AdWorks Connection Led to Internship Offer
I double majored in Marketing and Computer Information Systems at ASU, graduating in 2019. During my time at ASU, I participated in AdWorks. It provided me the invaluable opportunity to dip my toes into the world of marketing agencies. In my projects, I discovered a love of research and presenting data-driven insights outside of what my classwork would have covered. Through an AdWorks-hosted networking event, I was able to make a connection that led to a future agency internship. I’ve been working at that same agency for five years now in a senior position. The connections and skills built during my time in AdWorks were vitally important to the start of my career in marketing.
Jacobus Schieke, Senior User Experience Architect, LaneTerralever
Gained Valuable Experience and Networking Opportunities
Participating in the Software Developers Association at Arizona State University was a beneficial activity for my career. Being involved in this student club provided me with hands-on experience that complemented my academic learning in software development. I had the chance to network with industry professionals and peers who shared similar career interests, which was instrumental in landing my first job as a Software Engineer at Intel. The projects and events I engaged in through the club also helped me build a strong portfolio, making me a more attractive candidate to employers like Intel and later, Featured.com.
Dave Syms, Software Engineer, Featured
Leveraged Opportunities to Build an Impressive Portfolio
I joined the Walter Cronkite Sports Network, aka WCSN, during my freshman year at ASU and remained active in the club through my undergraduate and master’s programs. I wanted to join a student organization that would allow me to continue building my sports photography portfolio while also giving me the chance to gain a diverse range of experiences.
While I didn’t see myself pursuing photography-focused internships during college, having a solid background in photography would let me stand out in the marketing and PR positions I was aiming for! WCSN helped me rapidly grow my portfolio and taught me to be a better photographer. I would shoot any sport given to me, from fan favorites like football and basketball to classic Olympic sports like water polo and triathlon. Being able to walk into any event and figure out on the fly what is needed to capture the scene is an essential skill in content creation.
Thanks to my experiences with WCSN, I could show hiring teams that I could do more than write social copy or a blog; I could also create the multimedia elements needed for content.
Haley Spracale, B.A. Sports Journalism ’22 & M.C.C. ’23, Community Manager, Featured
