What struck me so strongly about Reggie's talk was the power of experience, and how much influence a boss/mentor/coach can have on your life, career development, your perspective, and character growth. The power of experience is something that we are all striving for, and and it's that same experience that we use to reveal our passions and capabilities to garner even more opportunities. In this post, using Reggie's talk as a reference, I will emphasize the importance of experience and it's close connections to opportunity. As you seek next steps in your career path it's important to decide for yourself what experiences you do value, which environments will help you reach your goals, and more deeply and what kind of person you want to be.
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| Source "Obama, Reggie, and Chris Duhon" |
What happened to spark Reggie's career after college isn't all that far fetched when you deconstruct his resume. But somehow it still seems like a jump. From a private school in North Carolina to Duke University, "the Harvard of the South", Reggie Love's story is very intriguing. It all takes a turn when, after being recruited for Duke football, he decides to "walk-on" to Coach K's basketball team. That's right, he decided that football wasn't enough, he was going to subject himself to an even larger time commitment as a Division I athlete competing on a national stage. After walking on his freshman year, the team won a National Championship. Not so casual. During the talk I attended, Reggie spoke on the toughness of Coach K and the success of Duke basketball during his time there. But he also mentioned the tough times, particularly with the Duke football team who went 0-22 before experiencing their first win with Love on the team.
What I took away most from Reggie's talk was his instinctual turn to anecdotes to answer questions and his ability to clarify how he carries these experiences with him everyday, and they continue to effect how he works and lives. My "career center" brain kicked in, as I thought of how many perfect responses Love probably had for behavioral interview questions. It makes it so much easier to answer behavioral questions when you have tangible and memorable experiences to share with an interviewer. A good way to prepare for these interviews is to journal during or right after completing a significant project, internship, or job, capturing moments to reflect on later. This will ensure that when you are preparing for interviews you will have a variety of experiences to pull from.
Remember Everyone Along the Way
Stay in touch with people who have helped you or even those you've just met along the way (even if you don't want to work with them). During Reggie's talk he mentioned some of the people that he met during his time with Obama both during the campaign and at the White House. But the people he especially remembers are those that he and Senator Obama met on the campaign trail. Supporters gave him trinkets and good luck charms which he kept in bowls in the Oval Office for when he needed to quickly recall the little moments of encouragement. But the lesson doesn't end there. Each person who gifted Obama with a trinket or with whom he spoke about a certain issue received a special follow-up directly from Obama or from the campaign. Sure, this is presidential campaign strategy, but it reiterates the importance of the follow-up!
When Reggie Love spoke about the little trinkets and the specialized follow-ups, sometimes handwritten, it reminded me of how important it is to stay in touch with people - not only with contacts for your career but with your family and friends as well. Building a relationship with a foundation of value is incredibly important. It reflects the type of person you are, and it makes you more inviting for new connections and relationships. Keeping in touch doesn't have to be in the form of a conventional follow up - it can just be something you saw or read that made you think of that person. Reaching out with little notes goes a long way. Keep all of your connections open!
The Power of the Mentor
Another thing that struck me about Reggie Love's story was how much he credits Obama for changing his perspective, demeanor and of course, for giving him the opportunity to develop his character on an international stage. He even admits that some of his mannerisms and speech are somewhat presidential. When you work with someone so closely and for such long hours you can bet a bit of them will rub off on you. Not so bad for Love as it's from a sitting U.S. President! Whether Coach K or President Obama, these two leaders have made a lasting impact on how Love approaches life.
During interviews and informational interviews ask how feedback is provided at the company and if mentoring is included in the position you're pursuing. A work environment that encourages professional development and provides opportunity to receive feedback is crucial for moving up and succeeding in any organization. Here is a great post from U.S News on how to find a career mentor. Always remember that the Career Center is a great resource for identifying alumni willing to be mentors. Whether you have a job/internship or not, having someone in your corner to help you with advice and development is always a great career step!
Welp, that's all for now folks. Good luck on midterms everyone! Stay strong.
Carpe Diem,
Nicole Brooks
Class of 2016
