gracnob
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4 years ago Jacqueline Fuller, VP of Google.org and a previous employee of the Gates Foundation, had an untraditional career path. She changed her major during her senior year of college,wore down the Gates Foundation with multiple job requests and volunteered herself for a big leadership position. Fuller took plenty of chances in her life and did so to continue following her passion: helping those in need.
According to a study done by Boderzine, 80% of college students change their major at least once in four years of school, and Fuller is part of that majority. After 3 years of studying,
Before this decision, Fuller volunteered in a disadvantaged community in Los Angeles. She learned a lot during her time there and realized that, “this is where [she felt] most alive.”
“We do our best work when we are energized and are bringing our curiosity to our daily work,” Fuller said. “Follow your energy. Follow your curiosity. Look where you come most alive, then combine that with the pragmatic.”
And that is exactly what she did.
One day she was reading the paper and was inspired by an article written about the Gates Foundation. The Gate Foundation was taking all its money and donating it to help the poorest of the poor.
When Fuller read this, she thought to herself, “this is my passion.”
So, she ran after it.
She sent the Gates Foundation letter after letter and received countless rejections, until a man named Jack Ferris gave her a shot and hired her for her writing.
Fuller’s biggest piece of advice to current students is to make sure that you have one marketable skill.
“The truth is if you have one bankable skill that you have invested in and the market demands, then that can get you. Some examples of skills are coding, or product design, or accounting, writing, being a top notch researcher, being phenomenal at social media. There are many types of skills, just make sure to bring yours with you in your career. ” Fuller said.
Job seekers can also add to a plethora of abilities over time. For example, Fuller later focused more of her time on data analysis and began to, “marry the two [skills].”
Another quick tip: in interviews, try to convince employers that you will make their life easier.
“When you are interviewing for a job, don’t try to convince the person why this job is perfect for you,” Fuller said. “Frame yourself as someone who can meet their needs.”
After working at the Gates Foundation for eight years, Fuller was hired to work for Google.org. Eventually, the company began to look for a new leader.
Fuller took yet another chance and sent a three page memo to her superior, describing all the ways that she could make the company better. She got no response, and her boss never mentioned it, until 3 months later, when Fuller was offered the position.
Time and time again, Jacqueline Fuller took chances. She wanted to reach her goals and she wanted to follow her passion.
To be as successful as she is, students have to be brave. They have to raise their hands, rise up to the challenge, roll up their sleeves and run for it. Nothing can be handed to anyone, because people are rewarded for hard work.
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