Sometimes through college, you may think you are suited for one job after you graduate, but life takes you down a completely different path. Maybe it is not the job you expected, but in the end, it works out.
Ryan Pendleton, a student who attended Oakland University between 2012 and 2014, walked down a similar path. As a communication and journalism major, Pendleton wanted to go into sports journalism. However, he walked a different path after graduating.
Pendleton carried the skills he learned and put them toward a successful career at United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM).
“I was soul searching, to be honest,” Pendleton said. “I didn’t want to work in a restaurant forever, because I knew the mental grind that it really entails, getting out at two, three, four in the morning. I got the call from a buddy that had been working at UWM for about a year, and they have been awesome.”
One tip Pendleton gives to students still going through the undergraduate program, especially for the journalism and communication fields, is to be open-minded about the job market.
“It’s always good to just apply and try to put your application and your resume out there, no matter what your major is,” Pendleton said. “Journalism and communication is such a broad degree that you definitely have to look at different avenues.”
UWM is a welcoming environment for students just getting out of college, as their training process is similar to a college course. Through nine weeks of paid training, applicants can expect weekly quizzes, as well as quarterly, mid-, and final exams. Pendleton explains the reason why he relates their training to a college course.
“UWM does training from the ground up and they break it down very similar to a college curriculum, so that’s why I really relate it to college,” Pendleton said. “It’s like hey, I don’t know Spanish but I can go to take a Spanish 1 course and now I know a little bit of Spanish and you just kind of slowly build up your skill set over time.”
Whether you are dealing with a client, a coworker, or a boss, communication skills are useful in any job setting, no matter your field. Pendleton explains some of the communication skills he recommends students focus on before graduating.
“Not only being able to communicate well with your teammates and your bosses and management but also being able to talk to your client professionally and maintaining those professional relationships,” Pendleton said. “The next thing is having a good strong work ethic and a will to want to learn and grow.”
It is easy to feel discouraged if you feel your major isn’t the right fit for you anymore. For students struggling with what path to take, Pendleton offers some advice.
“Remain positive, and be patient with yourself,” Pendleton said. “It definitely takes a lot of time and effort to find that right fit in that right job but definitely just keep your foot on the gas and don’t give up.”
For students figuring out their career paths, please visit Oakland University’s Career and Life Design office or schedule an appointment on their OU webpage. For more information about UWM, please visit their website.
