6 answers
Zaloni
Student
Suwanee, Georgia
1
Question
Asked
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How did your experience at college prepare you for your career, and what skills do you use most frequently in your job?
Hello, I'm Zaloni, a high school senior planning to attend Savannah State University. I am majoring in biology this upcoming fall and plan to attend medical school after I graduate. I want to be an anesthesiologist, and I'm curious about how prepared you felt after college. As far as if your expectations lead to your reality. For example, was it easy to find a job after college or an internship during college?
6 answers
Shannon Zulauf
Risk & Independence
33
Answers
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Updated
Shannon’s Answer
Hi! I am a little late to the party on this one! But, that’s a really thoughtful question, and I appreciate how intentionally you’re thinking about expectations versus reality.
For me, college didn’t prepare me for my career by giving me a perfect roadmap or a direct line to a specific job. Instead, it prepared me by helping me develop skills and habits that I still rely on every day. Things like critical thinking, time management, communication, and learning how to balance competing priorities were just as important as what I learned in the classroom.
I also learned a lot through experiences outside of coursework—getting involved, working with different people, managing responsibilities, and navigating uncertainty. Those experiences helped shape how I approach problems, make decisions, and work with others today.
In terms of expectations versus reality, I’ve learned that careers rarely follow a straight line. What you think your path will look like early on often changes as you gain more exposure and experience—and that’s okay. College helped me build the foundation to adapt, learn, and grow as opportunities presented themselves, even when things didn’t look exactly how I originally imagined.
As for internships or jobs, those opportunities often come from a mix of preparation, timing, and relationships. Staying curious, asking questions, and being open to learning made a bigger difference for me than trying to follow a perfectly defined plan.
Ultimately, college prepared me less by giving me answers and more by teaching me how to think, learn, and navigate change—skills that matter no matter what field you go into, including medicine.
As most others said as well -- You've got this!
For me, college didn’t prepare me for my career by giving me a perfect roadmap or a direct line to a specific job. Instead, it prepared me by helping me develop skills and habits that I still rely on every day. Things like critical thinking, time management, communication, and learning how to balance competing priorities were just as important as what I learned in the classroom.
I also learned a lot through experiences outside of coursework—getting involved, working with different people, managing responsibilities, and navigating uncertainty. Those experiences helped shape how I approach problems, make decisions, and work with others today.
In terms of expectations versus reality, I’ve learned that careers rarely follow a straight line. What you think your path will look like early on often changes as you gain more exposure and experience—and that’s okay. College helped me build the foundation to adapt, learn, and grow as opportunities presented themselves, even when things didn’t look exactly how I originally imagined.
As for internships or jobs, those opportunities often come from a mix of preparation, timing, and relationships. Staying curious, asking questions, and being open to learning made a bigger difference for me than trying to follow a perfectly defined plan.
Ultimately, college prepared me less by giving me answers and more by teaching me how to think, learn, and navigate change—skills that matter no matter what field you go into, including medicine.
As most others said as well -- You've got this!
Stacie Holt Eley
Manager, Programming, DEI
3
Answers
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Stacie’s Answer
Anesthesiologist! What a wonderful career in medicine.
Answering your questions individually:
The reason I didn't feel well-prepared after college was because, I was transparently, still not quite sure what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to be in healthcare and earned a BS in healthcare management. It wasn't until I was in my career for a while that I found my passion in healthcare was academic medicine, which led me to get a graduate degree in Medical Education Leadership. I will say, after having worked at a school of medicine, be very clear on the matriculation path to become an anesthesiologist. Ask your local SOM if you can shadow one of the classes, a surgery to stand and watch what they actually do, find one you can leverage to really understand the outlook on the field also.
The skills I use most frequently are communication (written and verbal), collaboration, leadership, relationship building, cultural competency, empathy, leading with kindness, etc. All those things that make us human, I use to connect with others.
Remember, the market outlook depends on when you enter the market. Stay close to your professors, proctors and mentors and they can help with job recommendations and writing rec letters. You will do well! Be true to who you are and what you want to do and keep forward.
Answering your questions individually:
The reason I didn't feel well-prepared after college was because, I was transparently, still not quite sure what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to be in healthcare and earned a BS in healthcare management. It wasn't until I was in my career for a while that I found my passion in healthcare was academic medicine, which led me to get a graduate degree in Medical Education Leadership. I will say, after having worked at a school of medicine, be very clear on the matriculation path to become an anesthesiologist. Ask your local SOM if you can shadow one of the classes, a surgery to stand and watch what they actually do, find one you can leverage to really understand the outlook on the field also.
The skills I use most frequently are communication (written and verbal), collaboration, leadership, relationship building, cultural competency, empathy, leading with kindness, etc. All those things that make us human, I use to connect with others.
Remember, the market outlook depends on when you enter the market. Stay close to your professors, proctors and mentors and they can help with job recommendations and writing rec letters. You will do well! Be true to who you are and what you want to do and keep forward.
Jennifer Balta
Acceleration Center Leader
9
Answers
Rochester, New York
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
College prepared me less by teaching me exact answers and more by teaching me how to think and adapt. Learning how to manage multiple deadlines, work through ambiguity, and take feedback, rebound when paths shift, and think on my feet helped me build habits I still rely on every day. Group projects and class discussions also pushed me to explain ideas clearly, listen to different perspectives, and adjust my approach when something was not working. That foundation made the transition into a professional environment feel manageable, even when the work itself was new.
The skills I use most often now are communication, critical thinking, and judgment. Being able to listen closely, ask good questions, and translate complex information into clear next steps comes up constantly. I also lean heavily on time management and collaboration, since most work involves balancing priorities and working with people who have different goals and styles. Those skills were not always obvious while I was in school, but they ended up being some of the most valuable parts of the experience.
The skills I use most often now are communication, critical thinking, and judgment. Being able to listen closely, ask good questions, and translate complex information into clear next steps comes up constantly. I also lean heavily on time management and collaboration, since most work involves balancing priorities and working with people who have different goals and styles. Those skills were not always obvious while I was in school, but they ended up being some of the most valuable parts of the experience.
Ginny Spataro
Senior Project Manager
3
Answers
Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
Updated
Ginny’s Answer
Hi Zaloni. Thank you for asking this question. I don't work in the science field, but I have many colleagues and friends who do. Based on my conversations with these groups, you will gain practical knowledge in school to prepare for your professional career. My recommendation is to network with professionals working in your field of choice and ask them questions related to how they got there whether that be an internship, applying, etc. Additionally, my friends/colleagues that have found the most success in the science field, are those who not only had practical knowledge, but knew how to leverage their soft skills to build relationships. So, use your time in college to learn, but also focus on building your networking skills.
Helen Grimmett
Product Manager
11
Answers
Slough, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Helen’s Answer
Hi Zaloni,
Even though I didn't study sciences or medicine, I can share some thoughts on general skills. Earning a degree is a fantastic way to develop abilities that are valuable in any career. Skills like presenting, debating, writing a dissertation, meeting deadlines, taking notes, and networking are crucial and apply to every profession. Take every chance to practice and improve these skills while you can.
As for finding an internship or job, remember that the job market is always changing. The more you can stand out and show off the skills you've gained, the better your chances will be.
You've got this! Good luck!
Even though I didn't study sciences or medicine, I can share some thoughts on general skills. Earning a degree is a fantastic way to develop abilities that are valuable in any career. Skills like presenting, debating, writing a dissertation, meeting deadlines, taking notes, and networking are crucial and apply to every profession. Take every chance to practice and improve these skills while you can.
As for finding an internship or job, remember that the job market is always changing. The more you can stand out and show off the skills you've gained, the better your chances will be.
You've got this! Good luck!
Liz Tomasiello
Professional Services
4
Answers
Baltimore, Maryland
Updated
Liz’s Answer
Hi Zaloni! I'm not in your field either, but I can share some tips about moving from college to a full-time job. If you can do internships or shadow days while still in college, they can really help you understand what daily work life might be like. College is a special time where you often live with friends, choose your class schedule, and enjoy a busy social life, sometimes with financial help from your parents. After graduation, you'll need to pay your own way and follow your employer's schedule. This shift can be challenging, so it's important to focus on work first and social life second as you start your career. Making a good first impression by being punctual and diligent is key.
I often tell new hires at my company that college teaches you the basics, but nothing beats hands-on experience. We know recent grads will keep learning on the job. It's great to have mentors, and it's important to ask questions instead of making assumptions, especially in fields like medicine. You're not expected to know everything right away, so don't worry about going it alone.
You've got this!
I often tell new hires at my company that college teaches you the basics, but nothing beats hands-on experience. We know recent grads will keep learning on the job. It's great to have mentors, and it's important to ask questions instead of making assumptions, especially in fields like medicine. You're not expected to know everything right away, so don't worry about going it alone.
You've got this!
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