Rashada Jackson

I would say really showing my authentic self. I think that's helped shape my career, just being true to myself and demonstrating whatever I'm passionate about. Even within my current role, this position was something that was created just based off my interview because they really wanted to hire me and wanted to see what was the best way to make it fit for my background. I think being able to really show what skills you bring and being able to show that to others has been key to my success.

The best career advice I've received is to figure out what works for you and get the background and experience you need, even if you start on a volunteer basis. Just get that experience through internships or volunteer work, figure out what you want to do, and work on that path to build more experience under your belt. I had mentors who really supported me, like my previous supervisor Christine Dempsey at D'Youville College, who pushed for me and helped me get certified to become a professional resume writer.

I would say really show your authentic self. I think that's helped shape my career, just being true to myself and demonstrating whatever you're passionate about. Try to really go for what you're passionate about. Even in my current role, this position was created just based off my interview because they really wanted to hire me and wanted to see what was the best way to make it fit for my background. Being able to really show what skills you bring and demonstrate that to others is so important.

With career development, I would say AI can be a challenge. AI is great for helping people, but sometimes it's a challenge because people are using it for their documentation and resumes, and it's not authentic to who the person is. There are pros and cons to it, and that's probably true for any industry. Another challenge is that a lot of people are competing for similar roles in the workforce, so I have to make sure that whoever I'm working with stands out. With so many people applying and looking for career success, the question becomes: how do you make students stand out authentically?

Integrity is really important to me, being honest and encouraging people to be honest about their situations. For example, if you have gaps in your employment, be honest about it and own who you are. If you're a mom, and I personally am a mom too, make that a part of who you are in your career. Don't shy away from what's true to you. I guess it goes back to being your authentic self, being honest, and demonstrating integrity. Those are the values I would say are most important to me.