Disclaimer: The views expressed by our interviewees are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of GradSimple. We only edit these responses for clarity. All opinions remain those of the interviewee.
- Name: Tyler Y.
- Year Of Graduation: 2021
- College/University: University of British Columbia
- Major: Finance
What Do You Do For A Living?
I’m a Client Solutions Manager for a tech startup where I act as the main point of contact for a book of mid-market and enterprise clients.
I manage everything from onboarding, project management, and user training, to leading conversations with executives to align and help them achieve their business objectives.
Can You Tell Me About Your Job Search Experience After Graduation?
My experience was basically me being really, really anxious about finding a job. I started panicking in the first semester of my 4th year. I began reaching out to as many people as I possibly could via LinkedIn for coffee chats, and ended up having a bunch of networking meetings. This was actually how I landed my first job with a very small Boston-based startup – which I started before I graduated. It was more like an internship, but it was a cool company. They were backed by one of the most well-known startup accelerators, Y Combinator. I wasn’t there for long, and shortly after graduation, I got a job as an operations analyst at a tech startup in Vancouver.
To give you an idea of how many applications I sent out:
- 64 applications before I graduated in 2021, which led to 2 offers.
- 33 applications after I quit my first internship in 2021, resulting in 1 offer.
- 121 applications after I quit my first full-time job in 2022, which led to 2 offers.
Looking back, I had a pretty good hit rate! But, it was also during 2021 – 2022 when the job market was doing well so don’t fret if your numbers don’t look like this.
In my circle of friends and family, I’ve always been the go-to guy for resume, interview, and networking advice. I guess it makes sense why I started GradSimple.
Why Did You Choose Your Major? Would You Still Pick This Major Now, If You Could Go Back In Time?
Honestly, I majored in finance because it seemed like a safe/practical option. I sort of floated the idea of psychology, but would’ve needed a master’s and maybe a PhD. That wasn’t something I was interested in. My parents don’t have the typical Asian mindset and would have allowed me to do what I wanted (within reason).
Ultimately I don’t have any regrets doing finance. It was a good option for not knowing exactly what I wanted to do, and gave me skills that I could apply to a lot of different roles.
If I Asked You 3 Years Ago, What Would You Think You’d Be Doing Right Now (In Life/Career)?
Well, I know what I wouldn’t want to be doing: no investment banking, no accounting, and nothing finance-related. I pretty much hate all of the stuff that relates to my degree. Ideally, I would hope I would have started something of my own, even if it’s not full-time or with the purpose of making money. That drive will probably never go away. I’m also interested in sales, so maybe something along those lines. It’s interesting to think about what would make someone want to pay me cash in exchange for something I can offer. The thrill of selling is more intriguing than the resulting money, so I don’t know, maybe I wouldn’t be a good salesperson!
What’s Your Biggest Struggle Right Now?
I hurt my foot back in February and I haven’t been able to go to the gym since. I don’t know how I hurt it, I kinda just woke up one day and couldn’t put pressure on my right foot. The doctor thinks I messed it up at the gym.
For me, going to the gym is therapy and I use it as a way to unwind. I don’t go to bodybuild or anything like that but I find that it helps a lot with my mental health. Not having this outlet has been tough.
I also haven’t been able to meet many people and do the physical activities I want to because of my darn foot.
If money was not a factor, what would you be working on or spending more time on?
Oh, I’d be working on GradSimple full-time. Whatever the project, as long as it’s not a traditional 9-to-5. I don’t mind my job, but I much prefer to pour my time into things that make me feel fulfilled. I’m not driven by money. If I find something interesting, I just do it. There’s no point in waiting!
If We Traveled 3 Years Into The Future Of Your Life, What Would You Hope We’d See?
I hope I’d be continuing to work on my passion projects, like GradSimple. I’d love to see how big we get. We already have a great base of readers, and I can’t wait to welcome more! I really just want to make an impact in some way, and do something that I know is improving people’s lives.
What Advice And/Or Learnings Would You Give To Current Students Or Recent Grads?
For students: Take advantage of your position as a student and connect with different people on LinkedIn. Ask if they’d be willing to have a quick chat with you either in person or over the phone about their job, company, or personal experience. You may be surprised by the doors that open for you! Professionals are much more likely to respond positively to students if they’re coming from the approach of learning. Don’t connect with someone with the explicit goal of getting a job. Come at it from the angle of learning and I guarantee you that if you do it enough, opportunities will come.
If you’re a recent graduate struggling to find a job, know that it’s always a tough time. Don’t be too hard on yourself. If you realize that you lack work experience, you may need to expand your job search. This is totally normal since more than 50% of college graduates don’t end up finding jobs related to their major. You may also not have the luxury of choice if you lack internship/co-op/volunteer experience. Sometimes, you’ll need to apply to everything right out of school and see what sticks. Don’t forget that this is not your last job so it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get something you want.
If you’re feeling behind or lost, you’re not alone. Even people who look like they have their stuff in order are winging it.
Take me for example. If you saw my life from the outside, you’d probably think that I’m one of those people on LinkedIn who seems to have everything figured out. Good job, a loving family, awesome friends. And yet, I went through a full-blown quarter-life crisis last year. I felt like I was going through the motions and completely isolated. Even now, I don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m just trying my best!
Life isn’t a competition. It’s okay to not have everything figured out. Heck, I don’t know anyone who has.
Connect With Tyler:
- LinkedIn: Tyler Y. (P.S. feel free to connect with me or shoot me a message!)
- Instagram: @gradsimple
- GradSimple (Don’t be shy, share your post-grad story 😎)
