When a marketing assistant position recently opened up at Nik Boone's company Ascend Real Estate & Property Management, the California State University, Bakersfield alumnus believed it would be ideal for a soon-to-be graduate.
“There’s something powerful about helping someone take the first step on a journey you’ve already walked," said Boone, who holds a business administration degree from the university and previously served as president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. "Hiring from CSUB is a way to pay it forward and stay connected to the place that helped launch my career."
When Associate Professor of Marketing Dr. Zhenning “Jimmy” Xu received the job announcement, he immediately shared the opportunity with his graduating seniors. That’s when Isabella Williams decided to apply.
"I'm very grateful to have been given the opportunity to apply all of the marketing concepts I learned at CSUB at Nik's company," she said. "He genuinely values the potential that `Runners have when they graduate from CSUB, and he shows that through his patience and willingness to teach new skills."
As a student, Williams was involved in the Roadrunner Society, Beta Gamma Sigma, the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society and the National Society of Leadership and Success. She also served as a student assistant at the Walter W. Stiern Library on campus. Williams graduated this spring with a degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing.
Williams' daily responsibilities at Ascend include managing the company's brand, customer relationship management as well as creating and distributing promotional materials. She believes this is an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience by applying concepts she's learned at CSUB.
"The experience so far has been amazing! It's definitely overwhelming to learn a new role sometimes, but everyone at Ascend has been super helpful whenever I have questions," Williams said. "I've learned a lot about different marketing channels used in the real estate industry, and I've been having a lot of fun improving my photoshop skills and creating marketing strategies to help benefit Ascend."
Dr. Deborah Cours, dean of the College of Business and Public Administration (BPA), believes that the pipeline from graduation to career is a key transition.
“Alumni like Nik Boone are a testament to the outstanding education and experiences available at CSUB," she said. "And while it may have been easier to just post the job on LinkedIn, Nik took the extra step to connect back to CSUB to give a ‘Runner a chance. I am grateful for that commitment and welcome all employers to promote their opportunities to our current students and alumni.”
Williams has been accepted into the University of Southern California's Master of Communication Management program. It is an online program that she is very excited about, especially because she can continue her education while keeping her job at Ascend.
Williams' advice to students seeking careers after graduation is “keep an open mind, don’t lose hope and keep the good vibes going.”
BPA welcomes connections with companies or organizations interested in posting job or internship opportunities or sharing information with students. The college also partners with the Center for Career Education and Community Engagement to organize information sessions and ensure that job and internship postings reach a wide audience.
To contact BPA, visit csub.edu/bpa or call 661-654-2023. To reach CECE, visit csub.edu/cece or call 661-654-3033. For more information about the CSUB Alumni Association, visit csub.edu/alumni.
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