Alumni Profile: Jerry
Financial Information Manager, Busey Bank
When you first came to UIUC did you know for sure what you wanted to do as a major/career?
No
How many majors/careers did you "go through" during your years here and how did you finally come to a choice?
I was accepted into LAS and scheduled business classes. The first day, I changed to focus on engineering because it looked more interesting. I thought I wanted to get into optimal physics. After three semesters, I didn't feel like working that hard and went into industrial design.
What was one UIUC event, memory, person, class, that made a substantial difference in your career choices?
Drafting class and my counselor.
What was your first job after you earned your degree?
Collegiate Cap and Gown (summer job)
How did you land your first career related job?
Through the father of a Notre Dame classmate
List all positions in order that you have held since graduation up till now (including those not related to your major, i.e. waitress, temp, teacher, etc.). Please provide brief descriptions for clarity if necessary:
- Collegiate Cap and Gown
- Graduate assistant, University of Notre Dame
- Assistant manager at Zorba's
- Marketing assistant, The News-Gazette
- Director of market development, Professional Impressions Media Group
- General manager, Tolono County Star
- Marketing director, Busey Bank
What is your current occupation and how did you come to it?
Financial Information Manager, Busey Bank. I got this job by networking.
If you changed career paths after school, did you make a conscious choice to make the change, was it forced on you or did it naturally evolve?
I decided to get an MBA so I could get a job.
What advice would you give to an FAA student who might be interested in your current or past careers?
FAA may help you become more "well-rounded" and will definitely help you develop more creative problem solving skills, but you better focus on what your really want, plan ahead, set goals and work hard.
What advice can you give an FAA student who is currently undecided about their future career?
Talk to your counselor, and definitely talk to your teachers. At times you can learn more from working and talking with your instructors than you can in the classroom.