Overview
I work as a Corporate Relations Student Assistant for the Corporate Affiliates Program at UCSD's Jacobs School of Engineering. My job is to make sure recruiting events run smoothly and that students actually get access to the opportunities in front of them. It's a coordination role at its core: a lot of moving pieces, a lot of stakeholders, and a high bar for getting the details right when executives and companies are on the other end.
The Challenge
The hardest part is managing multiple events at once and making sure each one actually runs the way it's supposed to. Every quarter brings a full slate of recruiting events, each with its own logistics, timeline, and attendees. The real challenge is that two completely different groups are depending on you at the same time: executives and recruiters who need everything professional and on time, and students who need real access to the opportunity in front of them. Dropping the ball for either one isn't an option.
My Approach
The Outcome
Reflection
This role changed how I carry myself professionally. Working directly with senior executives and recruiters from major companies made me a lot more comfortable in rooms I'm not supposed to feel comfortable in yet. I learned that professionalism isn't about being formal — it's about being prepared, reliable, and easy to work with. That's something I take with me into every opportunity from here.