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Career Profile Form

Name: Lesley Edwards
Age: 25
Company Name: Epigraphx
Years With Company: 1.7
Previous Jobs: Immediately after college, I interned with the editorial staff at Upside Magazine (a high-tech publication based in Foster City, CA). My next two jobs were short-term stints -- one as a free-lance writer for Snow Country Magazine and another as a multimedia researcher for the Monterey Bay Aquarium; after that, it seemed appropriate to seek a 'real' job with some stability and long-term potential, which led me to take my current position with Epigraphx.
Education: Economics coursework at U.C. Berkeley Extension, 1995; B.A. American Studies, Stanford University, 1993; Stanford-in-Florence, January - June 1992

1. What is your official job title?

Account Manager

2. What is the job title you'd give yourself?

Glue

3. What makes your job unique?

My position is unique in the sense that in encompasses a range of roles. Part of my role is to provide customer support, part of it is to manage new and on-going projects, and part of it is to develop new business opportunities within existing accounts. This keeps things interesting. It also affords me the opportunity to spend a lot of time in other departments, which I like - there is a lot to be gained from learning a business process from different angles.

4. How did your college major / graduate school degree help prepare you for your career path?

In the eyes of my employer, my ability to write and communicate effectively are my most valuable skills. The volume of reading and writing involved in my college courses helped to develop these abilities, and also forced me to learn to work quickly and meet deadlines. American Studies is an interdisciplinary major (English, History and Political Science) - not exactly a "practical" combination, but a fun one! And I honestly believe that it prepared me well for a job climate that demands versatility and a mentality that welcomes change. To be sure, my current position is "interdisciplinary," which probably explains why I enjoy it so much. I have always preferred variety to focus.

5. What necessary career information was missing from your studies? How did you pick up those skills and knowledge?

In college, I didn't take any economics or other business-related courses, which is why I chose to take some econ through Berkeley's extension program as I was preparing for the Job Hunt. Although I enjoyed the courses, I do not think they added much to my understanding of business, because they were mainly theoretical. However, I believe that having economics coursework on my resume improved my ability to get a job in business, where a liberal arts degree may not be taken seriously. It's funny how the smallest items on your resume can make the biggest difference...my friends have noticed the same thing. It helps if you can show an on-going commitment to expanding your skill set, whatever field you are pursuing.

6. What difficulties did you encounter entering your chosen field?

The biggest challenge for me was trying to get a grasp of what I wanted to do within business. Initially, I didn't even know what categories exist in business (e.g., accounting, marketing, sales, finance, etc.). But once I had read a few books about finding a job in business, and analyzed what kind of working environment I was interested in finding, it started to come together. I realized that I wanted to work for a small company in a position that would allow me to interact directly with clients. The next biggest challenge was finding someone to give me that opportunity, considering my complete lack of experience! The only way to deal with the barrier to entry is to tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job, and aggressively network. As scary as it is, it works. You have to force yourself to do it.

7. Why would you recommend your company or job?

I would recommend my company because we have a great staff! I really like and admire the people I work with, which makes all the difference. Before I started working, I underestimated how important it is to like your boss and your colleagues. I just got lucky. In the future, I will always ask to spend a day on-site before accepting a position. As for my job, I would recommend it to anyone who wants to gain experience working with clients and managing projects. If you are interested in sales but scared to dive right in, working as a account manager is an excellent starting point. In my position, I am expected to identify and develop new business opportunities with our existing clients, and my compensation is oriented to that goal. This means that I often act as a salesperson, but in a very low-key way because my clients do not think of me as a salesperson.

8. How does the size of your company impact your sense of job satisfaction?

Working for a small company can be exciting in that there is usually way too much work to go around. You can grab as much responsibility as you want, and carve out your own niche. I find this freedom very satisfying. I also love the laid-back atmosphere...no dress codes, defined work schedules, or limitations to what you can do or say (within reason!). The downside of working for a small company is that you have to deal with the myriad challenges related to having limited resources. Many of the things that you would take for granted at a large company simply aren't there. Also, the lack of definition regarding who is responsible for what can be frustrating. At a small company, you can't get away with saying, "That's not MY job..." - you have to be willing to pitch in wherever you are needed.

9. What three things are most rewarding about the work you do?

10. What three things are most frustrating?

11. What three things are most fun?

12. How do you handle work stress?

Although I hate to admit it, I do a pretty poor job of relieving stress. More than anything, I have developed a tolerance for it, meaning that I avoid getting stressed out much better than I used to. On really good days, I work out at a gym. Exercise is the best method of relieving stress for me.

13. How big a role does technology play in your career?

Very big, at the moment. The more I learn about it, the more I enjoy it. I doubt I would ever try to find a job outside of the high-tech industry. I like the constant change and innovation. You never know what next year will bring...

14. How do you distinguish yourself from your co-workers?

The comment I have heard most frequently from my co-workers is that I am very detail-oriented. I try to learn everything there is to know about the projects I manage, so that I truly understand them. I spend a lot time in other departments, asking questions and getting involved. I think this is because I operate in a constant state of paranoia, convinced that disaster is imminent!

15. Which popular song best describes your working life?

"Please, Mom, I Want To Go Home!"

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