JMC Alumni Spotlight: Alexandra Bogdan

• What was your major and how did you select it? Did anything influence your decision?

  • I went into SJSU undeclared, very uncertain of what I wanted to do with my life, like most young adults out of high school. I knew what I loved: people, writing, communications, and problem-solving, but none directly translated to a major or career, or it wasn't immediately evident to me. I eventually took a class aimed at helping students find their path. Influenced by people I connected within that class, and by a test I took to determine how my interests align to a career, I landed on Public Relations.

• Did you enjoy your time, while in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications? How was it interacting with peers and professors, while enrolled at San José State University?

  • The people I met and the experiences I had, while at SJSU JMC had a profound influence and impact on my future and career. I had several professors who pushed me to explore new areas within the school, such as broadcast journalism, social media marketing, and more. These experiences opened many doors for me through an expanded network and helped me secure an internship and my first job out of college at SAP in Palo Alto.

• What was your first job after graduating from San José State University? What career did you pursue and why?

  • I started my career at SAP as a social media marketing intern, thanks to the professional recommendation from my SJSU professor, Michael Brito. His class not only taught me about social marketing, selling, and the power of a personal brand, but it also taught me a critical lesson on the importance of networking; one I'll carry with me for life. The internship was a pivotal point in my career journey and has set me up for every new opportunity I've taken. Before ending my internship, I was offered a full-time job as a social media and community manager and over the course of my five years at SAP, I grew to take on even more responsibility managing a talented team and multi-channel communications strategy. Although my career path has not directly aligned to my major (Public Relations), the skills I learned have been leveraged at each stage in my career.

• What is your advice for graduating students from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at San José State University?

  • Network, network, network. I know it's a common answer, but I can't stress it enough, because the power of your personal network is profound. The old saying, "it's not what you know, it's who you know," holds most true for people pursuing careers that are centered around relationships and storytelling. While at SJSU, I took advantage of opportunities such as PR Day, which helped me hone in on my communication skills and ability to connect with people, expand my network, and build my personal brand. Even today, I continue to take advantage of opportunities to meet like-minded people, peers, and influencers from within my industry, and as a result, it has opened many new doors with potential career paths.

• What is your advice for prospective students interested in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at San José State University?

  • Take advantage of the rich resources available to you, while at SJSU. Connect with your professors and peers and hold onto those relationships because you never know when you’ll need a recommendation, introduction, or advice. My other bit of advice would be to take a breath and don’t stress about knowing what you’ll do once you graduate – just keep learning and growing. Most importantly, keep an open mind when it comes to internships, projects, and people because you never know where it can lead you. It’s rare you’ll land in your dream job right out of school, but there’s much to be learned from every experience, so find ways to make the most of every given opportunity.