MEET JOSHUA! He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Computers Information Systems from UNT. He is currently working as an Executive Team Leader Intern at Target.
We asked Joshua some questions, advice for current students, and how UNT helped him to succeed and SOAR BEYOND!
When you started at UNT, what were your plans after graduation? How have these plans changed (if at all)? When I first came to UNT, I tried to walk onto the football team. I played at the University of Texas A&M at Commerce, so I wanted to keep my dreams of one day going to the NFL alive. However, things quickly changed when I injured my ankle. After my injury, I decided to put more attention on my education. Once I began exploring my options through networking events and industry research, I refocused my career aspirations. I realized that I really enjoyed interacting with people and understanding emerging technology, so I decided to pursue Business Computers Information Systems.
What advice do you have for prospective or current students as they decide what they want their next steps to be (internships/careers/etc.)? You don’t have to know everything in the beginning…and it’s probably better that you don’t! While I am a firm believer in having a plan, it’s important to remember that we can’t control everything that happens, and life is a journey. I had two different majors prior to my business major, and now I have finally found something that clicks for me. Before I chose to focus on academia, my primary focus was, ‘how many tackles can I get this season?’ I would’ve never imagined that I would be in this major and going down this career path, but I’m happy. I would advise students to just enjoy the journey of discovering things about yourself. When you face opposition, make the best decision, and keep on truckin’.
How did your program at UNT help you to feel prepared for this role? The role I’m in is preparing me to take a leadership role within Target. The coursework that the College of Business requires encompasses the various skills one needs in business. I’ve been able to learn general professionalism, marketing to understand target markets, economics to learn of retail spending trends, and consumer behavior, just to name a few impactful courses. This preparation makes me feel more than confident in my skills and knowledge to do well in my upcoming internship.
How did you find your current role? I found my current role through the Spring Job Fair. I met with a Target Talent Hiring Representative during the event, and I did my best to sell myself to her about the value that I could add to the organization. Needless to say, I got the interview and eventually the job!
What was the toughest interview question they asked you? The toughest interview question I ever received, was where do I see myself in five years. Many interviewers use this as a trick question, but the goal is to see if an applicant is goal driven, and has a plan to stay with that certain company. It’s used as a tricky question, but if you know how to answer it, most interviewers will be impressed.
How did the Career Center help you? The Career Center was great in helping develop my resume. I came in one day to get my resume reviewed, and I was helped by Brian Hirsch. I thought after I got my resume checked there wouldn’t be any additional communication with the Center. However, Brian continued to check on me for progress on my resume revisions. Then a few weeks later, Brian provided me great tips on networking and advice for approaching companies. I greatly appreciate how dedicated he was to help me succeed. This was the first time I felt someone took such a vested interest in my career, and it meant a lot to me.
Would you like to be featured in our Soaring Beyond Success Series? Email Jeanette Hickl. We’d love to share your story!
