Joanna Parada '13

I am a person that loves to stay busy, thrives from exploring new things and makes sure to stay open minded about all things.

I am an account executive at Gunn|Jerkens Marketing Communications in Long Beach. I work closely with clients to make sure that all marketing campaigns are executed to the fullest. Generally, I serve as a liaison between our clients and every single department in the company.

After graduation it was challenging to land a job, I applied for paid and un-paid internships, applied for jobs (everywhere) and nothing stuck. Five months passed and I managed to get a seasonal job at a retail store and worked there for 2 months. Then in one of my 2AM online job searches I came across a job listing and I saw the name of the company that I recognized. I interned for Gunn|Jerkens summer of 2012, so needless to say, I applied for the position. The next day, I received a call from the company's President and she invited me for an interview. A few days later I went in for an interview and I was offered the position.

Not at all. My aspiration when I was in school was to become a speech writer. While in school, I involved myself in political campaigns and political groups. Although Communication Studies is such a giant umbrella, I never thought I would end up in marketing & advertising, especially one that focuses on real estate marketing.

The biggest (and hardest) transition was going from a school routine, to no routine at all. While in school, I was very involved with various student organizations so I spent most of days on campus. Additionally, I enjoyed showing up to class and being a part of intellectual debates, discussing current events etc. Since I did not start working right away, the daily stimulation of meeting different people, attending organization meetings and discussing different things was sorely missed. Although I learn something new every single day at work, it simply does not live up to the days when I was in school.

I try my very best to maintain a connection with The Beach because it gave me so much more than I could have expected. I try when I can to attend alumni panels so that I can share my experience and possibly serve as a resource for students. I am very proud to be a CSULB Alumni and I will forever carry that.

I joined the Alumni Association because I wanted to make my connection with The Beach permanent. A diploma may be binding, sure, but I wanted to be a part of something that is shared with fellow alumni dating many decades back.

As graduation day creeps up on you, slow down, take a step back and reflect on your days at CSULB. Ask yourself, have I accomplished what I wanted? Is it enough? On graduation day, will I be happy with my days at CSULB? If you answer yes to everything, then you are in great shape, if you answer no – is it something that you can accomplish in the remaining months? My biggest happiness on graduation day was that I had no regrets, I knew that I had gone for everything that I wanted while in school. Reflecting back on it with just two years after graduation, I sure am glad that I pursued my curiosities and passions while in school, because once you dive in to the real thing there is not a whole lot of wiggle room for trial and  error or for spur-of-the-moment experiences. Unless you land a job with overwhelming flexibility, your life will consist of serious business and only the weekends and observed holiday’s for fun and adventures (if you’re lucky!) My biggest advice, join that club or organization that you’ve been curious about, friend a professor that you truly admire, ask your top three professors to write you a recommendations letter and most importantly, get in your order of personal business cards with your name, [professional] email address, phone number and title of B.A. & minor (if applicable).

Not certain where I see myself in five years, but I do expect to be fully submerged in my career. I expect to be happy and continuing to learn more and more every day. I expect to be in a place in my career where my talents and knowledge are welcomed and nurtured.