- When you were in high school, what did you plan to study once you got into college?

When I was in high school, I really didn’t know what I wanted to study when I got into college. In fact, I didn’t think much about college at all. When I was in high school in the 1970’s , most of the kids that I hung out with weren’t going to college., because it was still possible at that time to get a good job without college. The world is a different place today.

- What did you major in? Did you change your major?

I ended up going back to college after I was hired for an engineering firm. I got the job because a friend of mine recommended me. After a while, they realized that I had no experience in the field and said I could keep the job if I went back to school. I was making good money and so of course I wanted to keep the job. I went back to college for that reason. I thought I was going to be an engineer. I took some classes and I did ok, but I didn’t really like the subjects. I ended up dropping out because the firm went under and I lost my job anyway. However, I went back again later and majored in business.

- Briefly describe a regular day while you were in college. What did you like the most of your college experience?

I went back to school as a non-traditional student when I majored in business. At least, that is what they call people like me now. A regular day for me was basically going to work and then going to school in the evening. After I came home from school, I’d do my school work and study. Truly, I liked meeting new people best as part of my college experience. I wasn’t so thrilled about the actual work that comes with the territory, but I knew it needed to be done.

- What steps did you take to search for a job before graduation? Did you find a job before graduating from college?

I had a job before I graduated from college. In fact, I went back to college so I could do my job better. That was more common years ago, especially if you wanted to move up the corporate ladder. Of course, soon after graduating, the company I was working for went under. That seemed to be a common theme in my life for a while! It happened twice to me. At that point, I needed to go out and find another job pronto. But, at least I had a degree in business, which made things a little bit easier.

- Do you currently work in a job that is related to what you majored in college?

I work as a salesman and I also help to manage the other sales people that work for this company–I love sales. Since sales is a big part of business, yes, I guess I do work in a job that is related to my college major – well, my second college major anyway.

- How did your life change after graduation? Was it difficult to adapt to the working world?

My life didn’t really change after graduation; it changed during college. Instead of hanging out on the weekends with my buddies from work, I had to study and do school work. That was a difficult change for me. I had been out of school for a long time and frankly, I didn’t want to be in college. I was there because my boss wanted me there and because I needed to keep my job.

- What do you think would’ve helped you prepare for life after graduation?

I felt bad for the kids I went to college with because all of their knowledge was from books. I was out in the working world and I had first hand knowledge of how things really worked out in the real world. I’m glad actually that I went back to school after establishing myself professionally instead of going to school first and then working to establish myself in the field. But who knows, maybe it would have been easier if I would have done it the other way around.

- What would you have done differently in college if you knew what you know today?

I don’t think I would have done anything differently except that I would have skipped all the work trying to get my engineering degree. Knowing what I know about myself today, I know that I am no engineer. However, I am an excellent salesman!

- At the end, write a title for this article and two sentences summarizing it.

An Interview With A Non-Traditional Student

During this interview, a non-traditional student discusses what it is like to return to school after working for a number of years. He also discusses how the college experience is different for people who are working a full time job while attending school.

Considered pursuing a career in Sales? This interview will take you through the ups and downs you can expect when starting out in the industry, and explains one sales manager’s road to his current position. This is a true career story as told to DiversityJobs and is one of many interviews with marketing professionals and businessmen and women.

Guest Article By: Coral Graszer, LatPro.com

See all posts on career success