In a competitive job market, it is important to seize every available opportunity; for Matt Davidson, that opportunity happened to take the form of a thank you note. Davidson, who had recently obtained a degree in broadcast journalism, was working at WCBD News 2 in Charleston when he secured a side job as freelance videographer for the Center for Continuing and Professional Education at the School of Professional Studies.
“If you can find a way to take all of the educational experiences you’ve had in your life, and combine them into a profession that you enjoy; I don’t know how you can do better than that.”
At a faculty member’s suggestion, Davidson decided to take one of the classes he was assisting with – Social Media – hoping that it would be helpful to him in his position at News 2. Davidson was intrigued to learn that Charleston was becoming a hotspot for digital media companies, and made a point of corresponding to thank the presenters who had spoken to his class.
While all of the speakers responded in kind, Davidson’s interest and initiative made a lasting impression on LevelWing vice-president K.B. Reidenbach. Reidenbach, who had returned to teach a section of the course, established a connection with Davidson; communicating frequently via email. When a position became available within Reidenbach’s company, Davidson expressed his interest, and was soon offered an interview.
Currently enjoying his work as a paid search analyst with LevelWing, Davidson acknowledges that he would not have successfully made a career transition were it not for the CCPE. Beyond the obvious networking advantages, Davidson notes that the CCPE, and the JobBridge program in particular, were instrumental in his developing the skills and confidence he needed to stand out as a job candidate.
Reflecting on his career trajectory, Davidson remarks, “If you can find a way to take all of the educational experiences you’ve had in your life, and combine them into a profession that you enjoy; I don’t know how you can do better than that.” He encourages prospective students to follow his example: pursue every available educational opportunity and every open door – you never know where it might lead.
