Graduate school is a big investment, and most graduate students make that investment in the hopes it will lead to career growth. In this Q&A story, Kyle Richardson, an online MS in Communication student, sheds light on how his education at The Brian Lamb School of Communication at Purdue University has helped bolster his professional life in Washington, D.C. at a busy consulting firm.
In this conversation, Kyle shares his journey of turning classroom lessons into real-world triumphs, proving that the right education can indeed pave the way for a successful career.
Q: How does the content you are learning in graduate school intersect with your life outside of school?
A: If you’re a student like me, then you may frequently find yourself questioning your choices and wondering if you’ve made the right educational decisions. I take comfort in knowing that The Brian Lamb School of Communication has pointed me in the right direction.
Recently, I found myself truly appreciative of Purdue’s communications curriculum. I currently work for a consultancy firm based in Washington, D.C. I’m working on a pitch to a potential client. One of the client’s issues centers around branding and marketing. Lo and behold, I’m enrolled in the Corporate Branding course, COM 64600-002. I can’t say everything is directly spelled out, but I felt prepared to address the needs of the client. I was armed with more than book theories and framework models. I personally knew how to identify the problem, but more importantly, I knew how to get the client back on track. It’s comforting to know that the information that I’ve learned can be applied in real-life.
During another instance, I had a project a few months ago. At the time, I was taking an Integrated Marketing Communication class. It was my job to create an annual communication plan for a client. It was the perfect opportunity to test drive a new skill set and the information I just learned. I was able to develop creative content and expand the communication channels this client used to broadcast its messages across. At the end of the project, I felt a sense of accomplishment. How often do you get to influence a company in targeting the right audience, at the right time, across the right communication channels?
As someone who works in the communication field and has used the information I’ve learned at Purdue; regularly. I end my days knowing that I’ve made the right decision.
