Last week I attended Lauren Berger‘s 11th Annual Intern Queen Party, and all I can say is wow! She hosted an amazing panel that featured executives from Dunkin’, Warner Bros, TikTok, and more. The executives discussed what it takes to land jobs at their respective companies as well as general career advice.

I really appreciated their insight, so I wanted to recap a few takeaways from the event with you! I hope that this helps if you are trying to navigate your post-grad career too.

First, let’s chat about what Anh-Dao Kefor from Dunkin’ had to say. When she was asked about resume-worthy experiences, she said that she loves to see applicants who have had front-facing guest experience roles. She explained that working in a restaurant or a drive-thru allows you to develop key communication and problem-solving skills.

I think it is important to note that you should never discount your experiences. Even if a job you worked wasn’t in your preferred field, you were still able to learn something from it!

Anh-Dao also talked about how interns can become employees. She said that if interns truly invest in relationships across the organization, they are more likely to be hired full-time. She also noted that interns that are willing to go outside of their comfort zone to help are more likely to be future employees.

Shannon Howard from Warner Bros Television also spoke about relationship building and networking, but she took the conversation a step further. She explained the importance of not just networking to network. She believes that forming genuine relationships is a better goal to have in mind.

The idea that every job experience counts is something that Andrew Parkin from Sony Music revisited when he was questioned. He explained the importance of transferable skills (aka the skills you have and can apply to various positions). If you know what you bring to the table and can deliver it professionally, you might just impress Andrew in an interview.

Kayla Dixon from TikTok gave specific resume-building advice. She said that she loves to see statements that explain actions and results. It’s important to not only say what you’ve done but also what happened because of it.

Surprise guest Jess Sims from Peloton really energized me with her closing remarks. She discussed her “arsenal of why’s.” She said that if you know the “why” behind your work, it will help to keep you motivated and fueled (even through the hard days).

In addition, Jess shared that she gained more success when she presented her authentic self. Moral of the story: If you are willing to put yourself out there, you never know what amazing opportunities may come your way!

What’s the best career advice that you’ve ever received? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!