Kelly Rendina

1. What are some past jobs/positions you have held?

After graduation from TCNJ, I began as a Sales Support Associate at Macmillan Education. I started at Macmillan as a High School Workshops Coordinator, sending out textbooks to thousands of AP workshops held throughout the summer. My first job that I worked through high school and partway through college was as a Customer Service Representative at NJ Shares, a non-profit organization that assists with household bills.

2. Were there any particular TCNJ courses/internships that helped jump-start your career?

My High School Workshop Coordinator position was an internship which led to my receiving a full-time job offer at Macmillan three months before graduation. That offer was for the sales support position which I stayed in for one year. I heard about that internship through professor Diane Steinberg who had kept in touch with an alumnus who worked at Macmillan.

3. What are your favorite memories of your time at TCNJ?

I loved building relationships with some of my English professors and peers. I have a few life-long friendships that began and grew at TCNJ.

4. What are the most important skills you learned that you use today?

During my time at TCNJ I learned to become more detail-oriented, better able to budget my time, and learned how to look at situations from new and different perspectives. The old argument that majoring in the humanities is useless when it comes time to apply for jobs is beyond untrue. English majors are renowned for their ability to analyze, offer fresh perspectives, and formulate compelling arguments. If those traits aren’t desired in the workforce, I don’t know which ones are.

5. Do you have any advice for current TCNJ students trying to break into the business?

The best advice I could give is to never stop applying! There are so many recent graduates applying for jobs and it can get very discouraging when you send out applications and hear nothing back. I was lucky to have gotten an internship that led me to full-time work after graduation. It took me more than a few interviews and a ridiculous amount of applications to get the job I currently have at Princeton. Keep in touch with your friends and professors at TCNJ as well. Not only are they future references, but they are invaluable sources of advice and wisdom.