Jennifer Boutros

1. What does your day-to-day work routine look like?

Because of the nature of my position, my day-to-day activities widely vary. The Office of College Advancement is involved in many different projects and collaborates with offices both on and off campus. Therefore, my tasks change daily. One day, I might be attending committee meetings and networking with organizations; the next, I could be handling budgetary and financial matters. Generally, my work always involves writing to some capacity, whether for outreach, grants, communications, etc. 

2. What experiences that you had during college were most beneficial for your future career(s)?

I majored in both English Liberal Arts and Secondary Education when I attended TCNJ. I sought to become an English teacher and pursued opportunities that would help me achieve this goal, such as working as a substitute teacher for various grade levels. Through that experience, I obtained a behind-the-scenes look at how a school operates and how various offices function in the background of a school environment. During my search for a teaching position, I conducted “demonstration lessons” for classes, which gave me the chance to interact with students from many different schools. This led me to teaching in the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. 

3. What is an aspect of your career that you value most? Are there any characteristics you would recommend looking for in a career?

I believe there is a great value in interacting with and helping others. My career in the public sector allows me to serve and give back to a community that has helped me grow. Before starting my career at TCNJ, I worked as a Management Specialist in a library. As a teacher, I love to elevate students, to watch them come into their own and recognize their strengths. I appreciate the freedom and flexibility to grow and learn in my projects, and I recommend finding a position that grants you this freedom. My current career allows me to fulfill my ambition and exercise creativity in projects that satisfy the needs of the office. 

4. What skills did you have to gain or hone while working in this position?

When I obtained my position at TCNJ, I was well-prepared with a diverse skill set, having gained suitable skills through my time in other careers and improved those skills through experience. I am constantly growing skills in negotiation, relationship building, and navigating people’s needs. I have honed my ability to interact with new technologies and software. Nothing is ever foreign to me, each new system can be learned.  

5. How did you find the confidence to switch career paths, and what was that process like?

Deciding to leave teaching was one of the hardest choices I’ve made, but I was determined that I could no longer do the job I loved because of the changing regulations and policies that were completely outside of my control. My joy of teaching became outweighed by this hardship. I had a strong support system and was assured that I would never stop teaching, that I would in no way lose that part of myself. I become, and remain, a private English tutor, which allows me to fulfill my desire to teach and to help students of all ages improve their reading and writing skills.