We’re excited to welcome Janet Cabrera to the Bessel team. Janet joins us as our social media coordinator, and she has already gotten to work sharing the experiences of our fall 2020 Bessel Origin cohort on our social media channels (Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter).
Janet was a participant in our fall 2020 cohort, and she immediately expressed an interest in social media marketing. Her energy, curiosity, and eagerness to learn and grow make her a great fit on the Bessel team. I asked Janet to share more about her background, interests, and career ambitions.
Janet, could you introduce yourself?
I am from Redwood City, California. After high school, I wanted to move away from the Bay Area, so I pursued my college degree at UC Riverside. I graduated from UC Riverside this past June with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology. I love to spend time with my family, especially playing video games with my nephews. When I am not with my family, you can find me hiking trails around the Bay Area. A current fun fact is that I have started listening to podcasts daily, which help with my personal and career goals.
How did you find out about the Bessel Origin program?
I found out about Bessel through my high school mentor, who usually sends us different opportunities she thinks would be helpful. I applied instantly after I heard about the opportunity. I was so excited when I got into the program and I’m looking forward to the rest of my Bessel Origin journey.
Why did you apply for Bessel Origin?
I applied for the Bessel Origin program because I want to build up my resume and network. As a first-generation college graduate, I realized I do not get the same opportunities as graduates whose parents have degrees and help them network with their friends. While I’ve had jobs before, I’ve never had an internship. Bessel Origin was the perfect opportunity to get real-world work experience I could share with future employers. Through Bessel, I have also grown my network of both peers and mentors. The Bessel Origin program is remote, which made it very easy for me to participate from home. I was able to pick up a new job and I still had time to fully participate in the program. I appreciated that even though it was not a huge time commitment, we were still learning.
How did you get interested in social media?
I became interested in social media marketing after one of my professors shared that sociologists make the best marketers. I spent countless hours figuring out how I could get my foot in the door, and after expressing my interest to Chris, he gave me the chance to manage social media platforms for the Bessel Origin program.
What have you learned so far about managing social media for a brand?
I have found that my sociology degree helps me create content that resonates with people. So far, I have enjoyed learning to plan content and develop strategies to reach our goals.
What else do you want to learn and explore in this role?
There is still a lot I am excited to learn about, but I hope in the next few months, I know more about tracking analytics and growth metrics. Analytics is one of the most important social media marketing components and can only help the brand. I’m working with Bessel mentor Lee Price, and I am sure she will help me become more knowledgeable and provide me valuable insights.
What are your career goals?
My current career goal is to take full advantage of my social media coordinator role to develop and grow my skills. Eventually, I’d like to work in the tech industry in a marketing or business operations role. It is essential for me to work for a company that values diversity. In the next few years, I hope that I am in a place in my career where I can use my experience and expertise to help others like myself.