Phi Trinh
Marketing & Management Track
(History '09, University of Virginia)
How much difference does it make to have a degree from McIntire’s M.S. in Commerce Program?
“I don’t think I’d be able to do my job as well—and I might not have gotten the job in the first place—if I hadn’t gone through the M.S. in Commerce Program,” says Phi Trinh (A&S ’08, M.S. in Commerce ’09), who’s currently working as a Brand Marketing Associate at financial giant Capital One.
Trinh, who holds an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Virginia, says the Program provided her with outstanding preparation for tackling the complex realities of the working world. “All that group work we did definitely prepared me for the environment I’m now working in,” she says. “Capital One is a very collaborative environment—I’m always working on a team.” More, Trinh points out, the Program’s emphasis on developing strong communication skills has also proved to be useful. “Every class really helped to develop our communication skills, both verbal and written,” she says. “I think that’s made a huge difference in how I’m now able to do my job.”
Trinh also says that the Program’s integrated curriculum provided her with a superb foundation for dealing successfully with the multifaceted challenges she now faces daily. “The integrated curriculum is definitely reflective of the real world,” she says. “You’re never going to be looking at one problem, within one context. So having experience with a blended curriculum—not having to solve a multifaceted problem for the first time in the real world—really makes the transition to working easier.”
Another factor in making the school-to-work transition easier, Trinh says, is McIntire’s superb Career Services department. “I really can’t say enough good things about Career Services,” Trinh says. “They’re so dedicated. They took the time to get to know me personally, and they were incredibly involved not only in my job search, but also in helping me develop the skills that I needed to get to that point. They did mock interviews with me, I had several resume reviews with them, and they were in constant contact.” The result? “I was so much better prepared in applying for this job than I would have been beforehand,” she says. “Their coaching and support really made a difference.”
Put it all together, Trinh says, and the M.S. in Commerce Program offers students a stellar educational experience. “It’s a completely different way of learning,” she says. “I have friends who are undergrads, and they ask me, ‘Should I do this program?’ My answer is always, ‘Do it.’ You won’t regret it.”