Our mission here at The Muse is simple: to help you find your dream job. So, there’s nothing we love more than hearing about it when you do!
Today, we caught up with Jennifer Clessas, who found her position as an analyst fellow at Education Pioneers on The Muse. The 10-month fellowship program places top professionals in education leadership positions within nonprofits, charter schools, and school districts—and it was a perfect fit for Clessas, who’s spent the last five years working in education and social change in India, Colombia, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Think the opportunity sounds like a great fit for you? Hear her story and get her advice for other job seekers, then check out Education Pioneers’ company profile to learn more.
What were you looking for in a job?
It was important to me to find an organization with a mission I could get behind fully. There are many avenues to create social change, but I have to feel committed to the mission of the organization in order to feel connected. Another important aspect to me is working with a collaborative team.
Why are you excited about this job?
The Education Pioneers Analyst Fellowship was attractive for its unique model. EP is essentially a professional network for emerging education leaders. EP connected me to an organization that needs my skills but can also teach me about what education reform looks like on the ground level. I love the fellowship cohort model that EP applies—all fellows have ongoing support, professional development opportunities, and exposure to a large alumni network.
Through the fellowship, I was placed with Connecticut Council for Education Reform, which is a nonprofit education reform group that hopes to narrow the achievement gap of public school children in Connecticut. As an analyst fellow at CCER, I not only get to use and hone skills that I have, but I am also pushed to produce high-quality work. I work for an organization that has high expectations for its employees, and I am surrounded by high performing individuals, which pushes me—it’s great! I am also given opportunities to work on multiple projects, such as implementation and engagement with external stakeholders, as well as internal strategic management. Having the ability to work in multiple areas of the organization keeps my job exciting.
How did you use The Muse to help you in your job search?
I found the analyst fellowship position on The Muse website! But reading The Daily Muse updates regarding trends in hiring also keeps me up to date on how to best present myself online—e.g., how to use LinkedIn effectively. One of the best articles I saw was about finding free or cheap classes in developing hard skills. I think it is important to be a lifelong learner, and investment in analytical skills can never hurt.
What advice would you have for someone who wanted a job like yours?
Find great platforms, like The Muse, that list social impact opportunities you’re interested in, and check them frequently. Be ready to articulate why you’re interested in the cause, and for the analyst fellowship in particular, make sure the skills required are evident in your resume. Lastly, when heading into your interview, research the area you want to focus on. Before my interview with CCER, I reviewed current Connecticut education news in order to understand the education reform space better.