Senior Ashley Conley Talks Job Experience and Post-Grad Plans
Boston-Native Ashley Conley is a senior communication studies major at Loyola Marymount University with a passion for event management and public relations. With graduation right around the corner, Ashley met with me to answer a few questions surrounding the topic of “what’s next?”
Emily Hubert: You are clearly very involved on campus — what do you plan on doing with your communication studies degree and event management experience?
Ashley Conley: I currently have an internship with Crimson Marketing and Public Relations (CMPR), it’s a marketing and public relations (PR) internship! I got into PR through a communication studies class and I became extremely interested in the profession. I also really love my job at Event Operations on campus and a part of PR is putting on events, so working within the events agency at CMPR is definitely pushing me to pursue the PR path.
EH: What skills do you learn in those positions that you think equips you for a future in PR?
AC: I have developed my time management skills and organization skills in the workplace — keeping track of inventory and whatnot — which is all important. And of course, I’ve gained a lot of experience from putting on events as well.
EH: You mentioned that while working with the TJX Companies, you modernized the inventory manual and reconstructed the merchandise guide. Can you talk a little bit about that process?
AC: For the inventory manual, TJX was basically using an old system/outdated technology to keep track of all the inventory at the Marshalls and TJ Maxx stores. With the newer technology, they had to update the manual so that the employees in each store could easily follow the instructions on how to take inventory. I basically rewrote it in a way that was easily interpretable.
In terms of the merchandise guides, Marshalls and TJ Maxx stores recently got new structures to hold the clothes and have also been coming out with new ways to present the merchandise guides. They had me go through the merchandise guides and update them with the new structures so that the employees knew how to set up each store.
EH: You also noted that you worked as a receptionist at Supercuts — with all of your experiences in mind, which position do you think challenged you the most and which was your favorite?
AC: Working with Supercuts was definitely the most challenging — and still is — just because it was very customer service-based and dealing with people is my biggest struggle in any company. In that position, you have to constantly deal with difficult customers and try to calm them down if any situation arises. With that being said, it is also my favorite because I was constantly working in a team-environment and I built some great relationships — the people there are like family. Working with Supercuts has helped me with my interpersonal communication and I know the lessons I have learned will help me in any future jobs.
EH: My last question is that I saw you are originally from the Boston area and most of your internships have been here in Los Angeles. Where do you plan on pursuing your career after you graduate?
AC: I am currently trying to figure everything out, but I definitely want to stay in Los Angeles. I have loved the people I met here and it’s totally different from back home — totally different atmosphere. I definitely love Boston as well though, so it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to go home and be close to my family… but I’d like to stick around here for now.
