Valerie Moses

Sr. Relationship Manager, Community Engagement & Partnerships

You had a lot of internships during your time at UCF. Why did you pursue so many internships, and how important was that experience in helping you land your job with Addition Financial sometime after college?
I started out at Red Cross, and I wanted to work with a non-profit because I wanted to make a meaningful change in the community. After Red Cross, I went on to two different agencies; I worked with a marketing agency that worked with medical clients. I was also with TJM Communications, which mainly worked with hospitality clients such as the Swan and Dolphin and the Orlando Ballet. I even had one article that ended up on the Today Show website! On the Today Travel, they were doing an Easter special and the Swan and Dolphin had an Easter hunt going on. It was a really great way to get my feet wet in PR.
Dr. Wang—the Honors dean at the time—had reached out to ask if I was currently looking for a job right now and this position sounded perfect. It was a job I did not really know existed, and I had been applying for jobs left and right, and even with those internships, no one was really calling me back. It turned out that by knowing someone who knew the hiring manager who could get my resume to the top of the pile with a job that was in that hidden job network.
Congratulations on being selected as one of UCF’s “30 under 30” winners last year! As a BHC alumna, we are proud to call you one of our own! Thinking back on when you were a BHC student, how did your experience as an Honors Scholar help prepare you for your career?
My experience with Honors instilled a lot of important values that I have taken with me very early in my time with UCF. I also really got to know the Honors staff. From narrowing down my major to resume critiques before I would apply for internships, they were a tremendous help. It made me feel much more connected with BHC and they connected me with so many great opportunities, including my job today.
Finally, what advice or suggestions would you give current BHC students who are looking to have a successful career like yours? What are important things to consider or avoid, with respect to that?
Building relationships is not just impactful for building your network, but it is also good for improving your quality of life You never know how those connections are going to go or where they will take you, but I think it is important to build those connections early on and do not burn bridges.
Also, say yes to opportunities, even the weird ones. If it is something you really want to do, and you end up putting a lot of time and heart into it, it is going to impact you in some way. There are so many opportunities you have in college that you may not get back when you graduate and go into the real world.
Lastly, say yes to those opportunities outside of your job description. I was initially hired for brand awareness, but I was open with how I loved to write and blog. I was showed my willingness when it came to those projects whenever they ever came up at the organization. Now, I am pretty much the official writer for the organization. This would not have happened if I did not speak up or share that I would be willing to help with those types of things. Volunteer for projects they introduce to you, try to get to know people in other departments, and do not be afraid to do things outside of your job description that match your values.