News

March 20, 2015

Career Advising “Office Hours” Begin March 24

Meet Juli-anne Jenson, the new Advisor in the Arts, Non-Profit & Public Sector at Princeton University Career Services. She will be hosting Office Hours every Tuesday this spring from 11 am – 1:30 pm in the student lounge on the 1st floor of 185 Nassau Street.

Five Questions for Juli-anne Jensen:

Please describe your own career trajectory and how it led to your new role at Princeton.

Sometimes your career and life paths cross in a way that you never expect, but in retrospect you see how it all came together because of your relationships. Before I started at Princeton, I attended the Career & Life Vision workshop and had a chance to reflect on where I’ve been and where I fit in the Princeton community.

Twenty years ago, I started in my first job in politics, working for then State Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg because a college friend recommended me. From that day since, every job opportunity has been a result of the relationships I’ve built with colleagues, supervisors and mentors. Even as I shifted from politics to the film industry, it was because a former boss took notice of my interest in both entertainment and politics and recommended me for a job that would propel me into the studio system, where I moved my way up the ladder at Miramax Films, Universal Pictures and Fox Searchlight Pictures. Each step of the way, I was supported by my peers as we moved up together and by the guidance of mentors.

When my brother came home from serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, I made the decision to return to politics and again received the support of my colleagues in the entertainment industry as well as the politicos I had kept in confidence over the years. Following several years back on the campaign trail, I made the decision to return to New York to consult on political and arts projects while pursuing my lifelong dream of writing and performing comedy.

Then the unexpected happened. I met my husband, an officer in the U.S. Army who would be transferred to Ft. Dix, New Jersey, settling us just 20 minutes from Princeton. Commuting between New York and Washington for clients became increasingly difficult and I began to reconsider my options when the opportunity to advise students at Princeton presented itself. Now, here I am, working with students and hopefully imparting the importance of relationships, flexibility and the idea that all skills can be transferred and translated.

What are some challenges and opportunities that are unique to careers in the arts?

The biggest challenge is also the greatest opportunity: having confidence in who you are and what you want to do. Careers in the arts demand that you have a firm sense of identity and that you can self-promote. For many people it is difficult to make that cold call or email asking for an internship, job or audition. It’s also difficult to say, “I’m an actor!” or “I’m a writer!” or “I’m an artist!” Because, invariably there will be someone telling you that you can’t make a living doing that or questioning why you would waste your education. You’ve got to have thick skin and confidence that you chose your path for a reason.

What are some of the most important things that students can do right now to plan and prepare for their careers?

That’s it! It’s all about planning and preparation. Putting together a plan will not only help guide you, but will also help guide your family, friends and mentors in the best ways to support you–from understanding the creative process, to coming to your performances, to just knowing that the industry doesn’t work the same way as say, consulting. Setting goals and having an idea of what success looks like to you is a good place to start, keeping in mind that having flexibility to change that idea of success will invariably be necessary over the course of time. Every student is different, and it’s important to remember that each career path is going to look different. I’m looking forward to working with students to put those plans into action.

In your experience so far, what’s unique about Princeton students and career services at Princeton?

I am blown away by every student I have met. The talent and the potential is amazing.

Everyone at Career Services is supportive of student engagement in the arts and the environment here is exciting, as new opportunities and programs are being developed to educate, engage and empower students on their career path, whatever that path may be.

What is something you’d like to change about how Princeton students go about brainstorming and pursuing careers?

It’s not so much about changing as it is reimagining. I’d like to help students get to the heart of what drives them, what makes them unique and what how they want to use those “superpowers” in their careers and their lives. By working with the Lewis Center faculty, staff and students to expand the horizons of arts students through career opportunities, workshops and alumni and industry programming, there is a great spirit of collaboration. Most importantly, I want students to know that my door is open. Let’s make this happen!

Press Contact

Steve Runk
Director of Communications
609-258-5262
srunk@princeton.edu