This week, Her Campus at UCLA had the pleasure of talking to Iris Goldstzajn, who is a HC UCLA Alumna and associate editor at HC. We discussed her memories at UCLA, her life after college, and her career. She even has some advice for those looking for a career in a similar field as her.
Check out what she said below:
Her Campus: What was your major and graduation year?
Iris Goldstzajn: Communication Studies major and Gender Studies minor. I graduated in 2016.
HC: Being a UCLA alumna, what was your fondest memory of being an undergrad here?
IG: That’s a tough question! This is going to sound so clichéd, but I can’t think of one memory in particular. My whole undergraduate experience was so challenging in the best of ways, so I think my favorite thing about it was just growing up and growing into who I am today by meeting people from all walks of life, interacting with some of the best professors in the world, and learning how to work through new obstacles every day.
HC: How did you first get involved in HerCampus?
IG: Writing for HerCampus was my first goal when I started college. I started reading HC my senior year of high school when I was preparing to attend UCLA, so I applied as soon as I could. Being accepted as a national contributing writer was such a huge deal for me, and I grew as a writer beyond any of my expectations. When a section editor position opened up my junior year, it just felt like the natural next step for me.
HC: What were your plans after graduating? Did you intend on working for HerCampus after college?
IG: Immediately after graduating, I interned at Cosmopolitan.com in New York City. I wanted to experience what it was like working in the industry in the center of it all. I am so happy I got to work with that team and develop my skills, but it was soon obvious to me that I was more suited to the L.A. lifestyle. When I moved back here, a position at HC opened up and it felt like fate.
HC: What is your favorite part about your job?
IG: My favorite part is probably the amount of autonomy I have in an entry-level position. My supervisors really trust me and truly value my voice, so I get to decide what kind of content I want to see on the site. It’s so much fun!
HC: What does a day in the life of your job look like?
IG: I work remotely, so I will either stay home or head to a coffee shop in the morning. I check my email and deal with some tasks that come up that way, but my first step is usually to assign the style and beauty bloggers that are on duty that day. I publish any articles I didn’t get to the previous day, spend some time overseeing our Pinterest boards, review writer applications and much, much more. There is no real typical day! For instance, at the moment, I am working on graduation gift guides, which is a more long-term project.
HC: When you came to UCLA for the HerCampus tour, did you visit any specific place on campus? Why?
IG: I visited my sorority house! It’s always fun to go back there and revisit the memories I have of living there and attending events. I also have friends who are still in school, so I hung out with them for a bit—any excuse to catch up!
HC: What are you doing now?
IG: My official title at Her Campus is Associate Editor, and one of my principal responsibilities is overseeing style and beauty content.
HC: Do you have any advice for undergraduates looking to go into a similar field professionally as you?
IG: Talk to people in the industry! Being at UCLA, you have access to so many talented and accomplished people, so definitely utilize those resources. You’ll learn from them both personally and professionally, plus you never know who could help you find a job or internship! Don’t be afraid to reach out to people; most of the time, they are more than happy to help you and answer any questions you may have (@ me! My Twitter and Insta is @irisgoldsztajn). Other than that, if you want to write, then … do it. One of the exciting things about this industry is that you can literally just start a blog, or submit pieces to various outlets that let you do that, and this always looks great on your resume.
HC: What is one of your fondest memories of your job at HerCampus?
IG: Again, I don’t know that there is any one specific moment, but it’s just such a wonderful environment to work in. Her Campus is the prime example of women supporting other women. Everyone on the team champions each other, and is here to help if we need. I think a healthy company culture is one of the most important things you can have in your work life.
Photo Courtesy of: Iris’ Instagram