Client Spotlight: Tyree Davis, MSU Student Governor Today, U.S. Senator Tomorrow
Photo by Caleb Hearon
Before he was Missouri State University's Student Governor, collaborating with Missouri's state government and serving a campus of over 24,000 students, he was one of my first resume clients, back in 2015. He's grown leaps and bounds since then, from a cashier at a local grocery store to a Program Intern at New York City's Columbia University. He's recently graduated from Missouri State University with a B.S. in Administrative Management and a B.S. in Interpersonal Communication. Read about his journey.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO RESUMES BY NEESHA (RBN)?
Well, this was back when you first became interested in graphic design and resumes and you were trying to build up your skills. I didn’t have a resume, so you offered to do mine.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RESUME BEFORE RBN?
There wasn’t one. I was in college and didn’t have a job yet. The only job I had in high school was given to me by a family friend, so I had never gone through the application process. I didn’t get a real job until my sophomore year in college. This is also when I began seeking out student organizations on campus.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RESUME AFTER GETTING IT DONE?
Bomb. You've grown substantially. As I’ve grown professionally, your creative skills have grown and that's transferred into the design and layout of my resume. Every interview I’ve gone on, people have thoroughly enjoyed my resume.
"I KNEW THAT I COULDN'T GIVE UP. I HAD TO KEEP GOING
AND STRIVING FOR MY GOALS."
Photo by Caleb Hearon
HOW DID IT FEEL WHEN YOU GOT THAT FIRST JOB OFFER WITH YOUR NEW RESUME?
I used my new resume to apply for student organizations. It felt super nice because I had gotten denied the year before with every application. I knew that I couldn’t give up; I had to keep going and striving for my goals. It's amazing to see how I've grown as my resume's evolved. I’ve grown as a leader. I got the number one position I went out for, as student governor at Missouri State University. This position is appointed by the governor of Missouri and confirmed by the Missouri Senate and Legislators. When I got that, I felt like there was nobody or nothing that could stop my potential. It lit a spark in me and made me want to do even more. I think the internship at Columbia University helped me polish my existing skills and add new ones.
WHAT'S IT LIKE WORKING WITH MISSOURI GOVERNMENT?
It has been my greatest pleasure to serve as the Student Governor. At first it's very overwhelming, but like anything else, you get better over time. I love seeing the passion that administrators have for students and how they deal with issues. I've met a lot of people through this position. Meeting and collaborating with former governor Jay Nixon is an honor. I have pictures and letters from him that are framed and sitting in my grandmother's living room.
YOU GOT YOUR FIRST JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL. HOW IS 2012 TYREE DIFFERENT FROM 2017 TYREE?
He’s more compassionate, more understanding and less angry. I’m more well-rounded. I’m smarter and I’m more responsible. In high school, I focused on me and me only. Throughout my experiences, I’ve learned to care about all people, which is what sparked my interest in politics. I just hope to make America and the world a better place for all individuals. My dream is to be a US Senator.
"FOR EVERY LOW, THERE IS AN EQUAL HIGH."
Photo by Caleb Hearon
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU WISH YOU HAD WHEN APPLYING FOR INTERNSHIPS?
Then, I wasn’t as confident, but now I am very confident in myself. There is nothing that anyone can take away from me as an individual. The ups and the downs got me to this point. If I could go back I'd tell myself that everything happens for a reason. If you don’t get your dream job or position within a student organization, it happened for a reason. For every low, there is an equal high.
WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT TACTIC YOU UTILIZED WHEN APPLYING FOR INTERNSHIPS?
I always researched the company I was applying to before contacting them. Every opportunity I applied for was something that I was actually interested in. I wasn’t just applying to apply. I didn’t want to be complacent. I didn’t want to be stuck doing anything I didn’t enjoy. I think that’s a generational thing. As millennials we are more open-minded. We know what we want and what we don’t want.
AS A YOUNG BLACK MILLENNIAL, WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF NAVIGATING THE JOB MARKET?
Finding enough opportunities that fit, and a company culture that fits me. I value diverse staff, diverse ideas, growth opportunities, opportunities to give back to the community, and of course benefits and compensation. I wish there were more people that looked like me, more minorities that are in the hiring positions that interact with new hires.
WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED?
The future. My future children and grandchildren, my little brother and my little sister. The potential that I know I have to go far in life.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?
I am currently working on my master's in health administration. After that, I either want to start working or go on to a doctoral program, or go to law school. I have at least a year to figure that out. I'm excited about my future and the opportunities that will come up.
