Interested in Learning about Careers in Local Government?

Have you ever thought about having a career in public service? How about local government or business development? Luckily for you, we at the Career Center had the pleasure of interviewing a UVA Alum, Chudi Obi, who shared a little information about all of the above! 

Chudi is a Class of 2015 alum and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs along with a Master of Public Policy that he received in 2017. He currently works as a Business Development Coordinator for the Charles County Development Department. Chudi got into local government via his time with the Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy where, for his capstone project, he took on the City of Columbia as a client for various transportation and construction projects. After graduating, he went on to work in the areas of zoning policy and business development. He now supports and advocates for local businesses by assisting with various business development programs, collaborating with stakeholders, aiding business retention and expansion initiatives, among other things!

Chudi has a great deal of experience and knowledge to pull from. The following are questions that we hear from many students as they consider preparing for their own careers.

How would you describe the transition from school to work life?

Chudi describes his transition as one that took him outside of his comfort zone. While at UVA, it is easy to become accustomed to the culture and lifestyle of being a college student. Typically, everything is located near to you and you are surrounded by a cohort that is like-minded and close in age. For Chudi, he was a student at UVA for six years; he felt that his time in Charlottesville gave him everything he needed before going into the workforce. However, he also expressed that there came a point where he had to move outside this comfort zone that was the university.

What attributes/motivations make a student a good fit for business development?

Through Chudi’s extensive experience working with local government, he highlighted the following:

• Patience & Adaptability. Local government and politics are fluid. Very often you can become under different management and policies that you need to adhere to. Along with this, there are different types of people and communities that you need to attend to!
• Good communication skills. 
• Always be willing to learn. Continue to improve yourself. There is always something to learn in any situation.
• Make the effort to maintain connections.
• Good customer service. Every industry needs good people skills. You will find yourself working with a variety of people, constituents, colleagues, teams, management, etc. where you will have to work with to the best of your ability!
• Make the effort to do things on time.
   

What pieces of advice would you give to students that are preparing for a career in your field?

Chudi started first with advice for the underclassmen. He gave these central points:

• Make use of the vast resources at UVA. The university provides students with many opportunities to prepare for their future careers. Chudi highly suggests students go to events central to their industry and talk to their professors often. “Gain as much knowledge and experience as you can,” he advocates.
• Want to understand local government? Go to where the local government is! Since UVA is incorporated into the greater Charlottesville community, there are opportunities to experience its local government firsthand. The Charlottesville City Council is the biggest avenue for this. The Council holds hearings on the first and third Monday of every month where students can join and start getting involved!

For the upperclassmen:

• No position in local government is better than any other position. It is not uncommon for  students to have trouble with comparing themselves to others in their field. Know that you are making an impact, no matter where or what department you are in! This is better made apparent through meeting the locals that you are working alongside.
• Be open to leaving your comfort zone. Everywhere in the country is looking for people to work in local government. Stay open-minded about the avenues and positions open to you, along with locations you will be working from. Have a variety of experiences you can learn from!

For everyone:

• Take advantage of any resources available. It is not an overstatement that UVA has a plethora of resources for students in any industry! Go to events, talk with professors, and gain as much knowledge and experience as you can. Your time at UVA is one where you can explore various interests and prepare for your future career!
• It is never too late to start with your resume or cover letter. Friends, family, and classmates are inexpensive and priceless. You can check with those you know in and outside of your career field or connect with a career counselor through an appointment or drop-in hours to get it checked!