A Dream Job, And Space To Grow, in Tech

When David Rosenstein ’20 was a Maryland Smith undergraduate student, he became known for his boundless energy. One marketing professor even referred to him as a “Human Energizer Bunny. 

The title has stuck, and his tempo hasn’t slowed.

These days, he’s in New York, working for LinkedIn as a Business Leadership Program associate. It’s an entry-level rotational sales program that has him working in customer operations and support, with content creators, and with customers in sales. “You wear a lot of different hats,” he says.

Working in tech was a dream of Rosenstein’s since he first arrived at business school. “I was very entranced by the idea of a company like Google or Facebook,” he says. “But I didn’t really know what that meant.”

He studied marketing and management, and by sophomore year, he was aiming for a career in brand strategy. “I used to say ‘I want to be in a job where I am constantly giving presentations. And if I’m behind a desk, it’s because I’m preparing to give a presentation.’”

In his junior year, he landed a marketing and sales internship at Klutz, a creative division within Scholastic. Something clicked. 

“I knew I wanted to do sales for a product I was really obsessed with,” he says. “And I was really obsessed with LinkedIn.”

The next summer, he interned with the professional networking website. He knew he’d found his place.

“What do I like about my job? I don’t want to give a cliche answer, and say it’s the people, but it is, definitely,” he says. He also loves being in a dynamic company in a dynamic industry, the challenge of being involved in various aspects of the work, and the consistently constructive and tactful feedback he receives from his immediate supervisor.

“I’m always looking for ways to grow. When I go into one-on-ones I never leave with her saying, ‘You’re doing great. Keep it up.’ I always leave with goals and highly constructive and tactical feedback,” Rosenstein says.

He appreciates that. “I try to approach my work and each challenge with gratitude and curiosity, and I actively seek out feedback,” he says.

Rosenstein looks back fondly at his years at Maryland Smith. 

It’s where he learned that the best way to get to the right answer is by starting with a disagreement. It’s where he learned how to be a valuable team player. It’s where he learned so many other things.

Rosenstein graduated from Maryland Smith in spring of 2020 with a marketing and management dual degree. That spring, he was also selected from a nationwide pool as the 2020 Student Marketer of the Year by the American Marketing Association, for his leadership of Smith’s AMA chapter, his work in revitalizing the group and his academic achievements.  

During his time at Smith, he was also involved in College Park Scholars and the QUEST Honors Program, and was part of a team of STEM and business students that helped meal-delivery business HelloFresh save $2.7 million with more data-driven sales decisions. He also served as vice president of marketing for the Smith Undergraduate Student Association.  

When not doing those things, he was conducting campus tours for the university, and overseeing Smith Ambassadors, the organization representing the business school to prospective students and their families.

As an undergrad, he referred to Van Munching Hall as his “happy place.”  

“Walking up and down the business school hallways, and getting to say hi to upwards of a dozen people,” he said in his senior year, reflecting, “I think there’s a real sense of community and a real sense of home.”

For the undergraduate students who are finding their way today, Rosenstein has advice.

Learn how to deliver a pitch and conduct your role in a virtual setting. The pandemic changed how we work, and being adept at performing your role in-person and via-technology is key.

Learn how to manage your time effectively. Organizations are increasingly looking to create more healthy boundaries for employees and placing a greater emphasis on wellbeing and mental health. Rosenstein recommends that everyone learn how to structure their work hours and optimize their time in ways that don’t compromise wellbeing and mental health.

Learn how to collaborate well. “Collaboration never ends,” he says. “If you are having issues with team projects in your classes, and carrying the bulk of the workload for some team members, it’s useful to take a close look at that and look to create more effective strategies. Those issues do not disappear.”

Learn the value of a well-written email. A well-written email isn’t long-winded and doesn’t use a lot of jargon. It’s brief, respectful and makes a modest request. “Get really comfortable with writing really effective emails,” he says. “The working world’s inboxes are absolute rainforests, jungles. You want your email to get through.”

Learn how to communicate with design. “One thing I have learned is that design is huge,” he says. “Getting comfortable with basic design elements is huge.” It will help you to present your work as an employee and will help you present yourself as a job candidate. “Having a portfolio of your work will help you pierce through the crowd.”