Jill Hammons
USS Midway Museum
San Diego, CA USA
"Don’t give up and don’t give in. Tomorrow is a whole new day and new experience."
Career Roadmap
Jill's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Business, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
A college degree can open so many doors for you, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. Make sure you work on your other skills and experiences (networking, creative expression, writing, public speaking, self-confidence, etc.) while you pursue your degree. I also really advise that you volunteer as much as you can. It'll help you network, develop job skills, and shows that you believe in something bigger than yourself.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Director of Membership:
Bachelor's Degree: Communication, General
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
As a child, I was very sheltered—my family didn’t watch the news and we weren’t tuned into current events.
2.
When I got to college, I was stunned by all of the political upheaval and grew angry at my sheltered childhood—I turned to writing to express my feelings, which pushed me toward majoring in English.
3.
My father’s clothing business unexpectedly went bankrupt before I graduated college, and as the oldest of my siblings, I dropped out of school and got a job to help my family.
4.
Getting married and having kids prevented me from going back to university, but I did go to a professional college and learned front and back office skills for medical offices.
5.
I worked as a Medi-Cal eligibility worker in an emergency room because I loved reassuring people who couldn’t afford insurance and helping them feel better.
6.
After relocating to San Diego, I got a job as a public affairs assistant for the newspaper at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego because of my writing and speaking skills.
7.
After 28 years at Scripps—during which I had been promoted to director of special events—I was laid off because of the recession; I felt helpless because I was 58 years old at the time.
8.
Thanks to my drive and my confidence in what I could bring to the table, I was only unemployed for three months before I got hired as the director of membership at the USS Midway Museum.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
Without a college degree, I'm less than everyone else.
How I responded:
I had to drop out of school and get a job to help my family when my dad’s business went bankrupt. I really felt like I needed to get a degree in order to be someone. However, life got hectic and I wasn’t ever able to go back to school. I thought that without a degree, I was less than everyone else. Then one day, I realized I was getting a great education just by living life and experiencing real business.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My father’s business unexpectedly went bankrupt before I graduated college. As the oldest of my siblings, I felt it was my place to drop out of school and get a job to help my family. I always intended to go back to school, but life got too busy.
I got laid off during the recession after 28 years at a job. I was 58 years old and thought no one would hire me. I wrote to everyone I knew, asking for a chance. Because of my determination, I was only unemployed for 3 months before finding a job!