Jessica Ku Kim
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC)
Los Angeles, CA USA
"Just do it, but be happy while doing it."
Career Roadmap
Jessica's work combines: Government, Non-Profit Organizations, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Criminology, Law and Society
University of California, Irvine
Graduate Degree
Public Administration
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Vice President of Economic & Workforce Development:
Bachelor's Degree: Criminology, Law and Society
Graduate Degree: Public Administration
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
In high school, I wanted to do it all—I was involved in sports and dance, I had a part-time job at a flower shop, and I still devoted extra time at night to study.
2.
I went to UC Irvine and studied criminology because I thought I wanted to become an attorney.
3.
After completing an internship with the D.C. Prisoners’ Legal Services Project and then coming back and working at a law firm, I realized that I didn’t actually want to be an attorney anymore.
4.
I decided not to go to law school and started looking for a job after graduation instead—I applied to hundreds of jobs but just couldn’t land one.
5.
I eventually joined AmeriCorps VISTA and then ended up at a nonprofit organization that had just been awarded a workforce development grant, which is how I got started in workforce development.
6.
Through networking, I found a job in case management, where I worked directly with people who were trying to find jobs—I stayed there for eight years and worked my way up to director of operations.
7.
After that, I was recruited to a workforce development board where I spent some time before finally joining the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
You're not going to law school? I'm disappointed in you.
How I responded:
I had planned to become an attorney but after spending time working in the space, I knew it wasn't right for me. When I told my parents I wasn't going to law school, my dad was disappointed in me. I felt bad because he was disappointed and this had always been my plan. I applied to hundreds of jobs but it was a struggle. I eventually found a job and made my way into workforce development which I love. I made the decision to pivot when my path didn't feel right and it all worked out for the best.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I had to put in more effort than the average student. I was also involved in extracurricular activities and had a part-time job. Sometimes I'd want to give up but I'd just remind myself that the extra effort would be worth it for my long term goals.
As a wife and a mother, I make a choice to stop working for a few hours each day to be present with my family. It can get challenging because I have a lot of work to do. But I make that conscious choice to find balance in order to prevent burnout.