By: Ellie Jackson

Google. The world’s top search engine across millions of technological devices. You all have heard of it, we all know it. Google, it is a daily necessity.

Who would have thought that this top-ranking internet search engine would track down a senior at Belmont University out of the blue. Well, it happened, and it happened to Mabry Culp. In a recent convocation program, she told her story to a packed-out room of students.

In 2018, Mabry Culp was a senior Corporate Communication major at Belmont University. Like most seniors, she was stressed, anxious, and wary of what the future held for her after college. She was lost, having no idea where she wanted to be or what she wanted to do.

Second semester rolled around for Mabry, and still nothing was calling out to her. This in-between state is more common than not for seniors. It is a scary, stressful time. In a few short months, Mabry would be out into adulthood, with her whole life ahead of her based upon the choices she would be making. Mabry applied to several companies, all to be rejected. Graduation was approaching, and yet she felt as if living life at home might be the only option ahead. However, fate stepped in.

Mabry noticed one day that she had received a message from Google on Handshake (Belmont’s job placement site). They were expressing their interest in her and wanted an interview. Mabry assumed the message was fake, however, after following up, she soon realized that it was not.

From there on out, Mabry’s life was whirlwind. She first had a phone interview with Google, and thought that she had failed it. She nailed it. From there, a second phone interview took place. This time Mabry prepped for eight hours. In the convocation, she explained how this particular interview was extremely difficult. She felt a spike of emotions afterwards, ultimately ending in a phone call home to her mother to calm the fears and doubts.

Mabry, however, had no reason to feel doubts, as she was called back again for an in-person interview with a few different Google representatives, each lasting about forty-five minutes. As you may suspect, she nailed it once again.

A Texas girl, finishing her degree in Tennessee, was to uproot and move to California. Mabry was offered the job with a moving package included to ship her out to San Francisco in a matter of two short weeks. She was wary and uncertain of the future. This crazy, wild journey all happened in a span of six weeks. Mabry had jumped on a train that she would be riding all the way to Cali.

Mabry began her life at Google in the Executive Recruiting department. Currently, her primary role is to ensure that Google maintains a fabulous reputation, as she recruits and hosts high-level candidates. Her daily life begins at six in the morning, and by seven she is on the Google bus riding to work, taking calls and answering emails.

This journey has not been easy for Mabry. She explained how at first, her time in California was lonely. She was in a new place, new lifestyle, and with new people. Mabry had to figure out how to make this lifestyle work, and she did. Her advice to new graduates in this situation is to “lean in to work”  devoting the time to friends. Google has amazing benefits for their employees and provides a comfortable community. Mabry took advantage of this. She also built her life outside of work. She began to find hobbies and aspects of life that she loved. She dove into pottery and hiking, as well as reading, and exploring new bookstores. Mabry has been at Google for eighteen months now, however she told students at the convocation that she did not start to take in the lifestyle until fifteen months in. She is brave, and she is strong. She is soon up for her first promotion.

Mabry says that her time at Belmont, as well as her degree in Corporate Communication taught her valuable life lessons and skills that she has used every day at Google. Her advice to students: find what is unique about you and use this as your brand, use it to your advantage.

Mabry’s Google journey is an inspiration for Belmont students who come behind her. The future looks forever bright for Mabry Culp.