University of Houston #ELGLInspire Speaker: Julie M. Robinson

Posted on October 28, 2019

Julie Robinson

#ELGLInspire is coming to University of Houston on October 30th! Learn more about our event speakers in these brief profiles, and connect with them before and after the event! To find information about all of the speakers, visit the #ELGLInspire homepage.

Julie M. Robinson

City Administrator, City of Spring Valley Village

LinkedIn | E-mail

What was the very first paying job you held (that you paid taxes on)? 

Working as a legal assistant for a law firm in Dallas as part of the work-study program in high school.

What was your: undergraduate institution? Graduate institution? What was/were your degree(s) in? 

Started at Dallas Baptist University but completed at University of North Texas with Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and minor in English

Graduate Institution:  University of North Texas – Masters of Public Administration

What class(es) (if any) are applicable to your job today? 

All writing classes; my constitutional law undergraduate class because I learned how to identify issues, arguments on both sides, and summarize clearly; public administration theory; governmental budgeting and accounting.

What book are you currently reading? Would you recommend it?

Becoming Super Woman by Nicole Lapin (definitely recommend), Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss (definitely recommend), and (for fun) Isle of Dogs by Patricia Cornwell [I had to look for a different series since she stopped writing the Kay Scarpetta series!]

What’s the best networking advice for job seekers you’ve heard or shared?

 Take a genuine interest in people and build genuine relationships.  Everyone is looking to “make connections” and “network,” but rarely do people take an actual interest in the person with whom they are networking.  This is particularly true now in our world of social media.  While you may get to know some information about a person through social media, you actually have to connect personally with an individual and make the time to get to know them one-on-one whether in person or by phone.  As you build your relationship, you will expand to email and text message, but you have to start in person or by phone.  And always remember a person’s name – there is nothing more personal to someone than their name.

What’s the fastest way to NOT get a job or internship with you? (e.g. what should potential applicants avoid doing if they were to ever interview with you for a position).

(a)   Be late or not even show up to an interview

(b)  Underprepare or fail to do your homework on the City or organization

(c)   Dress inappropriately

(d)  When asked about the last innovative thing you have done, answer that there isn’t anything new that can be done and that everything that can be done has been done

(e)   If you are interning, it is imperative that you realize the internship is a job interview.

Why should an undergraduate student consider a career working in local government?

Because you can make a positive impact in people’s lives on a daily basis and, regardless of your degree or major, there is a place for you in local government.  Public service is the most rewarding career and there is NEVER a dull moment.

Do you have a work or life motto? What is it?

 (1) People first, things second; and (2) Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear.

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