College of Letters & Science Campus Interviews

About Me

From: Madison

Education: Bachelors of Music – UW-Madison

Hobbies: Running, vegetable gardening, chess

What do you like about your Career Community?

The students I work with are incredibly creative, thoughtful and passionate. There are so many different ways to craft a fulfilling life for yourself in this career community and I love exploring all those varied pathways with students.

What was your best/worst student job or internship?

I worked for all four years of my undergrad as student staff at the Chancellor’s house. I was waitstaff and bartender at public events such as pre-football game day brunches, dinners for visiting politicians and dignitaries and even small private family events like Thanksgiving. 

What do you wish you’d known about careers when you were a student?

I wish I’d known that I didn’t need to plan out the next 10 years of my career. I thought I needed to know exactly what I was going to do, which made changes to that plan and the twists that life inevitably throws your way much harder to navigate. Having a direction you want to go in, and goals you want to achieve is fantastic and important, but it’s also helpful to be open to new and unexpected opportunities that might come your way.

What was your first job?

My very first job ever was working as stage crew for a local chamber music group when I was 15. For my first full time job, after I graduated I moved to New York City to work as an Orchestra Management Fellow for the Juilliard School. I managed a student orchestra, worked with some incredible guest conductors and helped produce concerts at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. 

What made you decide to work in career services?

My move to career services was largely happenstance. Before starting here I was working as the Grants and Foundations Manager for Overture Center for the Arts, which was a job I really enjoyed. However the pandemic hit and I unfortunately felt that I needed to start looking for new full time work opportunities. A friend of mine works in advising and sent me the job description for this position and encouraged me to apply, and I’m so glad that I did!

This job is one that even two years ago I couldn’t have predicted or even conceptualized as a possibility for myself. But when I read the description I was really intrigued and excited by the idea of being able to bring together all the varied threads of my own career along with my love of working with students at my alma mater.

About Me

Hometown: Avon, Indiana

Major: PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in race and multicultural education

Hobbies: Dancing, writing, reading, learning Japanese

What are your current post-graduation plans?

I plan to teach and work as a Professor of Curriculum or Education Studies as soon as I finish this dissertation.

What is your favorite or least favorite job you’ve had?

My least favorite job was as a Learning Management Systems (LMS) clerk. My job was to input data with at least 98% accuracy. The job was particular, repetitive, and a bit lonely. Now that I think about it, 9-5 type jobs just didn’t appeal to my energy level at all. I’m glad I can now engage with people every day as a peer advisor and as a teaching assistant. I love engaging with people’s ideas and aspirations. The discoveries that students make are so fulfilling to watch. 

What is one thing you’ve learned about careers that you wish you’d known earlier?

Your degree is merely a foundation that leads to your potential career but it does not have to be immediately apparent from the start. I stressed for years trying to make sure every next step was the perfect next step for my “career”. I have said I wanted to be everything from a teacher, lawyer, and executive. No one could have told me I would be an academic. And I love what I do! I wish I knew that I could relax, trust the process, be ok as long as I followed what was authentic to me. 

What do you like about working as a peer advisor at SuccessWorks?

I love helping others feel more confident and comfortable with their futures. A little guidance can go a long way and I feel so grateful to be a part of so many journeys!

We have a Career Community for you!

About Me

Hometown: Spring, Texas

Major:  MS in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (2024) from UW-Madison, BS in Communications and English from Florida State University

Hobbies: Church, reading, watching college football, spending time outside (when the weather permits)

What are your current post-graduation plans?

I hope to work as a counselor focusing on individuals with physical disabilities.

What is your favorite or least favorite job you’ve had? 

I taught HS English and loved getting to dive into each reading with my students. Hearing their individual analyses/interpretations was so exciting!

What is one thing you’ve learned about careers that you wish you’d known earlier?

I wish I would have known that your first job does not have to be (and usually is not) your forever job. It is okay to continue exploring interests after you graduate!

What do you like about working as a peer advisor at SuccessWorks?

I enjoy getting to meet the talented students at UW and hear of their aspirations–the students I work with inspire me regularly!

About Me

Hobbies: Coffee roasting, hiking at WI state parks, board games, cooking and trying new food

From: Camden, Michigan

Education: BA in Mathematics & Business Minor from Adrian College, MA in Higher Education from Michigan State University

What was your first job?

I worked at a pizza and ice cream shop. It was an interesting role that included almost everything including waiting on tables, making the food, managing inventory, dishes, and more. I learned a lot about showing up, working hard, building relationships with coworkers, and customer service. 

What was a “career mistake” you made as a student? 

I didn’t really engage in any of the things that would have really helped me like career fairs, meeting with career advisors, or learning how to network at any point until my senior year. A lot of those things were overwhelming, so I just avoided doing any of it. At the end of my Junior year, I decided that I didn’t want to pursue teaching, but had no idea what I could do with a Math degree. I was lucky to have a mentor my senior year who helped me find career options and to pursue an internship. I bring that perspective to any meeting I have with students, appreciating students who are planning ahead and working on these things early, but also empathizing with students who feel like time is running out and they don’t even know where to start!

What made you decide to work in career services?

I realized the part of teaching that I love most is the relationships and opportunities to help students personally and in their learning. I really enjoyed this through working in higher education with college students. As I progressed in my career and developed the skills that helped me be successful as I transitioned across organizations and roles, I realized I wanted to support students in their career development journey because that was such a challenging but vital life skill that I only developed through some caring mentors. 

What do you like about your Career Community (Consulting, Finance, Management, & Client Relations)? 

You can major in literally anything and find your way into business fields. The key thing is getting experience. And for me, experience always helped me “sift and winnow” in terms of my interests and strengths throughout my career. So in this career community, I get to help students from any background pursue business interests by getting experience that helps them have self awareness and to be marketable when they graduate. 

What do you wish you’d known about careers when you were a student?

I wish I knew more about what networking was, how to do that in ways that were aligned with who I am as a person, and the value of that networking. I was so intimidated and confused by that concept that I never really engaged in the concept enough to find the value in networking.

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About Me

Hometown: Luoyang, China

Major: Educational Specialist in School Psychology 

Hobbies: Rock climbing, snowboarding, running, and hiking

What are your current post-graduation plans?

I plan to work as a school psychologist in an elementary school or high school!

What is your favorite or least favorite job you’ve had?

My favorite job was conducting executive function assessments with 4k students. I visited many elementary schools and worked with students from different backgrounds. It was fun to problem solve with 4k kids.

What is one thing you’ve learned about careers that you wish you’d known earlier?

Career planning is a lifelong exploration. Your current major(s) does not determine your future career path. Be open-minded and ready for new opportunities and challenges.

What do you like about working as a peer advisor at SuccessWorks?

I love meeting students at different stages of career development and getting to know their stories. I am inspired by their enthusiasm for careers.

About Me

Hometown: Green Bay, WI

Major: School Psychology Graduate Program

Hobbies: Hiking, cooking and trying new food, attending Comedy on State

What are your current post-graduation plans?

After I finish my graduate program, I will be a licensed school psychologist and hope to work in a middle school.

What is your favorite or least favorite job you’ve had?

My first job was at the little pizza shop in my hometown. It was a lot of fun because I got hired at the same time as my best friend. We were a really efficient team and kept each other laughing when it got busy/stressful.

What is one thing you’ve learned about careers that you wish you’d known earlier?

I wish I would have known about SuccessWorks’ Career Closet. This is such a great resource for students. Business attire can be expensive especially when you are a student, so this is a great option to still feel confident in an interview or at work without spending a fortune.

What do you like about working at SuccessWorks?

I love one-on-one meetings with students. It is interesting to hear everyone’s story, and it is the best when they reach back out to tell of their successes.

About Me

Hometown: Sun Prairie, WI

Education: UW-Eau Claire – Major: Sales/Marketing, Minors: International Business, Japanese

Hobbies: knitting and crafting, reading sci-fi and history, karaoke, video games, my cats

What do you like about your Career Community: Technology, Data & Analytics? 

I do not have programming skills myself, and I’m in awe of what computer programming is capable of! One of my favorite things is to listen to others describe their Technology skills and careers. Technology is dynamic and is always changing, and it’s part of everyone’s life. Technology is also such a flexible career path. You can specialize in one language or type of program, or you can diversify your experience into leading people, designing solutions or looking for new ways to integrate technology. 

What was your best/worst student job or internship?

In college, I worked as a Study Abroad Peer Advisor and it was my favorite job! I studied abroad in Osaka, Japan and so I shared my experiences and knowledge to prepare other students for living in Japan for four months. I got to share all my tips and life-hacks about enjoying student life overseas!

I also worked a sales/marketing internship with the ITC Maurya Hotel in New Delhi, India. The Maurya is a five-star hotel that often has famous guests — Hillary Clinton ate at our restaurant while I was there! While I ended up not going into hospitality, the cultural exchange of working internationally was a truly unique experience that I love to talk about.

What was your first job?

My first job ever was as a Night Programmer for the Sun Prairie Cable Access TV. It was my job to change the VHS tapes over for evening TV broadcasts, and I also helped record shows and keep the camera equipment clean.

My first job after college was as a Management Trainee with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. It was a sales-focused job, which taught me a lot about relating to people and truly listening to their needs and concerns. It also required a lot of driving, which I learned quickly that I am not very good at!

What made you decide to work in career services?

I worked in HR and staffing for ten years before joining SuccessWorks. Through that, I discovered I sincerely enjoyed helping people understand and shape their careers. Much of the job search process is confusing and opaque – it’s my goal to share my knowledge to help others reach their goals.

About Me

Hometown: Kunming, China

Major: Math & Personal Finance

Hobbies: Swimming, cooking

What are your current post-graduation plans?

I am looking for full-time opportunities in the wealth management industry.

What is your favorite or least favorite job you’ve had?

My favorite–I worked for a B&B on an island in southern China for a month. The island is very beautiful and the life there was just chill and peaceful.

What is one thing you’ve learned about careers that you wish you’d known earlier?

I wish I realize the importance of building connections and begin networking earlier.

What do you like about working as a peer advisor at SuccessWorks?

The working environment is great and everyone is friendly and willing to help. I also enjoying talking to students from different background and I am glad I could provide help in career preparation and help them to be successful.

About Me

Hobbies & Interests: Personality inventories, yoga, musical theater, travel, hiking 

Hometown: Carbondale, IL and Buffalo, NY

Education:
Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, OH. Majors: Communication Studies, Spanish. Minor: Music (vocal)
M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State University

What do you like about your Career Communities?

I get to advise students with diverse interests that intersect with health, the environment, and research. These career paths focus on direct and in direct service to others. With a goal of making a positive impact in others’ live through therapy, advocacy, outreach, education, clinical research, and so much more. All facets of human health, a desire to curb climate change and to solve problems with the help of technology through innovative research; I am constantly learning from students’ experiences and the interests they bring to exploring possible career paths. 

What was your best/worst student job or internship?

For part of my college years I studied arts management and interned with the Interlochen Arts Festival in Interlochen, Michigan. I got to manage volunteer ushers with the concert office and acted as a house manager for large-scale concerts of well-known artists like Shawn Colvin, Keb’ Mo, Donna Summers and so many others. I got to see all these concerts for free as part of my job! This was a perk over dealing with disruptive patrons, which were mainly few and far between. I also worked as part of a team with college students studying across the U.S. who enjoyed music and the arts as much as I did. 

What was your first job?

After graduating from college, I worked in a cafe while also volunteering with an international non-profit before landing a full-time job with a small organization called Vocational Services Team. I found this job on my college’s career services job board! I was an administrative and computer lab assistant providing workers compensation clients with basic MS Office instruction, while also managing the front desk reception area. I met the most interesting people, developed organizational skills, and really learned to hone my time management skills to oversee varying tasks independently. I still apply what I learned from that job to my current administrative responsibilities at SuccessWorks. 

What made you decide to work in career services?

The spring semester of my freshman year, I discovered openings to be a career education outreach (CEO) peer mentor with the career services office. I ended up working in this office for 10 hrs/week for three out of my four years in college. I had no idea how this experience would ultimately impact my path to working in student services in higher education! While I didn’t get the admissions counselor position I interviewed for after graduation, I did get a master’s degree in college student services administration. In this grad program, I had more opportunities to work in career development with exploring students. And here I am after all these years, still working in career services and still getting to live vicariously through all the awesome things UW-Madison students get to do. 

About Me

From: Wauwatosa, WI

Education: BA in Political Science & French from UW-Madison, MFS specializing in International Higher Education from UW-Madison

Hobbies: Reading, travel, farmer’s markets, trying (and failing) to keep house plants alive

What was your first job?

I worked a lot of short-term, odd jobs before coming to UW-Madison as a college student, but my first “official” job was as a Team Member in the lakeshore dining halls! I grilled quesadillas, scooped ice cream, and washed dishes, but my favorite job was baking pizzas in the (then) new hearth oven.  By highlighting the communication, organization, and multi-tasking skills I gained while perfecting my pizza craft, I got hired as a Peer Advisor in the International Academic Programs office during my senior year and discovered how much I enjoy working with students.

What was a “career mistake” you made as a student?

As an undergrad, I never attended a career fair. I tried once, mainly because I knew it was something I was “supposed” to do, but I got really overwhelmed and never even made it through the door. Networking at large events is something I still struggle with, even in my current role, but I’ve found other strategies to make professional connections that feel more natural for me. Focusing on setting up one-on-one conversations and building genuine relationships with people I admire in my field has helped me become more confident with networking, and has even led to some great job opportunities!

What made you decide to work in career services?

When I was a graduate student, I interned at a francophone university in Montreal with their International Student Services office. My main project focused on building career development resources for newly arrived refugees and permanent residents struggling to find jobs and internships in Canada. I learned so much from these students, and saw how difficult it can be to adapt to a new work environment and different version of “professional”. Supporting them as they worked through cultural and systematic barriers to accomplish their goals made me want to continue in career services.

What do you like about your Career Community: Government, Policy, International Affairs, and Law?

The students I work with in GPIAL are definitely what I love most about this career community. Their dedication to make the world a better place, whether it’s through community activism, federal policy change, international aid, or anything in between is what motivates me to keep building better resources and programs to help them get where they want to go. Having so many options for different types of work and potential employers in this career community can be overwhelming for students (and for me), but there’s something here for anyone to get excited about and no wrong place to start exploring!

About Me

Hobbies & Interests: Tennis, drinking soymilk lattes, training my new puppy (Ruthie), musical theater, shows at Comedy on State 

From: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Education: BA in Political Science and Communication from Miami University, MA in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania

What do you like about your Career Community: Nonprofit Management & Education?

Nonprofit and education are the two industries that I am most interested in, as well as the two areas I have worked during my career. I love mission-driven work, and advising this community allows me to learn about students’ passions and interests. I get to hear about where they are motivated to make a difference.

What was your worst student job or internship?

My worst internship experience was at a public relations firm in Washington, D.C. I loved being in DC that summer, but hated the internship. I never had anything to do, but had to work 40-hours per week. My supervisor hardly ever talked to me, and I had no idea what was going on. Later I learned that she had been looking for a new job the entire time!

P.S. If you ever find yourself experiencing something similar – reach out to a career advisor and we can help talk through the situation!

What was the best/worst career advice you ever got?

To take some time off and work before going to graduate school. 

What do you wish you’d known about careers when you were a student?

I wish I had learned about informational interviewing earlier. It is such a great tool for both exploring career options, as well as for the job search process.

How did you pick your major?

I had always been a “good communicator,” so to me it made sense to major in communications. I added political science after taking some intro classes and realizing how interested I am in politics and political systems, and how much of an overlap there is with history (which I love).

What was your first job?

My first job was refereeing soccer games for kids ages four and five. It is hard to call handballs on four year olds!

What was a career “mistake” you made as a student?

Waiting until senior year to visit my career center!

What made you decide to work in career services?

My assistantship in graduate school was working in the career services office. I really enjoyed working with students to help them accomplish their goals. I also love advising about the job/internship search process, because they are really important topics/skills that (typically) are not taught in the classroom.

About Me

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Major: Legal Studies, Human Development Family Studies, Certificate in Chicano Latino Studies 

Hobbies: Soccer, concerts, watching movies/shows, cooking  

What are your current post-graduation plans?

I’ll probably treat myself to a nice long vacation. After that, I will be in law school, grinding out for the next three years! 

What is your favorite or least favorite job you’ve had?

Working as a PEOPLE mentor for high school students during the summer. While every job has its ups and downs, this position gave me the chance to reconnect with the same program that contributed to where I am today.  

What is one thing you’ve learned about careers that you wish you’d known earlier?

It’s okay to not get an internship right off the bat, sometimes you may need the time to figure things out. Sometimes that temporary job is okay to have instead, if you can gain a unique experience or skill out of it, then I believe there’s much more value there than you may have initially thought.  

What do you like about working as a peer advisor at SuccessWorks?: 

As a peer advisor, I look forward to helping someone new every day. Rather, it is coming in for a quick question or giving feedback on a resume. Having the ability to provide people with valuable information towards their goals is a passion of mines that will never wear out.

About Me

Hometown: Appleton, WI

Education: BS in Anthropology from UW-Madison, MAE in Educational Leadership & Policy from UW-Oshkosh 

Hobbies: Trying out new food, video games, traveling and enjoying the great outdoors.

Fun Fact: I read One Piece manga and I have 4 boys.

What was your best/worst student job or internship?

The most interesting job that I had as a student was working at Memorial Union. I helped with room setup for events and also worked cleaning the terrace over the summer. The worst thing was cleaning the round table. It’s usually stained with a combination of beer, leaves and pollen. Sometimes, I would have to fish tables and chairs out from the lake because someone had a wild night. One of the good things about working at the Memorial Union was getting leftover food after an event such as a wedding or a campus event. 

What was the best/worst career advice you ever got?

The best career advice or analogy I ever received was about taking on opportunities. The analogy I was given is “if you can get on a bus that takes you around the world, would you take the chance of getting on the bus”. This has been the foundation for what I do. Taking on new challenges and new opportunities to broaden my knowledge. 

What was a career “mistake” you made as a student?

I wouldn’t say that it’s a mistake, but rather not being aware about the resources that exist on campus to help me with career exploration. I didn’t know that there was a career services office on campus that I can go to for career advice. I completed college without meeting my academic advisor so it never occurred to me that there are resources available on campus to help with things outside of academia. 

What do you wish you’d known about careers when you were a student?

Growing up, I didn’t know about the many careers outside of being a teacher, doctor or police officer. It never occurred to me that I can work in higher education. It also never occurred to me that a major does not always constitute a career. I never knew that skills I gained outside of academics will prepare me for jobs that didn’t align with my major in college. 

What made you decide to work in career services?

I’ve worked in many different areas of higher education such as an Admissions Counselor, Academic Advisor, and Financial Aid. What intrigues me most about being in Career Services is that I can help students align their academic and personal interests with a job that may be a good fit for them after graduation. I believe that students pursue college for a variety of reasons, but getting a job is one of the most important reasons why a student would go to college. I want to help students find a career path while they are in college. 

About Me

Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana

Education: BS in Chemistry and MAE in Counseling & Student Affairs in Higher Ed from WKU

Hobbies: Movies, food (eating), jogging, board/video games, traveling

Fun Fact: My childhood dream job was to become a Top Gun pilot

What was your best/worst student job or internship?

The best student job I had was working as a security guard for the library on my campus where I attended college, and I loved this job not only because it taught me some great lessons on how to interact with my peers in a professional setting, but I was also able to learn a lot from them. The “security” aspect was mainly doing rounds in the library to make sure students weren’t up to mischief and ensuring that they weren’t taking books out of the library without having properly checked them out, so we had a good bit of down-time throughout the day to converse about our lives and learn about each other. Since most of the students I worked with were international students, I was exposed to a variety of different cultures, backgrounds, and identities which were all extremely intriguing to me.

What was the best/worst career advice you ever got?

The best career advice I ever received was from a friend during my junior year of college when I was having serious doubts about my career goals. What they said to me was, “At the end of the day, if you don’t like what you do, you won’t end up doing it for long.” This statement resonated with me immensely because I was essentially grinding out my third year in a major that I wasn’t passionate about, and that comment hit me like a bolt of lightning. I still ended up sticking it through and graduated with my major due to practical reasons, but I likely would have switched my academic/career trajectory had I received this advice earlier.

What was a career “mistake” you made as a student?

I made two crucial mistakes regarding careers during my time as a student. The first mistake I made was never utilizing career services at my school until I panicked after having spoken with my friend about what was motivating me to pursue my major during my junior year (see above). The second mistake I made was not thinking more pragmatically about my career aspirations, which led to me disassociating from my actual interests/strengths/passions, causing me to tunnel into my misguided goals to chase ideals (e.g. prestige) that didn’t make much sense for me along with a money trail that I was never truly invested in pursuing.

What do you wish you’d known about careers when you were a student?

I wish I knew that career paths aren’t predetermined based on your major of study for many roles that exist. There are truly a multitude of academic, and even non academic, pathways that someone can take to achieve their career goals, and what you’re doing outside of class, how you’re engaging/networking, and the timing of when you participate in various career related activities can really play a huge role in what outcomes you are able to accomplish.

What made you decide to work in career services?

I’ve held a variety of roles within various functional areas during the 12+ years that I’ve worked in higher education, and during this time, I developed a strong desire to help students reach the proverbial finish line. I got a taste of this while working as an academic advisor supporting undergraduates in obtaining their degrees, but once I discovered the world of career services, I began to realize that the actual “finish line” that I wanted to help students reach was post graduation career outcomes. After reflecting about this newfound interest, I decided to take action by applying to positions working within career services, and the rest is history. 

What do you like about your Career Community?

I really like that my career community practically touches every aspect of our lives and society in some way. Technology is everywhere, and this relationship between technology and how we all live is not only inseparable but also expanding at a very rapid pace. As someone that has always been profoundly interested in technology & data, I’ve been naturally curious about this subject for as long as I can remember, so being able to live vicariously through the students that I support in my role as they step into this industry has been both fascinating and rewarding for me on both a personal and professional level.

• Email Hao
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