Author: Abbey Burgess, Peer Professional
“I initially felt lost without the support that many others had. However, the assistance of academics and university resources enabled me to acquire important skills such as leadership, confidence, and problem-solving,” says UNC Charlotte and first-generation college student, Lizbeth Vazquez Cortez, when asked about her experiences here at UNCC that helped prepare her for her professional career. Lizbeth recently accepted a role at Wells Fargo as an Audit Analyst in their development program, taking on the corporate world for her next journey. In this interview, she shares some inspiring insights and advice for students and alumni alike.
We first asked Lizbeth to share about her education, and how that has prepared her for her professional career.
“I am a double major in Operation & Supply Chain Management and Marketing. I am projected to graduate December 2024. My education here at UNC Charlotte has helped me both with my technical skills and personal growth needed for my career. I felt supported throughout my journey, which helped build my confidence. I received valuable guidance from faculty, which helped me strengthen my critical thinking, collaboration, and prepared me to excel in a professional environment.”
Here at UNC Charlotte, it is important that students feel supported and ready to take on any professional or academic challenge that they face. Hearing about Lizbeth’s positive experiences highlights the passion and commitment that UNC Charlotte has to offer to their students. This passion and commitment to student success is also shown in the variety of resources available to students, from mental health support to career services.
Next, we wanted to learn more about what led Lizbeth to her current career path, and what inspired her to pursue the career she is entering, as an Audit Analyst. She says:
“My interest in becoming an Audit Analyst developed from my interest to understand how businesses operate at a deeper level, especially in terms of financial integrity and compliance. Throughout my education, I found that auditing combines both analytical problem-solving and an attention to detail.. I am most excited that this is a developmental program providing me with the opportunity to continue to learn while working. It’s as if I’m still a student even after I graduate.”
As students progress through their education and prepare for the corporate/professional world their professional development during this time is crucial to their success. Development is key, and something that we value here at UNC Charlotte and the Career Center. Growth within your professional career will never stop happening!
With the next question, we wanted to hear from Lizbeth regarding the resources she used here at the Career Center, and how those resources specifically were able to contribute to her and her career path. She highlighted many different resources, and a staff member, who helped her prosper.
Lizbeth states, “At the Career Center, I utilized several key resources that were incredibly helpful to me throughout my time here. I took advantage of the resume help, which allowed me to tailor my resume specifically to the roles I was applying for and highlight my most relevant experiences. The mock interview practice was also invaluable—it gave me a chance to improve my interview skills and feel more confident going into real interviews. A person who impacted me most at the career center was, Kirstin Sheldon. She was a great guidance on navigating my career path, setting goals, and improving my approach to networking and job applications. During our meeting she provided me with companies that had internships that aligned with my interests and career path. These resources helped me feel more prepared and focused in my career search.”
Kirstin is a former Graduate Assistant Career Coach at the Career Center, now an academic advisor for the school of Architecture. Our Career Coaches value UNCC students and their success outside of the classroom, through appointments that are tailored to students' internship or job search, interview preparation, guidance with networking, and so many other options.
There are many other students who are looking to pursue a career in spaces like Wells Fargo and in management or analysis, ones who might have the same major as Lizbeth or a different one. We asked Lizbeth to share about her experiences leading to her receiving her offer from Wells Fargo and advice she would share to other students who want to go into a field similar to hers, or just to students who are looking to get into their professional career
“My experience with Wells Fargo has been through networking with their professionals at a national convention hosted by the Association of Latino Professionals for America in Las Vegas this past summer. During my time at the convention I had the opportunity to meet other audit analysts and attend a reception hosted by Wells Fargo, where I got to learn more about their corporate culture and how they could support my career development.”
Conventions are great networking opportunities, as highlighted here by Lizbeth. The Career Center offers many networking opportunities, through career fairs, mixers, and panels for students to attend.
“For students who are interested in the same field, I would recommend attending
networking events, online seminars, reaching out to professionals, and learning as much as possible about the field. Being proactive in seeking out opportunities like these and meeting professionals in the field can really help you understand the career path and find the right fit. Also, do not shy away if you think you are not “capable”, because we are all capable of learning the job.”
Being proactive, like Lizbeth states here, is a key skill to have in chasing your career goals. Lizbeth represents this quality, along with so many others that have shown to take her far.
Finally we wanted to get some last words of advice for any college or future college student who may be struggling to decide what they want to study or the career they want to enter. With Lizbeth being a senior, we wanted her input on what she would tell undergraduate students as they embark on their journey. She says:
“The advice I would give undergraduate students who may feel lost about their career paths is to not be afraid to seek guidance and explore different career options. I highly encourage all students to attend networking events and build relationships with professionals who are in the fields they are interested in. There were times when I was very curious to learn about a certain role someone held, and I would send them a LinkedIn invite and message them. Every professional I spoke to was very happy to share their experiences and offer advice. It’s also helpful to try internships, as it gives you a firsthand look at different roles… Everybody’s career path is very different. I initially thought I wanted to pursue a career in marketing, but after exploring different opportunities, I realized my interests were better aligned elsewhere. I have learned that it is okay to try different paths and see what fits best for you before committing to a specific field.”
Lizbeth sums it up perfectly here, as we could not have said it better ourselves. Her insight has been invaluable, and we hope that anyone reading has been moved just as we have been.
We would like to extend ours thanks to Lizbeth for taking the time to let us interview her. We wish her the best of luck as she prepares to graduate and take on her new position at Wells Fargo. Congratulations, Lizbeth!