Author: Sydney Gallup, Career Coach
Working on campus is an opportunity that many Niners take advantage of. Our office supports student workers in various ways, providing experiential learning opportunities that build both soft and technical skills. Undergraduate and graduate students can participate in internships, assistantships, part-time, and federal work-study roles within the Career Center. This semester, we want to highlight four Career Center student workers graduating from Charlotte. If you are considering an on-campus role, their perspectives and experiences may sway you!
Two of our graduates, Dishaa and Abbey, received their Bachelor of Science degrees. Dishaa and Abbey worked as Peer Professionals, a role that creates peer-to-peer support. Engaging with other students can uplift both the student being served and the student providing the service. Our Peer Pros are trained to review resumes and cover letters, provide LinkedIn feedback and support, and assist with general questions. Their student perspective brings value to the role. Abbey adds, “Not only is it a job, but it allows you to connect more with campus and your peers.”
Our graduate students, Rianna and Paula, received their Master’s in Educational Leadership, Higher Education. Paula’s work with our office focused on programming and professional development for the advising community at Charlotte. While Rianna supported our community experiential learning programs. They are both currently interviewing for various roles within Higher Education.
With an abundance of positions available on campus, it makes sense to seek this type of experience. For Rianna and Paula, their assistantships provided experience in the field they are pursuing. Rianna noted, “Working with people directly in your field provides you with a great network that will become useful postgrad.” Building their social capital through their positions makes them more competitive in the current job market.
On-campus roles that create direct experience in your field can also mean pursuing positions that tie directly to your interests. We want students to consider interests, passion, and strengths when determining their path. Dishaa shared that, “It’s about quality, not quantity. Whether it’s internships or jobs, focus on what you actually enjoy and build your experiences around your long-term interests!” We couldn’t emphasize this enough.
The UNC Charlotte community provides Niners with security, connection, and belonging. All four of our graduates mentioned that they will miss this. They realize they are leaving a community behind, one they connected strongly with. Reflecting on her experience, Rianna shared, “From professors to colleagues, the support and encouragement mean everything to me.” Dishaa and Paula will miss the people they’ve met along the way, through various roles and programs. This is all a testament to the overall positive impact of working on campus. We hope you will consider this.
Congratulations to Paula, Rianna, Abbey, and Dishaa. You have left an impact on the Charlotte community, and we know you will continue to do so. Abbey will be back as our Peer Professional Graduate Assistant, and maybe we will see Rianna and Paula working in an office on campus this fall. Dishaa will be pursuing her master's degree in Georgia!
We wish you all the best!